💷 Free entry
Stratford Park
Free Stroud park with lakes, play areas, a leisure centre, lido and the Museum in the Park.
✦ We visited
We did the free play area and duck pond, then the Museum in the Park, also free, for a cheap day out. In summer the lido is the bit to plan around, so pack swimwear.
Stratford Park in Stroud is a large free park that packs a lot in, set in landscaped grounds with lakes, mature trees and open lawns. For families it offers a good play area, room to run and feed the ducks, and walking paths around the water, all at no cost, which makes it an easy go-to for a couple of hours of fresh air.
Within the park there is more to do for a small charge: a leisure centre with swimming, an outdoor lido and splash area in summer, sports facilities and the free Museum in the Park, a local-history museum set in a handsome old mansion with gardens and family activities. That mix of free outdoor space and paid extras means you can keep it cheap or build it into a fuller day.
It suits all ages, with toddlers happy at the play area and ducks and older children using the pool, sports and museum. Bring swimwear in summer and a picnic for the lawns.
Good for: outdoors, water, sporty, history. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Is Stratford Park in Stroud free?
Yes, the park and the Museum in the Park are free, though the leisure centre and lido carry charges.
Is there swimming at Stratford Park?
Yes, there is a leisure centre with swimming and an outdoor lido with a splash area in summer.
What is the Museum in the Park?
It is a free local-history museum within Stratford Park, set in an old mansion with gardens and family activities.