Visit Dursley A Town in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire

Dursley is a market town in the south of Gloucestershire in the Cotswolds. It’s a nice place to visit and a great starting point for a longer hike. Dursley is actually on the Cotswold Way, a long-distance walking route. Hills and beautiful countryside surround the town. The nearby hills have some fantastic views of both the Cotswolds and the Severn Estuary.

Dursley is a great place to visit for a day trip if you are local to Gloucestershire. However, it is also a great base camp for a holiday in the Cotswolds. If you choose to stay, there are many places to visit nearby. The town has a tourist information centre to promote local events and things to do.

Getting to Dursley in Gloucestershire

Dursley is easy to reach from the M5 motorway if travelling by car. It’s also near Cam & Dursley railway station, so you can reach the town by train. There is also a regular number 65 bus service from Gloucester and Stroud.

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Where to Stay?

There are many options for holiday homes or bed and breakfasts in the Dursley area. This makes for a fantastic base camp for exploring the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire. Some of these are also pet-friendly places to stay.

Pubs and Cafes

Dursley offers many pubs, cafes, and restaurants for refreshments while you visit. This includes great dog-friendly eateries in the town and nearby villages.

Kings Head Pub

The Kings Head is a bar and restaurant in the town centre near the town hall. They have a fantastic menu that features lots of locally sourced food. This includes slow-cooked venison starters, steaks, burgers and more. They have a good range of drinks, including a fantastic wine menu. They also have a courtyard garden which is ideal on a warm day.

Bank Cafe

The Bank Café is a lovely place with both indoor and outdoor seating. They serve fantastic locally sourced food, all cooked to order. It’s also a great place to visit for a coffee. As a bonus, Bank Café is also dog-friendly.

Hummingbird Cafe

Hummingbird is a cafe and bar in the town centre that is dog-friendly. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a quirky cafe that serves delicious Caribbean food, including breakfasts and lunches.

Things to Do in Dursley

There are a few interesting things to see in the town centre, and there are even more places of interest nearby. There are some top tourist attractions, and there are many options for things to do.

The Town Hall

The town hall is the centrepiece of the town and doubles as a covered marketplace. King Henry VIII granted the town the right to hold markets. He granted the right to hold markets to the lord of the manor, Nickolas Wykes, in November 1528. They built the current design in 1738 in the neoclassical style. It has been renovated and preserved over the years and is a Grade II listed building. It’s a lovely building to mooch around and see some of its decorative features.

Farmer’s Market

Dursley Farmers Market is a great place to buy supplies on holiday or for locals, too. The farmers’ market is housed under the pretty town hall building. The market sells local produce from local farmers and food producers. Dursley Market takes place on the second Saturday of the month from March to December, usually from 9 am until 1:30 pm.

Visit the Nearby Owlpen Manor

Owlpen Manor is a Grade I listed building with Tudor origins and has an interesting history. The Tudor Manor House has over 800 years of history, with Arts and Crafts furniture, and there are also reports of ghosts. You can book a tour of the manor and its gardens via their website. You can also book a room at one of their holiday cottages.

St James Church

Near the town hall in the centre of Dursley is St James the Great Church. The church has a lovely building and gardens too. They originally built a place of worship in the 15th century. However, they added the tower in the 18th century. The church building is pleasant to have a mooch around or attend a service in.

Shopping on High Street

There are quite a few shops to see while visiting the town. These include interesting food shops selling local produce. The town offers plenty of options for holiday supplies if you are visiting self-catering, including supermarkets.

Enjoy One Of The Walking Routes Near Dursley

Countless walking routes and circular walks surround Dursley, making it a great place for a walking holiday.

Breakheart Quarry

For an interesting walk near Dursley, head to Breakheart Quarry. You can park up and explore the quarry or incorporate this into a longer hike from the town. You can see the area’s unique geology and spot some wildlife.

Stinchcombe Hill

This is a lovely place for a walk and a popular place for a stroll. The hill is a beautiful part of the Cotswolds, and near the top are some splendid views. You can start a walk here from Leaf & Ground, a lovely garden centre. They also have a place for refreshments before or after hitting the trails. From the area, you can also link up with the famous long-distance walk, the Cotswold Way.