Dursley is a little market town situated approximately 12 miles southwest of the city of Gloucester in a wooded valley under the edge of the Cotswold escarpment. The surrounding countryside is truly wonderful providing spectacular views from Stinchcombe Hill west across the River Severn to Wales, northwest towards the Malverns and south towards Bristol. Overlooking Dursley itself is the conical shape of Cam Peak which together with Cam Long Down serve as a public amenity for local residents and the many walkers who pass through the area. Both of these two hills together with Stinchcombe Hill and Dursley town centre itself are situated on the Cotswold Way, the long-distance footpath which links Bath and Chipping Campden.

The centre of Dursley is a pleasant place which has as its crowning glory the pillared Market House which was built in 1738. Today the building serves as the Town Hall as well as being used as the location for the monthly Farmers' Market and numerous other events which take place in the elevated hall which is accessed by a single flight of external stone steps. The Market House stands at the eastern end of Parsonage Street, the town's main shopping street which is now pedestrianised having been bypassed by Castle Street which routes traffic past the excellent swimming pool and the fire station. The other two significant shopping streets in the town are Long Street which has retained many of its original buildings and Silver Street which leads into Bull Pitch after a short distance.

Across the road from the Market House is St. James Church which dominates the town centre. At one time the entrance to the church was though a narrow gate and passageway between two buildings and apart from the tower it was effectively hidden. In the late 1950's and 1960's however, much demolition took place within the town centre which opened up the frontage. This demolition, together with removal of other buildings which crowded the Market House and others along Parsonage Street unfortunately took away several of the town's older buildings which in retrospect would have retained character. That said however, there are still many buildings of merit, especially along Long Street which descends to the fine 16th century Priory.

At one time, Dursley had its own central railway station which was located at the bottom of Long Street close to the vast site of the R.A.Lister company, world-famous manufacturer of engines and all kinds of agricultural implements. The other major manufacturer in the town was Mawdsley's, who have now unfortunately left their site on Uley Road.

For anyone keen on cartographical history there are a number of old maps of the town detailing change over the last 100 years.