Things To Do Or See In Gloucester & Travel Guide
Gloucester is the biggest city in the county, a historic city with many Roman sites, English Civil War activity and museums to learn more. The city of Gloucester has a famous cathedral and is on the River Severn. It’s also near the M5 motorway for ease of access. It is a city in the rural county, thus surrounded by pleasant countryside. The city has two principal shopping areas: the city centre & The Quays Designer Outlet near The Historic Docks.
The city is historically a rugby town represented by Glos RFC, who play at Kingsholm near the city centre. This means on a match day, the city is typically a hive of activity. For those that enjoy history, there are many historic sites to visit within the central areas.
Things To See or Do In Gloucester
There are some very interesting tourist attractions and places to visit in and near the city.
Gloucester Cathedral
The historic cathedral is the centrepiece of the city and is a fantastic place to visit to learn some history and admire. There are often events, including concerts, hosted here, and they also have a pleasant garden to enjoy an alfresco lunch. It is a free to enter place however they suggest a donation when on the way in. My favourite parts are the cloisters, the secret garden and the gallery above the quire.
Go Shopping
Gloucester offers a perfect combination: a perfect opportunity to shop and drop! The stylish Quays shopping outlet is an easy walking distance from the city centre and city shops.
College Court is a lovely street with some great independent retailers on it, including the Beatrix Potter shop. Lilly’s restaurant towards the cathedral is a nice, independent eatery and serves some great lunches.
Rhythm & Blues Music Festival
Each year the city hosts a rhythm and blues festival which takes place in various venues throughout the city. This is an enjoyable event with gigs held inside and outside. My favourite venues for this are Cafe Rene and the Turk’s Head in the centre. The 2025 festival takes place from 25th July until 3rd August. You can find out who is playing and when on the festival’s website.
Beatrix Potter’s Shop – House of the Tailor of Gloucester
Beatrix Potter’s House of the Tailor of Gloucester is a charming shop and also a museum. It is open to the public every day, where enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers will help you. The house is the original building used by Beatrix Potter in her wonderful story, The Tailor of Gloucester.
Inside the shop and museum, you can see many of the book’s characters. There are loads of books, souvenirs and toys available to buy and other local trinkets. The shop is lovely to browse around and see all the familiar characters from her books. It’s a great place to buy gifts for children or adults that are fans of the author. Website
Eat Out
There are a variety of places to eat out, from nice exclusive to chain restaurants. There are many options to eat in the historic docks and quays area and in the city centre. One of my favourites in the city is Greek on The Docks, which is a waterside eatery with some great food and views. For something different and also healthy, there are some great places for lunch.
Gloucester Goes Retro
Each August, the city hosts a retro festival that showcases cars and outfits of the 20th century. This event takes place throughout the city and is a must if you love classic cars. There is also entertainment on, including a stage with live music.
Folk Of Gloucester
Another museum I enjoy visiting is Folk of Gloucester, which is housed in some old Tudor-style buildings on Westgate Street. It is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the local culture, history, and traditions of the region. The museum features a range of exhibits that showcase the daily lives, trades, and customs of Gloucestershire’s people over the centuries. It touches on Roman and civil war history with some interesting recreations about Gloucester Castle. You can find opening times on their website.
Tall Ships Festival
The Historic Docks host the biannual Tall Ships Festival on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend in May. From experience, this is usually a fun event and worth visiting. Hopefully, the weather will be good.
Explore the Docks
Gloucester docks are a big draw for the city because of its history and interesting attractions. It has two museums, the British Waterways Museum and also the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum.
The docks have lots of Victorian-era warehouses for you to mooch around, many of which have restaurants nearby. Sitting on the waterfront is a great relaxing way to spend some time; however, if you’re lucky, you may get to see some interesting boats.
Museum of Gloucester – Roman, Tudor & Civil War History
The Museum of Gloucester on Brunswick Road in the city is a great place to visit. Especially for those keen to learn about local history. The museum is a fantastic educational resource about the historical aspects of the city’s past. Visitors can learn about recent history, the English Civil War and the Roman era.
This is a great attraction for adults and children to visit. The museum also has some interactive displays where you can dress up in period costumes. The interactive experience includes a Roman kitchen playhouse and medieval street.
They arrange the museum in such a way that it tells the story of Gloucester’s origins as a Roman settlement. Then its subsequent development through the Dark Ages and Medieval period. There is an original Roman wall on display, which is fascinating. The wall makes imaginative visitors wonder what life was like under Roman rule.
The museum has other significant artefacts throughout. This includes some interesting clocks, furniture, and weapons from the Civil War era. The exhibitions are fantastic and really interesting. Admission is FREE for the general exhibits. However, some special exhibitions may incur an extra charge for visitors.
Former Priories
If you like history, there are 4 former priories to visit when in the city; these were victims of Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. These include St Oswald’s, Blackfriars, Greyfriars and the Llanthony Seconda Priory. These are mostly ruins and are free for a mooch around. My favourite is St Oswald’s Priory, and as a bonus, from the ruins are some excellent views of the cathedral.
Watch Sunset
Gloucester has better sunsets than sunrises. The view down Westgate Street can be pretty spectacular if the conditions are right. You can also get a splendid view from the docks or across the river at The Quay.
Visit St Michael’s Tower
St Michael’s Tower in the city centre is over 500 years old. It was the former bell tower of the Church of St Michael. The Tower once housed 10 bells, and the church was once a famous city landmark. The church has many stories; so does the Bell Tower.
St Michael’s Tower in the city centre of Gloucester is the home of The Civic Trust. The tower is a heritage centre with interesting exhibitions, audiovisual displays and daily shows of old films about the local area. There is no entry fee to enter. However, their guided walks have a charge for participants. The tower is one of many photogenic buildings in the historic city. There are many angles that you can shoot from.
Gloucester Civic Trust Tours & Guided Walks
Gloucester Civic Trust for 40 years has been entertaining residents and visitors to the city. They offer a wide selection of themed walks, city tours, dock tours, lectures, art classes and heritage events. The Civic Trust is a registered charity. 100% volunteer-run and -managed. Their tour guides and volunteers give their time freely promoting heritage and tourism in Gloucester.
The Civic Trust hosts guided walks and sells DVDs about old Gloucester. They have a wide selection of self-guided walks where you go at your own pace. They also do themed walks and tailor-made walks. These often start at St Michael’s Tower. www.gloucestercivictrust.org
Spirit of Aviation Statue
Spirit of Aviation is a sculpture by Simon Springer; this is on Northgate Street in Gloucester, near to the now-closed Debenhams store. The Spirit of Aviation statue celebrates the achievements of the Gloster Aircraft Company. They founded the company in 1917 and played a big part in the country’s aeronautical industry. The statue is one of many in Gloucester celebrating different aspects of the county’s history.
Eastgate Viewing Chamber – Roman Ruins
A fascinating thing to do is to see the Roman Ruins at the Eastgate viewing chamber. This is an underground chamber that shows the remains of defences and the Eastgate of the city. This dates back to when Gloucester was a Roman fortress, around AD 68. The chamber includes Roman remains, including the base of a 13th-century tower and the Tudor ‘horse pool’. Historically, this is where the waggons were, and they washed livestock before market. Visitors can view a large section of the Eastgate Viewing Chamber through the windows. The chamber is on the floor outside Boots on Eastgate Street.
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum in Gloucester Docks celebrates the region’s rich military history with a varied array of exhibits. The collection examines local troops such as the Glorious Glosters and Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, exploring their part in conflicts stretching from the American Revolutionary War to the Napoleonic War and both World Wars.
This is a great tourist attraction for those interested in military and war history. They are in Gloucester Docks and easy to find. There is usually a tank or military vehicle outside. The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum reopened in April 2014 after a major refurbishment. When you visit, you can discover the lives of Gloucestershire soldiers from the last 300 years. Fun activities include trying on army uniforms and also looking into a First World War trench. Learn about medals and how soldiers won them through history with the museum’s interactive displays.
Find out how the Gloucestershire Regiment won the Back Badge. Also, find out how the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars survived fighting in the desert. The museum has ever-changing exhibitions, so they will always have something new to see and learn. The story about the soldiers of Gloucestershire begins in 1694 and then travels through the Napoleonic Wars. Then on to the Age of Empire, World Wars and Korea. Finally, right up to modern-day conflicts in the Middle East. www.soldiersofglos.com
Watch a Rugby Match
A popular activity is to enjoy a game of rugby in the city. Gloucester RFC plays out of its home stadium, Kingsholm, just outside Gloucester city centre. They are a premier league team that plays good rugby. For some games, you can purchase tickets, but others are season tickets only. The only Premiership rugby club in Gloucestershire is Gloucester RFC; however, we also know them as the “Cherry & Whites”. Website…
The club also has a retail “megastore” in the Gloucester Quays hopping centre. Customers can buy replica kits, coats and more here in the club’s colours.
Nature in Art, Museum Twigworth
Nature in Art Museum is a unique art experience where nature inspires all the art here. The gallery is also the UK’s only art gallery & museum you can visit dedicated to art inspired by nature. Nature in Art in Twigworth hosts exhibitions, art courses, artists in residence and much more. This is a great place to visit, both for the art and the architecture and also the beautiful countryside.
The Museum and Gallery call Wallsworth Hall a Georgian mansion in Twigworth home. The building dates back to 1740 but has grown since and is a splendid example of Georgian architecture. Many of the buildings’ original features still survive and it’s a special place to visit.
Churches
Throughout the city centre are some fantastic, historic church buildings, many of which you can visit for free. The cathedral is the most popular, but some notable ones include St Nicholas, St Mary de Crypt and St Peters. These tend to be open for a mooch around during weekdays, and some have services on a Sunday.