The Cotswolds are undeniably beautiful, but there's one lesser-known town tucked in the valleys with an award-winning market.

There's so much to explore in the popular region with Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water and Castle Combe among the most popular to visit, thanks to their picturesque settings. As a result of their fame, they attract thousands of tourists every year who overrun the quaint streets, fill the car park, and stop to take selfies against the iconic honey-coloured stone cottages and rolling hills.

While their idyllic, storybook scenes certainly warrant a visit, never-ending tourist crowds come with the territory. Yet, nestled elsewhere within the Cotswolds are lively towns that get overlooked as places to visit during time in the region, and they certainly shouldn't be missed, with one of the best-kept secrets just 80 minutes on a direct train from London.

Sitting below the western edge of the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire is the bustling market town of Stroud. It's encircled by five valleys, Chalford, Nailsworth, Ruscombe, Slad, and Painswick, which make up the Five Valleys of Gloucestershire, with a popular 21-mile circular walk from Stroud if you want to go exploring.

The town was named as the best place to live in 2021 by the Sunday Times, thanks to its flourishing independent scene, excellent transport links, green spaces, and arts scene. It also bears the traditional honey-hued Cotswolds stone, but in contrast with its ancient textile and woollen mills, that's a nod to its rich industrial heritage.

Due to its location, the town is a gateway to countryside walks, offers sweeping views across the rolling Cotswolds, and has a steep high street brimming with independent shops - making it perhaps one of the most energetic Cotswolds towns. It's often referred to as 'Notting Hill in Wellies' because of its ancient architecture against its bohemian, creative vibe that flows through its high street.

There's a plethora of quirky boutiques, charity shops and local cafes that feel as though you could be in a suburb of London, rather than a Cotswolds town. It's packed with life, but every Saturday the town really shines as it hosts its renowned Stroud Farmers’ Market.

The award-winning market is held at Cornhill Market Place and the surrounding streets every Saturday from 9am-2 pm, drawing crowds from across Gloucestershire and beyond, myself included. Around 50 traders have stalls selling everything from local produce, artisan food, crafts, gifts and more - it's certainly hard to walk away without purchasing anything, especially when you can smell the freshly cooked goodies.

It's known as one of the biggest farmers' markets in the UK, and was crowned the Best Farmers' Market in the UK for 2013 for the second time by FARMA. There's an incredible buzz to the town as you wander around the market, where locals catch up with each other and pick up treats for the weekend, while live music is sometimes played to really show off the town's lively spirit.

But that's not the only impressive offering. On the other side of the high street is the Five Valleys shopping centre, which has expanded in recent years. What was once a run-down shopping precinct I often avoided is now a thriving hub with independent retailers of homeware, beauty, fashion, and gifts, along with some high street favourites.

The shopping centre is also home to an impressive indoor market hall, packed with more than 25 places to eat and drink, and is claimed to be "some of the best food found in the Cotswolds and beyond," and I couldn't agree more. It's certainly a standout in the town, alongside its farmers' market and independent shops.

You can try different foods from around the world, with the Biryani Pot for authentic Southern Indian flavours, The Burger Bar, Kyuri Sushi, Thai2Go, Sofia's Chinese Kitchen, and Tex-Mex at La Cantina. For those sweet treats, there's the French patisserie, Bon Macaron, the Artisan Baker, Baked For You, and Alfonso Gelateria.

You can easily potter around Stroud High Street for a morning or afternoon, especially on a Saturday. And once you've picked up some boutique treasures and tasted as much food as possible, there are ample walking trails in and around Stroud to enjoy, including strolls along the scenic canal, with a convenient stop at Stroud Brewery & Taproom.

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