Explore Gloucester: 20 Things to do in Gloucester that will make falling in love with the city

Located within 2 hours by train from London, near the Cotswolds area, Gloucester is known for its famous Romanesque and Gothic cathedral. In fact, every year attracts many tourists thanks to being a Harry Potter filming location. However, Gloucester has many things to offer apart from its cathedral, so we put together this ultimate guide to all the best things to do in Gloucester.

From its peaceful docks to a gin experience, you will have the best time while exploring Gloucester. If it’s your first time around Gloucestershire, you will see that you will fall in love from the moment you reach your destination. Let’s hop on a train and take you around the city and explore all the incredible places in Gloucester

The weather in England is so unpredictable that you never know what temperature you might get. However, we were lucky enough to explore Gloucester in summer and have decent weather. Our weekend around Cheltenham and Gloucester was pretty good. Overall, we had sunny days apart from heavy rain on our last day exploring the Cotswolds.

The best time to visit Gloucester and experience all the incredible things to do is between June and September. In fact, with lovely warm weather, you will enjoy the city even better. Imagine yourself rending a boat to explore the docks with a drink in your hand and the beautiful sun shining on your face. Nice, isn’t it? Well, that’s what you can get when you’re visiting Gloucester in summer.

From London, you can reach any destination within a reasonable time. You can check the tickets and the timetable to ensure you hop on the right train. There is a direct train from London Paddington towards Gloucester, which will take around 2 hours. 

A return ticket will cost around £50, depending on when and when you’re travelling. We highly recommend checking out before your journey and booking your tickets.

Absolutely yes! Gloucester is worth visiting. Thanks to its architecture and Roman and mediaeval buildings, Gloucester is the perfect getaway if you’re looking for a gateway from London. 

In fact, an ideal day trip from London, Gloucester is surrounded by lovely countryside, which will make your entire time even more relaxing. 

Make sure to explore around and don’t miss all the incredible things to do in Gloucester. 

Best tours we suggest in Gloucester:

Wander around Gloucester Docks

Gloucester is divided into two parts for many, one it’s the historic town and the other the marina, which was once the industrial heart of the city. One of the most charming parts of Gloucester is for sure its beautiful Docks. 

We weren’t expecting this area to be so peaceful and lively. These historic inland ports are located right in the heart of the city centre and are perfect if you want to walk around a peaceful environment. 

Visit the National Waterways and Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and make your way along the dock. If you’re planning a night out, this area is lovely, plus you can go and grab some food in any of the restaurants around there. 

Rent a boat and drive through the canals

While exploring the river banks of Gloucester, you should rent a self-driving boat. This was one of the most fantastic and funny activities that we did in Gloucester. You will be the captain of your little vessel for a day and drive along the canals.

Allow me to take you back to when Alessia was the captain. We started our journey at Boat Hire, where we were ready to go after the safety demonstration and quick boating sessions. She took charge of the rudder, giving directions. She steers the rudder along the small canals toward the river Severn. When we had to turn, a big boat came our way, and she started panicking. Finally, while trying to go back or in the opposite direction, she handed me the rudder in less than a minute. Short and not really sweet, we had 5 minutes of fun, at least for Toti, not for Alessia.

After this lovely episode, we had a great time driving along the canals and visiting Gloucester from a different angle. Despite the fun part, renting a boat, it’s for sure a romantic thing to do in Gloucester. If you travel with your partner. We highly recommend you have this experience and don’t forget to bring a drink. (Not for the Capitan) 

What are you waiting for? Book your boat here!

Book your Gloucester walking tour

We had the fantastic opportunity to explore Gloucester with a local guide. I mean, there is nothing better than exploring the city with someone passionate about the history behind the destination. 

Starting from “The Cross”, the square where the four streets in the city of Gloucester meet, we ended our tour around Gloucester Docks. One of the main things to do in Gloucester is to explore its beautiful surroundings. Step inside the Bell Tower, visit the Roman Walls in the Eastgate Chamber and check out the “Tailor of Gloucester” shop. 

Gloucester civic trust offers many tours around the city; from the Roman walks to the Gloucester docks, you can pick the suitable tour for you. Check it out here. 

Wander around Gloucester city centre

It doesn’t matter if it’s a rainy day or not, one of the best things to do in Gloucester is walking around its beautiful city centre. Starting from its stunning cathedral and walking along the high street, check out the beautiful boutiques and cafes and don’t forget to grab a souvenir back home. 

Visit the Eastgate chamber featuring 13th-century Roman ruins and walk along Southgate street if you wish to admire the incredible architecture, in fact, the Black and White Restaurant, a fish and chip place, is one of those alternative things to see in Gloucester.

Have a delicious lunch at Hubble Bubble

We weren’t expecting to love this location so much. On a budget and delicious, Hubble Bubble is the perfect place to grab something to eat before starting to explore the city. We ordered a delicious Gloucester Toaster, which was unique and so tasty and for being a toast, we kind of ate in less than 5 minutes. The entire bill for the two of us, drinks and the 3-course meal was less than £30, on a budget for your trip to Gloucester. 

Visit Gloucester Museum

Of all the things to do in Gloucester, you can’t miss visiting Gloucester Museum. It’s a perfect activity if you are visiting Gloucester with kids as there are many areas that they will love to explore. From the dinosaur fossils to a bit of the city’s history, the Gloucester museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM and Sunday until 4 PM. 

The Museum of Gloucester is located in a Victoria Renaissance building that offers exhibits, art, archaeology and history today. The entrance is free but every now, and then there might be special exhibitions that you can access for a small fee. 

If you’re visiting Gloucester and you love history, you are in the right place. You will learn what happened during the Medieval period, the Dark Ages, and the origins of the Roman settlement. 

Explore St. Mary de Crypt Church

With an incredible mixture of Gothic and Norman architecture, this beautiful Medieval Church is today one of the top things to see in Gloucester. Located on Southgate street, St. Mary de Crypt Church was built in the 12th century and extended in the late 14th century. Over the west door, you can admire a well-preserved Norman tympanum representing a lamb and flag embodying Christ’s Resurrection.

Even if you’re spending only one day in Gloucester while wandering around the city centre, you will come across St Mary de Crypt Church and this will be your chance to admire its beauty.

Take a break at the schoolroom coffee shop in Marylone

Nearby St. Mary the Crypt, there is the schoolroom coffee shop in Marylone. You will unwind after exploring the old town, but also finance the tuition of pupils. The cafe is hosted in a room dedicated to children who couldn’t afford tuition to save them from starving or finishing in the streets, offering scholarships while not working.

John and Joan Cooke funded the old crypt schoolroom in 1539. The new Crypt school is outside of the city, and this now functions just as found raiser venue and cafe. From its opening, the school offered tuition to Gloucester pupils, and in 1880 after the restoration, it was used as a Sunday school. The coffee shop’s profit is used for the free tuition cause.

Dig into the Roman history of Gloucester

Gloucester is a Roman settlement, after all. Once upon a time, Gloucester was a strategic fort guarding the border from the river.

After the fort was abandoned, it became a town, as big as it was, and welcomed retired roman soldiers changing the name to Glevum. You can find ruins and findings of roman times in the old town of Gloucester. Walking from the Cross, the city’s centre point toward the docks, you can spot some details about that era. Starting from the shape of Gloucester with the Cross, the point where four cardinal streets meet, like the classic roman structure of building cities. Not only walking down south gate street, you can admire the copy of a bronze of a Roman General and the map of the old Gloucester settlement.

Check out Grey Friars Ruins

Behind the Old crypt schoolroom, there are the ruins of Grey Friars. These were Franciscans’ munch. They got this name because they used to wear grey and worn robe to show the vow to poverty and giving.

When in great shape, the church was in gothic style, modest but beautiful. The royalist forces heavily damaged the structure during the siege of Gloucester in 1643. The only part remaining still is what today is the public library of Gloucester. Everything else is part of the surrounding houses built between the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Check the finest medieval inn in Britain: the New Inn

The New Inn amused us. I mean it’s not every day that you step into a fantastic, well-maintained medieval 15th-century hotel. Many signs show you the restorations of the New Inn. However, the main structure is intact. The galleried inn is considered the finest medieval accommodation in Britain of its kind and is really impressive.

Today you can still spend the night there, in some kind of fashioned way. It is not expensive and is a quint experience. On the gallery, you can still see the hooks used to hang the fresh meat the travellers take with them to dry. At the New Inn Hotel of Gloucester’s entrance is the old wooden tariff panel to welcome travellers. If you love travelling like us, you can’t miss this place to visit in Gloucester.

Have a pint at the fountain Inn beer garden

While walking around Gloucester, we were amused by the number of historical sights in such a small place. We spotted the fountain Inn beer garden, and it looks fabulous to unwind and take a break from touring Gloucester.

Make sure you include this pub in your guide, as it is one of the best things to do in Gloucester. The pub is in Westgate Street and is open every day until 11 PM. The venue offers an incredible selection of beers and lives music, especially at the weekend.

Step back in time to Robert Raikes’s House

You should consider checking in Robert Raikes’s House for a different experience in Gloucester, still having fun and visiting pubs and local bars. I mean, the building itself from the outside is already a blast.

A few other things attract our attention to Robert Raikes’s house. It is an old-fashioned style pub, with interesting medieval features. Another important thing is that if visiting in summer, it is worth checking for the lovely garden at the back, but you can’t see from the front. (I know we give you great tips).

Also, at some point in the house, you can’t use the phone and there is low network reception and no wi-fi on purpose. This is to let people socialize, and talk to each other more, and we find this thing amazing. Finally, the building has a lot of character and details, so it’s beers, which for many are the real Ale.

Do some shopping at Gloucester Quays

This is Bimba’s favourite part when we are travelling; shopping. Let’s be honest; if you’re travelling with your partner, there is no way that you can escape the shopping part. One of the things to do in Gloucester is go shopping in this beautiful shopping centre that offers many designer brands. 

This is not another shopping centre like the other, the designer outlet is housed in a brick former warehouse on Gloucester dock with long alleys and waterfront terrace and even with alfresco dining, ideal for summer months. 

Depending on when you’re visiting Gloucester, you can witness local events, and live music, and during Christmas, several markets and food stands are adorning Gloucester Quays. Fancy isn’t it? 

Have a Gin Experience 

Are you ready for some gin and tonic? Our lovely trip to Gloucester ended with a gin masterclass, learning about the history of the gin and the different ways to make it. 

You can book your masterclass here with Brewhouse and Kitchen, where you can have a unique experience while tasting some gin. 

The masterclass lasted for an hour and we understood the different procedures to make the gin, how different houses make it and what’s the difference between the different types. 

No worries, you will have some tonic water as well, so you don’t need to drink the entire pure gin. Together with the fin masterclass, it’s included a drink with the gin that you liked the most, plus you have dinner as well.

Buy a gift from Beatrix Potter’s House

Beatrix Potter’s House is itself an unmissable sight of Gloucester and worth even just a visit to the shop. However, you can’t leave Gloucester without stepping inside Beatrix Potter’s House and buying a small gift. It’s one of the top things to do in Gloucester and you have to do it. 

This small shop has a museum on the first floor, where, Beatrix Potter created one of the most famous characters, The Tailor of Gloucester. She took the inspiration for the story when visiting a friend near Gloucester and she decided to take a trip into the city to visit 43 Westgate Street, which is the location where today this shop stands. 

Located in the shadows of the Cathedral, this adorable shop is perfect if you’re looking to buy a small souvenir to bring back home. We have you covered if you don’t know who Beatrix Potter is. To briefly summarise, Beatrix Potter is one of the UK’s most loved children’s authors.

Plan a day trip to Bourton-on-the-Water 

There is nothing better than having the opportunity to explore more of the beautiful Cotswolds. One of the best things to do near Gloucester is planning a day trip to Bourton-on-the-Water, one of the most famous well-known villages in the Cotswolds. 

You will love this picturesque village from the moment you will step inside. Thanks to the river that runs through the centre, nature and narrow streets, you will understand why people love spending a couple of days here. 

From Gloucester, you can reach Bourton-on-the-water by car where the journey is around 40 minutes or, if you want to use only public transport and travel on a budget, you can take the bus. However, the journey will be a bit longer, around 1 hour and a half and you will need to change the bus at Cheltenham. 

You can start your trip in Gloucester, explore the city, make your way to Cheltenham, and spend one day in Cheltenham before heading to Bourton-on-the-Water. 

Take a day trip to Cheltenham 

We loved our time in Cheltenham, and every time we talk with our friends, we are constantly suggesting this destination. If you want to plan one day in Cheltenham we have highlighted all the best things you can do in our latest blog post here.

To give you a little brief, Cheltenham is a spa town that, since 1716 become a popular destination among locals and tourists. From its beautiful nature, festivals and unique activities, Cheltenham needs to be on your bucket list. So start your day at Cheltenham Racecourse and hop on the famous steam train that will show you all the cute villages along the Cotswolds; rent a bike and cycle along Honeybourne while admiring incredible street art.

How to reach Cheltenham?

BY CAR | It will take around 25 minutes.

BY TRAIN | The journey is around 10 minutes and you can buy the ticket at the station as well.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Don’t travel anywhere without travel insurance, no matter your journey. We have learned that at our expense while travelling from Dubrovnik to Hvar, our ferry was cancelled because of rough sea weather.
Even though Gloucester is safe, the pandemic taught many people that things might go wrong everywhere in the world, and insurance is frequently the only option to mitigate any problems with the least cost or stress to you.

Hey Mondo | COVID-19 coverage, medical expenses and total travel costs. A fantastic app with 24-hour medical care and no extra charges. You can save 5% on your insurance by booking through our link.

SafetyWing | COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel & medical, and insurance can be purchased while travelling for digital nomads.

Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel 

We stayed at Mercure Bowden Hall Hotel and had the best time. This picturesque hotel, surrounded by a gorgeous garden and its elegant and modern style, will make your stay in Gloucester more magical. The best way to reach it is by car but if you don’t have one, you can always book a taxi. 

What are you waiting for? Book your stay here and don’t miss the fantastic opportunity to visit Gloucester.

Q&A Things to do in Gloucester 

What is Gloucester famous for? 

Gloucester is famous for its incredible Cathedral which is the burial place of Kind Edward II and features scenes from the Harry Potter movie. 

How do I spend a day in Gloucester?

You can spend one day in Gloucester and visit the most important things. Here are all the things to do in Gloucester in one day:  

• Visit Gloucester Cathedral and visit Harry Potter filming locations 
• Step inside Beatrix Potter’s House and buy a souvenir
• Walk around Gloucester docks
• Grab lunch at Hubble Bubble
• Visit St. Mary Church 
• Walk around the historical city centre
• Have a gin experience

Is Gloucester a posh area?

Gloucestershire is known for being home to very posh houses and of course, Gloucester is included as well. Thanks to its incredible landscape and endless views, Gloucester has desirable areas that make the city known as a posh place. 

Where can I take the kids in Gloucester?

There are so many great activities in Gloucester for kids; here is what we suggest:

• Gloucester Docks
• Jet Age Museum
• National Waterways Museum Gloucester
• Kingslom Stadium 
• Rococo Gardens 

Is Cheltenham nicer than Gloucester?

We loved both. There are so many things to do in Cheltenhamthat, depending on the type of traveller that you are, you can pick the right destination for you. From Cheltenham, we explored the beautiful villages of the Cotswolds, but in Gloucester, we admired the incredible architecture and stunning buildings. Cheltenham and Gloucester are both different but have incredible things to offer. 

Which part of Harry Potter is filmed in Gloucester Cathedral?

The beautiful Gloucester Cathedral appears in two Harry Potter movies – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Here are some locations where Harry Potter was filmed:

Main hall
North Corridor
East Corridor
South Corridor
The Lavatorium

WHERE TO GO NEXT?

Every time is good to travel and make new experiences. As London based travel bloggers, it’s easy to find cheap flights and explore new places even just at the weekend. This time we planned the perfect day trip from London and explored Cheltenham and Gloucester. For more inspiration about London, read our guides here

SEASIDE AND BEACHES

Day trip from London to Brighton

ITINERARIES AND GUIDES

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