The summer holiday is here, and we’ve compiled a list of dozens of activities to enjoy throughout the Stroud district. From drop-in drawing sessions and reading challenges to sculpture spotting and games at a traditional English fete, there’s something for everyone – and many of them are free or low cost.
The Museum in the Park
There are more than 4,000 objects to discover, an award winning `secret’ walled garden, art gallery, café and gift shop and full programme of fun family activities at Stroud District Council’s Museum in the Park.
Summer exhibitions include Fossil Fish From The Jurassic Seas, a rare collection of nine beautifully preserved fossil fish found in King’s Stanley and Photosynthesis, a visual journey through the seasons in mosaic and photography by zero waste ceramic artist Cleo Mussi and ethical horticulturalist Fiona Haser Bizony.
Exhibitions and many holiday activities are free-of-charge.
'Otherwise Occupied!' Creative Drop in Activities with Periscope Wed 24 Jul - Friday 26 July, 11am - 3pm. Come and re-imagine the town-centre with Periscope artist duo Alison Cockcroft and Emily Joy; creatively re-inhabit empty shop spaces with new and imaginative uses, both realistic and fantastical. What is the future potential of our town as a vibrant, welcoming, and caring place for the whole community? What new community spaces, independent shops and social projects would you like to see in Stroud and our other local towns? Share your thoughts and ideas, write, draw, print and collage to bring your ideas to life to create a wonderous and exciting alternative town centre, free from any practical constraints! A FREE drop-in workshop for adults and children to enjoy together (recommended for ages 5+), donations welcome.
The Little Mermaid - Outdoor Theatre Show by IKP Productions Two performances on Sunday, July 28: 4-5.50pm and 6.30-8pm. Escape under the sea with IKP’s The Little Mermaid on an exciting new adventure to find freedom, truth and love. This brand-new family show is great for all ages from tiny tots to big kids, so hop aboard and sail the sea with The Little Mermaid.Cost: £14, concessions £11, family ticket £40 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/ikp This is an outdoor show in the Museum’s Walled Garden, so please wear clothes to suit the weather and bring your own rugs or picnic chairs to sit on. Ice Creams, teas and coffees on sale in the Museum Foyer.
Sustainable Stories: Family Drop-in Activities Tuesday, July 30, 11am – 3pm. Think about buying what lasts or second hand by exploring some objects, and toys from the past and play traditional games with natural materials. Drop-in family activities for all ages, for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together. FREE but donations welcome. Come for as little or as long as you like.
Brilliant Bubbles Family Activity (book in advance) Two sessions on Wednesday, July 31: 10:30 am–12.30pm and 2-4pm. Find out about washdays past by exploring different ways to make bubbles and get hands on with how people in the past washed their clothes. Smell the soap, try out an old fashioned ‘dolly tub’ and hang the washing out to dry. Experiment with creating bubbles using things we might have at home. Create a bubble wand to try out, make a peg dolly using old-fashioned clothes peg to take home with you and add to our big bubble art. Tell us what household gadget you like the most by adding to the voting wall, before exploring the museum with a special themed trail about household jobs in the past. A relaxed session designed for families with children over 5 years old. Cost: £7.50 per child (£5 for MiP Members), accompanying adults free. Booking required.
Butterflies & Bees - Family Drop-in Workshop Wednesday 31 July, Thursday 1 August & Friday 2 August, 11am – 4.30pm. Craft a beautiful butterfly or brilliant bee using simple materials and your imagination. You can also pick up a Big Butterfly Count sheet, head out into the park and find a sunny spot to sit and see how many different butterflies are flying this summer.A drop-in summer holiday workshop for families with children aged 5+, for children and grown ups to enjoy together. Cost: £1 per child suggested donation. The workshop opens at 11am and closes at 3pm, so last entry is usually around 2.30pm. If it’s too busy when you get here, there are lots of fun trails to enjoy instead - please ask at Reception for details.
Buzz Club in the Walled Garden, drop-in Sunday, August 4, 11am – 1.30pm. See what’s blooming and buzzing in the beautiful Walled Garden and discover how to become a Bee Guardian. Hot and cold drinks and cakes from Miss Daisy, FREE informal session for all ages, donations welcome.
Sustainable Stories: Family Drop-in Activities Tuesday, August 6, 11 am – 3pm. Introduce children to the concept of making sustainable choices - perhaps switching to soap bars or refill dispensers and reusing items. Explore objects to do with making sustainable choices and play the museum’s sorting and recycling and game. Drop in family activities for all ages, for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together. FREE but donations welcome. Come for as little or as long as you like.
Delightful Dinos Family Activity Two sessions on Wednesday, August 7: 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2-4pm. Get up close with some of real fossils and use some cool science skills to help a dino egg ‘hatch’. Think about how fossils were made with a seashell fossil activity and explore our natural sensory exploration tray. Make a game to help you challenge yourself to move like a dinosaur, create a stegosaurus headdress to wear and add a prehistoric marine creature to our seascape. Tell us what your favourite dinosaur is by adding to our voting wall, before exploring the museum to see the fossils of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures with our themed trail. A relaxed session designed for families with children over 5 years old. Cost: £7.50 per child (£5 for MiP Members), accompanying adults free. Booking required.
Flower Power – family drop-in workshop Wednesday Aug 7, Thursday August 8 & Friday Aug 9, 11am – 3pm. Be inspired by the fabulous flowers in the art gallery exhibition and make your own colourful paper flower decoration to take home. A drop-in summer holiday workshop for families with children aged 5+, for children and grown ups to enjoy together. Cost: £1 per child (suggested donation). Workshops open at 11am and close at 3pm, so last entry is usually around 2.30pm.
Sustainable Stories: Family Drop-in Activities Tuesday, August 13, 11am – 3pm. Think about natural instead of synthetic materials by exploring some objects to think more about natural materials, and help make decorative garlands and try some rag rugging using scrap fabrics. Drop in family activities for all ages, for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together. FREE but donations welcome. Come for as little or as long as you like.
Timeless Treasure Family Activity Two sessions on Wednesday, August 14: 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2-4pm. Sort the sparkly gemstones, find the buried ‘treasure’ and investigate some really old coins. Learn about the Anglo-Saxon brooch on display and be inspired as you make your own brooch to take home with you. Think about coin hoards as you experiment to find out what liquid cleans pennies best, challenge each other by playing simple old-fashioned penny games and use your imagination to help us create a treasure map. Tell us where you would hide some buried treasure by adding to our voting wall, before exploring the museum to think about coins and treasure using our special themed trail. A relaxed session designed for families with children over 5 years old. Cost: £7.50 per child (£5 for MiP Members), accompanying adults free. Booking required. Book online or call 01453 763394.
Paper Mosaics - Family Drop-in Workshop Wed, Aug 14, Thursday 15 & Friday 16 August, 11 am – 3pm. Be inspired by the wonderful mosaics in the art gallery exhibition and make your own mini paper mosaic to take home. A drop-in summer holiday workshop for families with children aged 5+, for children and grown ups to enjoy together. Cost: £1 per child (suggested donation). Times: 11am - 3pm (drop in) Workshop opens at 11am and closes at 3pm, so last entry is usually around 2.30pm.
Sustainable Stories: Family Drop-in Activities Tuesday, August 20, 11am – 3pm. Think about making do and mending by exploring some objects to do with mending in the past and learn how to sew a button on scrap fabric. Drop in family activities for all ages, for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together. FREE but donations welcome. Come for as little or as long as you like.
Spectacular Space Family Activity Two sessions on Wednesday, August 21, 10.30am - 1pm and 2-4pm. Build a rocket from building blocks and create a paper rocket to take home with you. Think about what Earth might look like from space as you use some cool science to make your own mini-Earth. Carry out an experiment to think about how rockets launch using things we might have at home, try creating your own chalk galaxy artwork, and add a planet, star or moon to our paper universe. Tell us whether you would like to go to space by adding to our voting wall, before exploring the museum with a special themed trail about science. A relaxed session designed for families with children over 5 years old. Cost: £7.50 per child (£5 for MiP Members), accompanying adults free. Booking required.
Lovely Lavender Bags - Family Drop-in Workshop Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 & Friday 23 August 11am – 3 pm. Come and make a sweetly scented lavender bag, using lavender from our Walled Garden. Relaxing and calming, lavender helps soothe the senses and a lavender bag placed under your pillow can help you sleep well at night. A drop-in summer holiday workshop for families with children aged 5+, for children and grown ups to enjoy together. Cost: £1 per child (suggested donation). Times: 11am - 3pm (drop in) Workshop opens at 11am and closes at 3pm, so last entry is usually around 2.30pm.
The Museum in the Park is open Tuesday to Friday 10am – 4.30pm; Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday 11am – 4.30pm. Free admission. More information at www.museuminthepark.org.uk
Stratford Park
There’s plenty of outdoor space at the 56-acre award-winning SDC-owned Stratford Park including a large newly refurbished play area, acres of grassy lawn, a small skate park, a lake, woodland, sensory garden, six top class tennis courts, a 5k parkrun on Saturdays, bands playing in the bandstand most Sundays and a miniature railway which runs on the last Sunday of the month. If you feed the resident ducks, please don’t brig bread which isn’t healthy for either the birds or the water quality; try bird seed, oats, peas, lettuce or sweetcorn as healthy alternatives. There’s a large free car park and you’ll find the Museum in the Park and Stratford Park leisure centre there too.
Find out more about Stratford Park https://www.stroud.gov.uk/sport-leisure-parks/parks-green-spaces/stratford-park/
Book a tennis court (£6 per hour or £35for an annual pass) https://www.stroud.gov.uk/community-health-and-wellbeing/stratford-park-tennis-courts/
Stratford Park Miniature Railway https://www.facebook.com/Stratfordparkminiaturerailway
Stratford Park Leisure Centre
Enjoy a free gym, swimming or group fitness class with an Everyone Active offer https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/stratford-park-leisure-centre/
The Pulse
There’s a full programme of activities at The Pulse leisure centre in Dursley, from family swimming and slippery slide inflatable sessions to dance workshops and full activity days.
Dance Workshops with the Amy Addle Dance team. Suitable for ages 4-9 years. Pixar themed sessions on Tuesdays 30 July, 6, 13, 20 & 27 August, 3.35-5.35pm. Disney themed sessions on Fridays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 August, 3.10-5.10pm. £9.50 per child.
Soft Play sessions
Enjoy 40 minutes of soft play including mini trampolines and a bouncy castle, suitable for children under 7 years. Saturdays 27 July, 10 & 24 August: 12.30pm and 1.10pm
Summer passport
The Pulse Summer passport is great value and includes unlimited swimming, inflatable fun, and soft play plus gym* and fitness classes* (*age restrictions apply) for just £45 for 6 weeks.
Swim Camp Day
A fast paced workshop will include a strength and conditioning session, 2.5 hours of coached swimming, a spin session and Pilates session. For children at Stage 6 and above on the Learn-2-Swim programme. Friday 9 August, 8.30am-3.30pm, £40 per child.
Activity Days
A jam-packed day of sports challenges, activities, crafts and an inflatable fun session in the pool. Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout July and August, 9am – 3pm. £25 per child.
Intensive Swimming Lessons
Boost your child’s confidence and ability in the water. Stage 2 intensive lessons: Monday-Friday 8am-8.30am or 8.30am-9am. £35 per five-day course. Stage 4 one to one lessons: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12-12.30pm or 12.30-1pm. £18 per session.
For all activities at The Pulse and to book see https://www.pulsedursley.co.uk/
Enjoy the canals
There’s plenty to see and do along the miles of mostly flat and accessible canal towpath. Take a walk or bike ride and spot the wildlife along the way including swans, kingfishers, otters and water voles. A popular route is to walk from Stroud to Stonehouse (or vice versa) and get the train back, or why not work up an appetite on a shorter walk and treat yourself at one of the many canal side cafes.
Cotswold Canals Trust runs 25-minute boat trips run every Saturday from Wallbridge Lock in Stroud, with longer two hour trips on Sundays from Saul Junction. For more details see https://cotswoldcanals.org/boat-trips-booking/
There are several canal walks published online on the Cotswold Canals Trust website here https://cotswoldcanals.org/canals/ and an accessible walk from Stonehouse town centre from VisitStroud.UK: https://www.visitstroud.uk/ideas/the-accessible-canal-walk-stonehouse
The Canal and River Trust has a downloadable guide to Saul Junction: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/places-to-visit/saul-junction
Take to the commons
We’re spoiled for choice with the number of commons across throughout the district offering wide open spaces and panoramic views across the five valleys. Take a picnic, fly a kite, walk part of the Cotswold Way or watch the paragliders who take off from the steep sides. Beware of cows, ensure dogs are under control and please remember to take all rubbish home with you. There’s more information at https://www.stroud.gov.uk/sport-leisure-parks/parks-green-spaces/commons-in-the-stroud-district/
Swim outdoors
As well as the indoor pools at Stratford Park and The Pulse there are a number of outdoor pools in the district where you can enjoy a swim in the fresh air:
Stratford Park Lido A 50 metre spring fed pool with a Grade II listed parabolic diving board. The pool was initially heated when it was first opened in 1937 but is now a cold-water pool after the heating elements were dismantled for the war effort and is open for around 100 years during the summer months. Book online, via the Everyone Active app or in person at Stratford Park Leisure Centre. https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/stratford-park-leisure-centre/
Wotton Pool, an 18-metre heated pool with a retractable roof that can be closed in colder weather and opened for open air swimming on sunny days. https://wottonpool.co.uk/
Berkeley Community Swimming Pool, a volunteer run 18 metre heated pool and small paddling pool. https://www.facebook.com/BerkeleyPool/
Slightly further afield:
Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool, a 27-metre heated pool and smaller children’s pool and café. Offering dawn and night swims, aqua aerobics, inclusive swims for people with additional needs and youth evenings. https://cirenopenair.org.uk/
Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham, a 50-metre heated pool, smaller children’s pool with slide and café set in four acres of landscaped grounds. Also offers a range of water and land-based fitness classes including aqua fit and yoga. https://www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk/
Portishead Open Air Pool, a 33-metre heated community pool, toddler pool and café situated on the edge of the Bristol Channel https://www.portisheadopenairpool.org.uk/
Join the Library Challenge
There are different activities, fun challenges, workshops and rewards for everyone that joins the sport-themed summer library challenge. Sign up here and find your local library https://gloslibraries.uk/welcome-library-challenge
Wander around Wotton-under-Edge
The Cotswold Way runs right through the centre of Wotton-under-Edge, a bustling town in the south of the district. Walk to Wotton Hill which has spectacular views across the River Severn, or to the Tyndale Monument in nearby North Nibley.
Find seven circular walks that start in Wotton here: www.wotton-under-edge.com/visit-wotton/walks/ or follow the Visit Glos accessible route here https://www.visitstroud.uk/ideas/my-perfect-day-wotton-town-janet-and-jeff
Climb the Tyndale Monument
The striking 111-foot Tyndale Monument in North Nibley was built to commemorate local hero William Tyndale, the martyred 16th century Bible translator. The monument is open every day with spectacular views of the Berkeley Vale and the River Severn to the Black Mountains. You can have the monument illuminated to commemorate a special occasion too. Free with a suggested online donation: https://tyndalemonument.uk/
Woodchester Park and Mansion
The National Trust-owned Woodchester Park has a chain of five lakes set in a tranquil wooded valley, and an outdoor woodland play trail. It’s free to walk around, but please note there’s a charge for parking (free for NT members). Swimming is not permitted in the lakes, but there are plenty of outdoor pools in the district to enjoy https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woodchester-park
Woodchester Mansion is a unique Grade I listed building, famous for being unfinished and exposing the secrets of its construction. See spectacular stone carvings, the restored Chapel east window, and watch the resident bat colony on CCTV. Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday including Bank Holidays until October, from 11am – 5pm. £11 for adults; children under 16 go free. For more information see www.woodchestermansion.org.uk
Farmers’ Market & farm shops
Farmers’ markets and farm shops are great places to show children where seasonal fresh food comes from. We’re spoiled for choice in the Stroud district with the award-winning Stroud Farmers’ Market every Saturday, the Shambles Market every Friday and Saturday in Stroud, and regular markets in many other towns too including Wotton-under-Edge, Minchinhampton, Dursley, Berkeley and Nailsworth. Visitstroud.uk website has a list of farm shops here: https://www.visitstroud.uk/ideas/fantastic-farm-shops-in-the-stroud-district
Have a free day out
The Stroud district Summer HAF & HAP programmes offer free-of-charge children's activities. Search by location, age range, activity type and date to find in-person or online activities including sports, music, crafts, day trips and cookery classes. Some activities (HAF) are for children who receive benefits-related free school meals, others (HAP) are open to all children. More details from the https://gloucestershirehaf.com/stroud-district-haf/about-the-haf-hap-stroud-district-haf/
Discover Stroud Trails app
Walk this way to find out all about the district’s most spectacular heritage and landscape. The free-of-charge walking app will allow all the family to explore circular routes throughout the district – including walks in Stonehouse, Dursley, Berkeley and a new treasure hunt based in Stratford Park. Explore the hidden gems that our historic market towns have to offer – find out all about the wool industry in Stonehouse, glimpse an 11th century castle in Berkeley and gaze up at the incredible Tyndale monument. Type in ‘Discover Stroud Trails’ onto a compatible Apple iOS or Android device.
Dursley Sculpture and Play Trail
The artwork at Dursley Sculpture and Play Trail in Twinberrow Woods has been created by local community groups with new artworks added throughout the year. There is open access to visit any time. See www.dursleytowncouncil.gov.uk/dursley-sculpture-and-play-trail.html
Gloucestershire Play Rangers
Free, outdoor, active play including den building, fires, arts and crafts, sports and playful games for 7–14-year-olds. Under 7’s are welcome and should be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared to get wet, hot, cold, smelly, and dirty, so wear appropriate clothing. Activities are all `open access’ which means there is no registration and children can leave the site at any time.
The Play Rangers will be in Nailsworth, Wotton-under-edge and Kingsway throughout the summer holidays. See https://playgloucestershire.org.uk/play-timetables/ for more information.
The Door
Youth charity The Door runs free youth clubs across the district throughout the holidays for young people aged 11-17. The full programme of activities is available at https://thedoor.org.uk/summer/
Giffords Circus
The Giffords Circus cast of acrobats, jugglers, magicians, musicians and clowns brings its Avalon tour to Minchinhampton Common from 8 – 19 August. Expect a colourful medieval world of pageantry and Arthurian legend, with lavish costumes, opulent set and a live band. Find out more and book tickets at https://giffordscircus.com/theshow/
Longfield Community Hospice Summer Fete
Enjoy a day of joy, laughter and community spirit in the beautiful grounds of Longfield Community Hospice in Burleigh, Minchinhampton. There will be stalls, refreshments, live music and the chance to cheer on the brave participants taking part in an Ice Walk across broken glass to raise money for the charity. Saturday 3 August, 12-4pm. More details from https://longfield.org.uk/event/summer-fete/
Take a bus ride
Take a scenic bus route through the district and discover somewhere new – local buses drop off in villages, towns and commons. Visit Stroud website has lots of inspiration, along with descriptions of some of the highlights: https://www.visitstroud.uk/
Find hidden treasure
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that uses a free app on your smartphone to help you find a hidden box of treasure. Each box is different, but expect to find a logbook for you to leave a message in and small items – take one and leave one for others to find after you. There are hundreds of treasure boxes hidden in the Stroud district and it’s a great excuse to get outdoors and discover somewhere new. Find more information at www.geocaching.com/play
Cllr Catherine Braun, Leader of Stroud District said:
“There are so many brilliant activities on offer in our district, and our summer holiday guide shows plenty of ways to entertain children on a budget.
“Ensuring everyone has access to high quality leisure opportunities that meet their needs is one of the priorities in our Council Plan.
“For anyone struggling with the cost-of-living crisis there is information and sources of support on our website.”
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