House in Stroud District
Reasons to book
About this house rental
Toadsmoor House sits at the mouth of the Toadsmoor Valley in Brimscombe, one of the chain of villages threading the Golden Valley between Stroud and Chalford. This is the quieter, steeper, more wooded side of the Cotswolds; five distinct valleys of beech woods, mill ponds and canal towpaths, a world away from the busier honeypot villages further north.
On your doorstep:
The Ship Inn, Brimscombe, a much-loved village pub minutes from the house, serving local beers and hearty food, with a weekly changing set menu. The natural first-night option.
Stroud Brewery Taproom, the canalside taproom of Stroud's celebrated organic brewery is in Brimscombe itself, with craft beers, wood-fired pizzas, sharing plates and regular live music.
The Burleigh at Burleigh Court, a two-AA-rosette restaurant in a Grade II listed manor on the hillside above Brimscombe, with panoramic views across the Five Valleys, seasonal kitchen-garden cooking and wood-fired terrace dining in summer. The smart choice for a celebration dinner.
Thames & Severn Canal towpath, flat, pram- and dog-friendly walking from Brimscombe along the restored canal towards Stroud in one direction and Chalford's lock flights in the other.
Stroud (10 minutes):
Stroud is one of the most distinctive market towns in the Cotswolds, independent, creative and fiercely local. Its award-winning farmers' market (Saturday mornings) is widely regarded as one of the best in Britain and is unmissable if your stay includes a Saturday. The town is full of independent cafes, delis, galleries and pubs.
Walks and countryside:
Toadsmoor Valley, straight from the door: a secluded wooded combe with a stream and old mill ponds, climbing towards the hilltop village of Bisley.
Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons (National Trust), hundreds of acres of open limestone grassland above the valleys, grazed by free-roaming cattle, with enormous views. Winstones ice cream, made on the common, is obligatory.
The Slad Valley, Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie country, just the other side of Stroud, with a pilgrimage pint at The Woolpack in Slad.
Cotswold Way, the national trail passes along the escarpment west of Stroud for bigger days out.
Days out (all within 30–45 minutes):
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, spectacular in autumn especially.
Cirencester, the "Capital of the Cotswolds", with Roman history, the Corinium Museum and excellent shopping.
Painswick, the "Queen of the Cotswolds" and its Rococo Garden.
Gloucester (cathedral and docks),
Cheltenham (Regency architecture, racing, festivals),
Bath are all comfortable day trips.
Whole house:
Exclusive use of the entire house and gardens
High-speed WiFi throughout
Smart TVs in the living room and snug; with Nintendo Wii games console in the snug
Central heating throughout
USB-C charging points at every bedside
Kitchen and dining:
Range cooker with induction hob, microwave
Dishwasher, large American fridge freezer
Drinks bar with two large drinks fridges, sink and glasswasher
Separate pantry with additional appliances
Full cookware, tableware and glassware for 21
Coffee machine, kettle and toaster
Bedrooms and bathrooms:
Hotel-quality mattresses and linens on all beds
Towels provided
Shampoo, Conditioner and Shower Gel provided
Hairdryers in all bedrooms
Laundry and practical:
Washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board
Travel cot and high chair
Stairgate available on request
Outdoors:
Secluded private gardens
Wood-fired hot tub
Fire pit area
Gas BBQ and pizza oven
80sqm patio
Outdoor seating
Private parking for five cars
EV charging point
Safety and accessibility:
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and first aid kit
Step-free access from the driveway to the ground floor, where The Snug bedroom (wide doorways), its en-suite and a WC are located, well suited to wheelchair users and less mobile guests
Please note the house is arranged over four floors with period staircases; the kitchen and dining room are on the lower ground floor, reached by stairs
Behind its Victorian facade, Toadsmoor House unfolds across four floors of generous, light-filled rooms. High ceilings, sash windows and original period features sit alongside a calm, considered interior palette, with living and dining spaces designed to bring the whole party together and seven bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom, to retreat to at the end of the day.
Living Spaces:
At the heart of the house are three distinct living spaces. The lounge, reached through the open archway off the main hallway, looks out onto the garden and is the natural spot for guests to congregate and socialise. The main formal living room offers deep wrap-around sofas, relaxed seating and a TV, while the snug and movie room provides a quieter escape, with books, board games, a TV and a games console.
Kitchen and Dining:
The kitchen is fully equipped for catering at scale, with a range cooker and induction hob, dishwasher, microwave and large American fridge freezer, alongside everything needed for anything from lazy breakfasts to a celebration dinner. Private chefs and catering can be arranged on request.
The dining room seats the whole party at a long, generous table, with doors opening onto the patio for summer aperitifs. While at the far end of the room a dedicated drinks bar comes complete with two large drinks fridges, coffee machine, kettle, bar sink and a glasswasher.
Bedrooms and Bathrooms:
Each bedroom has been individually designed, combining period character with hotel-quality beds, crisp linens, considered lighting and bedside USB-C charging. Six bedrooms have their own en-suite, each with a rain shower, while the seventh enjoys private use of the family bathroom, complete with both a rain shower and a freestanding bath.
Sleeping Arrangements:
Bedroom 1 (first floor): Super-king, twin or triple configuration, with private family bathroom (shower and freestanding bath)
Bedroom 2 (first floor): Super-king, twin or triple configuration, with en-suite
Bedroom 3 (first floor): Super-king, twin or triple configuration, with en-suite
Bedroom 4 (second floor): Super-king, twin or triple configuration, with en-suite
Bedroom 5 (second floor): Super-king, twin or triple configuration, with en-suite
Bedroom 6 (lower ground floor): Bunk room sleeping up to six, with en-suite
Bedroom 7 (The Snug, ground floor): King sofa bed, with en-suite, wide doorways and step-free access make it well suited to wheelchair users and less mobile guests
The house, floor by floor:
Lower ground floor: Kitchen, dining room with drinks bar, pantry, utility room with WC, Bedroom 6 (bunk room) with en-suite
Ground floor: Entrance hallway with WC, lounge, living room, The Snug (Bedroom 7) with en-suite
First floor: Bedrooms 1 to 3, with the family bathroom serving Bedroom 1
Second floor: Bedrooms 4 and 5, both with en-suites
Outdoors:
The secluded, green gardens wrap the house in privacy, with lawns, mature trees and an 80-square-metre patio for outdoor seating and dining. The wood-fired hot tub and fire pit area make the garden as much a part of the stay as the house itself, sunken into the greenery for long soaks and late evenings under the stars, while the gas BBQ and pizza oven open up extensive outdoor dining. Beyond the property, walking trails lead straight out into the Five Valleys and the surrounding countryside.
By car:
Toadsmoor House is just off the A419 at Brimscombe, between Stroud and Cirencester. Approximate driving times: London 2 to 2.5 hrs; Cirencester 15 mins; Cheltenham 30 mins; Bristol 45 mins; Bath 45 mins; Oxford 1 hr.
Sat-nav: use postcode GL5 2TB and please approach via London Road, not Toadsmoor Road, which sat-navs sometimes suggest as the postcode covers several addresses.
What3words: ///aviators.seagull.excuse. Full directions are provided before arrival.
Parking:
Private off-road parking for five cars within the grounds, with an EV charging point on site.
By train:
The nearest station is Stroud (GL5), just a six-minute taxi ride from the house, with direct Great Western Railway services to London Paddington in around 1 hour 27 minutes, plus connections to Gloucester, Cheltenham and the wider network. Kemble station (c. 20 minutes by car) offers an alternative on the same London line. Taxis are available from Stroud station [— pre-booking recommended; we can supply trusted local numbers].
By air:
Bristol Airport is around 1 hour by car; Birmingham and Heathrow are both around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Getting around:
A car is recommended for exploring the wider Cotswolds, though Brimscombe's pubs, the canal towpath and the Toadsmoor Valley walks are all reachable on foot, and Stroud is a short taxi or local bus ride away.








