What to do with your group accommodation in Stonehouse
Stonehouse is a small, friendly town of about 7,600 people at the western end of the Stroud valleys, where the Cotswold escarpment drops down to the flat green Severn Vale. It turns up in the Domesday Book as Stanhus, and the restored Stroudwater Navigation runs right along its western edge.
For a big group, it's handy rather than twee. Junction 13 of the M5 is about 2.5 miles away, Stonehouse station sits on the Golden Valley Line with trains to London, and you're within half an hour of canal boats, flamingos, a ghostly Victorian mansion and some of the best views in Gloucestershire.
Charter a canal boat from Saul Junction
Just west of town, the Stroudwater meets the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal at Saul Junction, a proper canal crossroads with a visitor centre and narrowboats tied up along the bank. From here the Cotswold Canals Trust runs Adventure, a 54ft all electric trip boat, along a lock free stretch towards Gloucester. It's quiet, it's heated, and you'll spot herons long before anyone spots you.
Adventure is licensed for up to 12 passengers, which makes it a ready made private outing for a group. The trust lists a two hour charter at £160 and a four and a half hour trip down to Slimbridge at £360, with a stop at the Tudor Arms. Book at least 14 days ahead, as volunteer crews need organising and summer dates go fast.
Book a private canal charter with the Cotswold Canals Trust »
Woodchester Mansion, the house that was never finished
Hidden at the bottom of a wooded valley near Nympsfield, about four miles south, Woodchester Mansion is a Victorian Gothic house that the builders simply walked away from. Floors and ceilings are missing, the walls were never plastered and the windows were never glazed, so you can see exactly how it was built. Walk down through Woodchester Park, past the string of lakes, and it suddenly appears through the trees.
Groups of around 12 can book a private tour on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. The mansion lists £15 a head, or £22.50 with tea and homemade cake, and a minibus picks you up from the car park so nobody has to tackle the steep walk back. Tours can lean towards the architecture or the history, whichever your lot prefer.
Arrange a private group tour of Woodchester Mansion »
Flamingos and wetland birds at WWT Slimbridge
Out on the edge of the Severn estuary, about seven miles from Stonehouse, WWT Slimbridge is one of the best days out in the county whatever the weather. You can meet five species of flamingo, climb the observatory tower for the view across the marshes, and paddle a canoe safari looking for water voles in summer.
It's set up well for a crowd. Groups of 12 or more paying visitors get 15% off when they book ahead, the organiser goes free, and parking is free too. Adult tickets are listed at £16.92 until March 2027.
Plan a group visit to WWT Slimbridge »
Pizza and pints at Stroud Brewery
Follow the canal east past Stroud to Thrupp and you'll find Stroud Brewery, a canal side taproom with long tables, steel tanks behind the bar and beer brewed a few feet from your glass. Sourdough pizzas come out of a wood fired oven, there's brunch and a grill menu, and dogs are welcome. It's about a ten minute drive from town.
Long tables suit a big party, but booking is the thing. Groups of eight or more may need to pre order through the booking system, and larger groups are asked to ring ahead on 01453 887122. Brewery tours with a tasting run on the first Thursday of the month!
Book a table at the Stroud Brewery taproom »
Walk the Cotswold Way at Haresfield Beacon
Of all the walks from Stonehouse, this is the one to save for a clear morning. Haresfield Beacon is a National Trust site on three spurs of the Cotswold escarpment, about four miles north east of town, with an Iron Age hill fort on top and views over the Severn to the Forest of Dean and the Brecon Beacons. The Cotswold Way runs the whole length of it.
Expect steep slopes and exposed tops, so it's a proper walk rather than a stroll. The small car park fills up on sunny weekends, so share cars. A coffee van often parks up, which keeps everyone cheerful. Dogs are welcome on leads.
Plan your walk at Haresfield Beacon with the National Trust »
Villages near Stonehouse worth the short drive
A big group needs somewhere for the Saturday shop, a long lunch and a change of scenery, and these are all close by.
- Stroud (about 4 miles): the farmers' market fills Cornhill every Saturday from 9am to 2pm, perfect for stocking up the big kitchen.
- Frampton on Severn (about 4 miles): a 22 acre village green, reputedly one of the longest in England, with The Bell and the Three Horseshoes both on it.
- Uley (about 5 miles): climb to the Iron Age hill fort of Uley Bury, then back down to the Old Crown on the green.
- Painswick (about 5 miles): home to the Painswick Rococo Garden, a short drive from Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons.
- Amberley (about 4 miles): a hilltop village beside the National Trust's open commons, with big skies for a group walk.
- Gloucester (about 7 miles): the cathedral and the fifteen Victorian warehouses of the historic docks, now full of bars and restaurants.
Where to stay and where to go next
Most group accommodation in Stonehouse is big, practical and close to everything above. Leonard House sleeps 21 across nine bedrooms, with a hot tub and a games room with a bar, while The Bullseye sleeps 18 in seven bedrooms, less than half a mile from the town centre. For more space, Hammonds Farmhouse near Stroud sleeps 16 and has parking for ten cars.
Stonehouse also makes a good starting point for the rest of the Cotswolds. Cirencester is about half an hour east along the A419, and Bibury is a little further on. Head north east to Burford, or make a day of it in Chipping Campden and Chipping Norton beyond.
Fancy something with a pool or a cinema room? You can browse all our large group cottages in the Cotswolds and find the right house for your next group accommodation in Stonehouse and beyond.