Places to go
We’ve put together a list of baby friendly places to go in and around Stroud wi think you’ll enjoy, with baby change, play spaces and a relaxed atmosphere.
Do also check out the GlosFamilies Directory and Stroud Rocks for more things to do and family information. Feel free to contact me with recommendations…
Cafes
Woodruffs Organic Cafe - Near the top of the High Street, Stroud - Mum and baby/toddler friendly, enclosed children's play area, space for prams downstairs, friendly and relaxed. 01453 759 195 24. The High Street, Stroud, GL5 1AJ. www.woodruffsorganiccafe.co.uk
The Canteen - Daysmill, Nailsworth, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 0DU - thecanteennailsworth.com - Very cool and yet baby friendly, delicious food and drinks. Lovely and helpful staff (who don't mind warming up bottles!).
Prema - Bethesda Chapel, South Street, Uley, Nr Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 5SS. www.prema.org.uk Fantastic cafe and art space where there are always exhibitions, workshops and exciting things going on. There are always a lot of family events going on, see the Kids Zone section of the website.
Curio Lounge - Kings St, Stroud. thelounges.co.uk - not an independent cafe, but it's big and has loads of room for toddlers to run around, and comfy sofas, and a few toys.
Outdoor Spaces and Walks
Stratford Park - A large playground and skate park. Toilets both outside and inside (with baby change) the leisure centre. A fairly flat loop around Stratford Park Lake with benches along the route. Easy parking at the leisure centre.
Whiteshill Playing Field - Great play area for little ones with a great view and benches, with a community run shop and cafe next door. Parking is right in front of the play area, and then there's a nice walk down to the playing field and beyond. Definitely one I'd recommend.
Daisy Bank - At the end of Horns Rd, near the cemetery in Stroud. A popular park and play area.
Chalford Hill/France Lynch - A good jungle gym, the river, and a dirt track for bikes in the woods.
Summer Crescent, Summer Street, Stroud - Refurbished with lovely wooden play equipment.
The Commons - Minchinhampton, Rodborough and Selsley Commons are great spaces for walking, kite-flying, picnics, ball games and of course, eating ice-cream at Winstones Ice-cream factory! Also try Painswick Beacon and Haresfield Beacon for walking - though maybe only with a decent off-road pushchair or a baby carrier!
Coaley Peak (4 mile SW of Stroud on B4066) 12 acres of grassland with panoramic views of Severn Vale. Car Park and Toilets.
Woodchester Park - See the Woodchester Park website for info.
Indoor Spaces
Museum in the Park, Stroud. Free to get in. Refreshments and toilets, and pushchair friendly. There's a little play area on the second floor with wooden toys and lovely books. museuminthepark.org.uk
Rugrats and Half Pints, Cirencester. An inside play park has a variety of different play areas and entertainment for your kids to get stuck in while you can enjoy the onsite cafe. www.rugratsandhalfpints.com/cirencester
Go Bananas Indoor Softplay Centre in Ebley, between Stroud and Stonehouse. A good selection of varying equipment. They also provide a seperate play area for kids under 4 years old to keep them safe from the chaos with developmental toys and mini play equipment. http://www.gobananas.org.uk/
Days Out
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre - An ideal place to get closer to nature. Home to an astounding array of wildlife including the world's largest collection of swans, geese, and ducks. A year round programme of walks, arts, events, workshops, talks and spectacular wildlife encounters are a fantastic way for everyone to connect to their natural surroundings. It's pram friendly, has multiple baby changing facilites, playground, outdoor cafe and indoor restaurant, and is a wonderful place to take babies and toddlers for all the different sounds and smells.
St. Augustines Farm, Arlingham - A real working organic dairy farm in the Severn Vale, St Augustines is a typical dairy farm of over 100 acres, where the everyday farm life will go on around you. They are specially suited to early years and primary age children, please phone Elaine or Rob on 01452 740720 for more details. Watch the cows being milked in a herringbone parlour every afternoon, talk to the farmer as he works and find out where your milk comes from. Help feed the baby calves and visit the farm animals in the paddocks. Follow the farm trail to see over 50 acres and see our wildlife in its natural habitat. Explore the mini woodland trail. Go back in history and discover a vanished era in our bygones collection. •Join in the Fun on the Farm. •Indoor and outdoor activities •Acres to Explore.
St James City Farm
A taste of the countryside in the heart of the city of Gloucester. Run as a community project by a charity. Kids will love meeting the local animal residents (and you will love the free entrance!)Cotswold water park has a special under 5s play area with their own paddling bit.
Berkeley Castle and butterfly centre
Butts Farm in Cirencester
Corinium Museum in Cirencester
Cattle Country near Berkeley