Probably the best known town in the heart of the Cotswolds, it is situated at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, tucked into the western edge of the Cotswold Hills (The Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
It's a beautiful part of the world with steep sided valleys giving wonderful views, miles of walking or cycling, the canal to explore and The Cotswold Way passes by about a mile to the west.
The town has a long tradition of having an independent spirit and cafe culture. There are frequent festivals, including art, music and book festivals with lots going on throughout the year. Check out "Good on Paper" for listings.
It's about 20 to 25 minutes by car to Gloucester, Cheltenham and Cirencester and 45 minutes to Bristol and Bath so it makes an ideal base.
You can get here by train too, the station is in the town centre.
Central Stroud, Stroud, GL5 1AE