Stroud in Gloucestershire lies on the western outskirts of the Cotswolds. (Image: Kris Boratyn)
When someone thinks of , there are a few places that spring to mind straight away.
We have , , and of course .
But for me, my home town is prettier than any of the above with a little but very important added benefit – no tourists.
Stroud in Gloucestershire lies on the western outskirts of the Cotswolds about 10 miles away from Gloucester.
It is hidden in the middle of the Five Valleys, despite having a direct connection to .
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The view from Rodborough Common. (Image: Kris Boratyn)
There are endless walking trails in Stroud going past old churches and graveyards. (Image: Kris Boratyn)
Well, I grew up there so I can tell you about everything it has to offer, and there is a lot of it.
Let’s start with the town itself. Stroud is directly connected to London with the Great Western Railway services departing London Paddington Station and taking less than 1h 30mins to get there.
The High Street is of course on a hill with plenty of independent shops and cafes lining it. There, you can find plant shops, aircraft model shops, and your usual high street chains like Greggs and Costa.
But for me, at least at the moment, the biggest highlight of my home town is the recently refurbished . As you walk in there, it seems like you’ve been teleported to west London filled with boutique, quaint shops and street food stalls.
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View up the High Street in Stroud. (Image: Getty)
Stroud has gorgeous canal paths. (Image: Getty)
There is so much there now, and there is a big part of me wishing that they’d built it sooner because I walked past there every morning to get to school.
Anyway, there is so much choice when it comes to food. There is a Greek place, there is an independent bakery, a stall serving Chinese dumplings and more. It’s like a little hidden food market with decent prices.
And once you fill yourself up, it’s a short walking distance from Stratford Park where you can visit a lake and feed the swans.
Talking of nature, Stroud has plenty of that too. As I mentioned before, the town is surrounded by hills, being in the centre of the Five Valleys.
Anywhere you look there is a massive hill that, if you manage to climb it, offers breathtaking views.
Stroud is in the middle of the Five Valleys. (Image: Getty)
Great Western Railway trains connect Stroud to London in less than 2 hours. (Image: Getty)
Just to give you an example, my favourite hill is the Rodborough Common because I always used to go sledging there. From there you can see as far as the River Severn and Wales.
It also has an old castle and plenty of cows on it. There also used to be a donkey but it sadly passed away not too long ago.
In happier news, there are also plenty of trails around Stroud. You can walk for hours and hours without getting bored and you can choose between canal paths and actual hiking trails that take you to the top of the hills.
So, whether you’re a foodie and want to sample some delicious food in a stunning setting or you’re a hiker looking for long walks, Stroud has it all.
Lastly, I know I’m a bit biased but it’s not just me who thinks highly of Stroud. After all, my hometown was named as the best place to live in the UK by the Sunday Times in 2021.