Museum in the Park in Stroud wins Museum & Art Gallery

Stroud’s Museum in the Park has won the best Museum & Art Gallery award in the Slow Travel Cotswolds Awards 2024.

The award was presented at the first Slow Travel Cotswolds Awards, a celebration of the Cotswolds and the launch of the third edition of the travel guide Slow Travel The Cotswolds by its author Caroline Mills.

The museum’s entry reads: "My favourite place to visit in Stroud is the excellent Museum in the Park.

"Set up in a 17th century mansion house that was built by a wealthy clothier, it’s a fascinating museum that provides a potted history of the Stroud valleys in addition to an art gallery and regular exhibitions.

"Free to enter, it’s well attuned to families with children’s discovery trails and child-friendly displays."

The Museum in the Park is managed by Stroud District Council in collaboration with the Stroud District (Cowle) Museum Trust.

Cllr Beki Aldam, Chair of SDC’s Community Services & Licensing Committee, said: “I’m delighted that the brilliant Museum in the Park has won this award, particularly as it celebrates the art of slowing down to appreciate the beauty of our local area. 

“The museum, with its fascinating displays and beautiful walled garden give our visitors the perfect excuse to pause and reflect while they discover more about the history of the area.”

Alongside the 4,000 objects and artefacts on display, the museum has a shop stocked with a wide range of items made by local artists and makers, and a small café serving drinks, snacks and ice creams.

The museum’s current exhibition is the botanical, floral work Photosynthesis by zero waste ceramic artist Cleo Mussi and ethical horticulturalist Fiona Haser Bizony (until 1 September).

The visual journey celebrates the horticultural calendar through photography and mosaic to inspire the viewer to consider who we perceive the natural world. 

A full programme of summer activities is available to keep families entertained during the school summer holidays.