Top 15 Activities in Gloucester, Gloucestershire

A historic inland port on the River Severn, Gloucester serves as the gateway to England’s West Country, situated at the edge of the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean. Originally, this site was known as the Roman fort of Glevum, established to safeguard a crossing on the Severn River, and received its town charter under Henry II in 1155. A visit to Gloucester’s cathedral is essential, renowned for its impressive Perpendicular tower and Norman nave.

During the 19th century, the construction of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal revitalized the city’s economy, leading to the establishment of striking Victorian warehouses that still surround the city’s docks, which have now transformed into a fashionable residential area and shopping destination. Following the war, Gloucester experienced growth in its aerospace sector, with a rare collection of aircraft from the Gloster Aircraft Company on display at the Jet Age Museum.

Let us delve into the noteworthy attractions in Gloucester:

1. Gloucester Cathedral

The origins of Gloucester Cathedral trace back to an abbey established in the 670s. The cathedral, as it stands today, was completed between the 11th and 15th centuries, featuring a Norman Romanesque core embellished with elements from various phases of English Gothic architecture.

Notably, the 15th-century Perpendicular tower rises to 69 meters and is crowned with four intricate pinnacles. The nave clearly exhibits Norman characteristics, featuring powerful circular columns supporting semi-circular bays beneath a later Early English Gothic vaulted ceiling.

Visitors should note the late Decorated Gothic East Window adorned with medieval stained glass, while the cloisters showcase England’s earliest fan vaults, crafted between 1351 and 1377. The cathedral’s most significant monument is the tomb of Edward II, who met his demise nearby at Berkeley Castle in 1327.

2. Gloucester Docks

Gloucester boasts England’s most inland port, which emerged in the early 19th century with the completion of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. Following the introduction of railways and road freight, the docks fell into disuse during the 20th century. However, they underwent revitalization as a chic residential and commercial district in the 1980s.

The area features 15 imposing Victorian warehouses that reflect the volume of goods once handled by Gloucester during its peak years. Additional attractions include a 19th-century chapel built for mariners, a functional dry dock, and various historic infrastructures that have been beautifully preserved.

The warehouses have been converted into museums and residential spaces, while some have been adapted to accommodate the Gloucester Quays mall.

3. Gloucester and Sharpness Canal

Inaugurated in 1827, this 16.5-mile canal traverses a loop in the River Severn, connecting Gloucester in the north to Sharpness in the south. Upon its completion, it was the widest and deepest canal globally, enabling significantly larger ships to access Gloucester’s docks compared to what was previously feasible along this challenging section of the river.

The expansive canal features robust swing bridges alongside charming bridge-keepers’ houses, contributing to its unique character. For those seeking tranquility, a stroll along the towpath presents opportunities to unwind on grassy banks for leisurely picnics or lunches at nearby pubs.

A commendable wetland center at Slimbridge adjacent to the canal allows visitors to observe various wildlife, including migratory waterfowl and otters.

4. Gloucester Life

This museum dedicated to the social history of Gloucestershire is situated in two remarkable half-timbered houses on Westgate Street. Together, these structures comprise a 16th-century Tudor merchant’s residence and a town house dating back to the 1600s. According to local tradition, John Hooper, the Anglican Bishop of Gloucester, spent the night in the merchant’s house prior to his execution by Queen Mary I in 1555.

Visitors will find an array of exhibits, including fishing equipment from the River Severn, period attire, a Victorian classroom reconstruction, depictions of domestic life over five centuries, and the interior of a pin factory that once occupied the site.

5. Robinswood Hill Country Park

This 200-meter hill located south of Gloucester previously provided the city’s water supply. Natural springs emerge from Robinswood Hill and were harnessed by Gloucester Abbey in the 1200s. Reservoirs were constructed in the 19th century, but these were filled in during the latter half of the 20th century to better accommodate the country park that now occupies the hill.

Within its 250 acres, visitors can relish panoramic views extending to the Black Mountains in the west, south towards the Severn Bridge and Cotswolds, and north towards the Malvern Hills. The hill features a historically restored orchard and serves as a nature reserve, supporting habitats for various species, including badgers, foxes, and red kites.

6. Nature in Art

Located three miles north of Gloucester, this exquisite gallery exhibits art inspired by the natural world, housed within the splendid Georgian estate of Wallsworth Hall. This venue is reputed to host the largest collection of nature-inspired art globally, featuring diverse media.

The permanent collection includes works by British painters and illustrators who dedicated their careers to wildlife, such as George Edward Lodge, Eric Ennion, Charles Tunnicliffe, and Archibald Thorburn, in addition to widely recognized artists like Picasso and an array of Flemish Masters. The collection comprises bronze sculptures, contemporary glass pieces, Far Eastern porcelain, watercolors, engravings, and wood carvings.

Children can participate in workshops during school holidays, and a café overlooks the sculpture garden, providing a delightful atmosphere.

7. Blackfriars Gloucester

Managed by the Gloucester City Council, Blackfriars is an exceptionally intact Dominican friary that is open for visits on Sundays and Mondays during the summer months. The friary was established adjacent to Gloucester’s southern walls in 1239, with the backing of King Henry III. Following the dissolution of the monastery in the mid-16th century, Blackfriars was converted into a mansion, while its cloisters later served as a cap factory and residences in the 1700s.

Restored in 1960, the complex features numerous captivating elements to explore, such as the scissor-braced roof in the dormitory and the oldest surviving purpose-built library in the UK.

8. Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

This military museum, located in the former Custom House on the docks, chronicles the history of the Gloucester Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. Its exhibits span three centuries and encompass a variety of conflicts involving these regiments, from the Napoleonic Wars to peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans during the 1990s.

The museum displays two Victoria Crosses, the highest UK gallantry award, along with lifelike tableaux, archival footage, audio elements, weapons, military equipment, heavy machinery, paintings, silverware, and uniforms.

9. Museum of Gloucester

Housed within a Victorian Renaissance Revival building, the Museum of Gloucester offers a diverse range of exhibits, encompassing fine arts, applied arts, paleontology, archaeology, and local history. One significant artifact to explore is the Rufus Sita Tombstone, a 1st-century Roman stele discovered on London Road and measuring over 1.2 meters in height.

The art collection includes works by Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner, as well as Dutch Delftware and Arts and Crafts pottery crafted by Alfred and Louise Powell. Young visitors will find dinosaur fossils particularly exciting, alongside a curious portrait of Oliver Cromwell absent his iconic warts.

10. Gloucester Waterways Museum

Situated in the Gloucester Quays development, the Gloucester Waterways Museum explores the 200-year history of Gloucester Docks, as well as the shipping and navigation activities associated with the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. The museum occupies a section of the Llanthony Warehouse, built in 1873 and originally utilized for storage of alcohol, timber, and grain.

Inside, visitors can engage with interactive displays, models, vintage signage, and a fleet of historic vessels, including tugboats, barges, and narrowboats. The museum also showcases the features of a canal repair yard, allowing visitors to enter the machine shop and forge, and examine hydraulic equipment such as an accumulator, heavy oil engine, steam crane, and weighbridge.

11. St Mary de Crypt Church

This splendid Medieval church, situated on Southgate Street, embodies a blend of Gothic and Norman architectural styles. St Mary de Crypt was consecrated in the early 12th century and subsequently remodeled in the Perpendicular Gothic style during the 14th and 15th centuries. Above the west entrance, visitors can admire a preserved Norman tympanum depicting a lamb and flag, symbolizing the Resurrection of Christ.

The nave, dating back to the 1400s, features a beautifully carved Renaissance-style pulpit crafted in the early 1600s. Additionally, George Whitefield, a founding figure of Methodism, delivered his inaugural sermon at St Mary de Crypt in 1736 before embarking on a journey to America to promote this denomination.

12. Highnam Court Gardens

Open on weekdays from March to September, this estate located on the western outskirts of Gloucester offers access to stunning gardens that have undergone restoration over the last 25 years. The Mannerist house at Highnam Court represents one of the few structures erected during the Commonwealth (Interregnum) in the 17th century, designed by a pupil of Inigo Jones.

Framed by large ponds, the gardens were designed by artist Thomas Gambler-Parry after he acquired the estate in 1838. Following a period of neglect in the 20th century, the gardens have gradually been restored to their former magnificence, including features such as a boxwood knot garden, kitchen garden, wisteria walk, and Pulhamite winter garden with waterfalls and rock gardens.

13. Jet Age Museum

Throughout the post-war era, companies in Gloucestershire, including the Gloster Aircraft Company, Smiths Industries, and Dowty Rotol, played significant roles in the UK’s aviation expansion. The Jet Age Museum, located on the northern side of Gloucestershire Airport, documents this chapter of local history.

This institution is unique in that it houses four complete jets from the Gloster Aircraft Company in one venue: two Gloster Meteors (T.7 and F.8) and two Gloster Javelins (FAW.4 and FAW.9). Additionally, full-scale models of a Gloster E28/39 and a Hawker Hurricane are on display, alongside the cockpits of an Avro Vulcan and a Hawker Siddeley Trident.

14. Severn Bore

A fascinating phenomenon occurs on the Severn, Britain’s longest river, when the rising tide surges upriver in the form of a wave. If the bore occurs during daytime hours, you may witness groups of surfers and canoeists attempting to catch the wave.

The Severn Bore might be observed approximately 260 times annually, occurring twice daily on 130 occasions. The most substantial bores typically occur around the equinoxes, although they can manifest at other times of the year. The waves are rated on a star system, with five stars being the highest, yet even three-star bores are noteworthy experiences.

If you find yourself in Gloucester during a bore, it can be observed just west of the city, between Stonebench and Maisemore Weir.

15. Gloucester Quays

With over 120 stores as of 2018, the Gloucester Quays shopping center has continually expanded since its inauguration in 2009. In 2017, an additional investment of £100 million was announced to further develop the center, including the addition of an upper floor.

What distinguishes Gloucester Quays from typical shopping malls is that its designer outlet stores are situated within repurposed brick warehouses along Gloucester Docks, complemented by lengthy alleyways and waterfront terraces ideal for outdoor dining in the summer months.

A 10-screen cinema complex, Cineworld, opened within the premises in 2013, with new chain restaurants being introduced annually.