Discover 35 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Gloucester (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Gloucester Cathedral, Lassington Wood, and Gloucester Waterways Museum. Also, be sure to include Kingsholm Stadium in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Gloucester (England).
Table of Contents
Gloucester Cathedral
Medieval architecture and Edward II's tomb. Gloucester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the River Severn. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter.[1]
Address: 12 College Green, GL1 2LX Gloucester
Lassington Wood
Lassington Wood is a nature reserve near Highnam, Gloucestershire. Part of the estate of the Guise family since the 13th century it was donated to Gloucester County Borough Council in 1921. It is now owned by Tewkesbury Borough Council and managed jointly with Highnam Parish Council. The wood was the site of the Lassington Oak, a notable tree until it fell in 1960.[2]
Gloucester Waterways Museum
Museum in Gloucester, England. Gloucester Waterways Museum is housed in a Victorian warehouse at Gloucester Docks in the city of Gloucester, England. It is located along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and River Severn.
It is one of several museums and attractions operated by the Canal & River Trust, the successor to The Waterways Trust.[3]
Address: Llanthony Warehouse, GL1 2EH Gloucester
Kingsholm Stadium
Stadium in Gloucester, England. Kingsholm Stadium is a rugby union stadium located in the Kingsholm area of Gloucester, England, and is the home stadium of Gloucester Rugby. The stadium has a capacity of 16,115. It is sometimes nicknamed 'Castle Grim' after the estate where the stadium is built. The new main grandstand, opened in 2007, is an all seated 7,500 capacity stand along the south touchline. It is currently sponsored by Malvern Tyres.
Kingsholm was used as a home stadium for England before they settled at Twickenham and also hosted New Zealand versus United States for a pool match in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
In common with many grounds of English professional rugby union clubs, Kingsholm features several terraced standing areas. The North Stand is such an area and is known for sponsorship reasons as 'The Compeed Shed'. It runs down the whole length of the pitch and holds around 3,000 people. The Shed is known within rugby union for its proximity to the pitch and the low roof, enabling fervent home support. The West Stand terrace holds around 1,615 spectators and has a row of hospitality boxes located above. It is sponsored by Allstone speedy skips.
The East Stand is an all-seater stand located directly on Kingsholm Road. It holds around 3,000 fans. It is sponsored by Stowford Press[4]
Address: Kingsholm Rd, GL1 3AX Gloucester
St Michael's Tower
St Michael's Tower, Gloucester, stands at The Cross, where the four main streets of Gloucester meet. The Cross is also the highest point in the city. The Tower is on the corner of Eastgate and Southgate Streets and the entrance is in Southgate Street. It was built in 1465 on the site of the previous St Michael the Archangel. It is no longer used for religious ceremonies. It became a Grade II* listed building in 1952.[5]
High Orchard Bridge
Bridge. High Orchard Bridge is a bridge over the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in High Orchard in the city of Gloucester, England. It was opened in 2008 to carry the newly constructed St Ann Way over the canal. In 2012, Marstons pub company opened a brand new pub on the land next to the bridge and named it after the bridge “The High Orchard” which has since gone on to be one of Gloucester’s busiest pubs.[6]
Llanthony Secunda Priory
Priory. Llanthony Secunda Priory was a house of Augustinian canons in the parish of Hempsted, Gloucestershire, England, situated about 1/2 a mile south-west of Gloucester Castle in the City of Gloucester. It was founded in 1136 by Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford, a great magnate based in the west of England and the Welsh Marches, hereditary Constable of England and Sheriff of Gloucestershire, as a secondary house and refuge for the canons of Llanthony Priory in the Vale of Ewyas, within his Lordship of Brecknock in what is now Monmouthshire, Wales. The surviving remains of the Priory were designated as Grade I listed in 1952 and the wider site is a scheduled ancient monument. In 2013 the Llanthony Secunda Priory Trust received funds for restoration work which was completed in August 2018 when it re-opened to the public.[7]
Address: Llanthony Road, GL1 1AP Gloucester
Robinswood Hill
Hill in England. Robinswood Hill is a hill and country park to the south of the city centre of Gloucester, close to the Stroud Road. It rises to 650 ft, and is owned and managed by Gloucester City Council's Countryside Unit. The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust also has its head office based here.
It was originally one of the main sources of water to the city. The springs rising on Robin's Wood Hill were used by Gloucester Abbey in the 13th century. Reservoirs were built by the Gloucester Water Company in 1837-8 and taken over by the City in 1855. Robinswood Hill ceased to provide water supply in 1924 but the reservoirs remained in use for storage until 1946; they have now been backfilled to provide car parks and a countryside centre for the thousands of visitors that use the hill for recreation and inspiration. It is home to several species of wildlife, and has views of the surrounding area - including other hills of Gloucester, the Cotswolds, Malvern Hills, May Hill and on a clear day the Severn Bridges.
The country park itself is a 100-hectare (250-acre) site. On the other side of the Hill is a dry ski slope and golf course complex. The park is a Local Nature Reserve, and an area called Robin's Wood Hill Quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[8]
Jet Age Museum
Museum in England. The Jet Age Museum is the trading name of the Gloucestershire Aviation Collection, an all-volunteer, charitable organisation dedicated to the preservation of Gloucestershire's aviation heritage. The aviation museum is located on the north side of Gloucestershire Airport, between Gloucester and Cheltenham. It houses a number of aircraft, aero engines, cockpits and other related exhibits. It is themed on the early development of jet aircraft, in particular the role played by the Gloster Aircraft Company and other local firms such as Dowty Rotol and Smiths Industries. The museum is also the custodian of the Russell Adams photographic archive.[9]
Address: Cheltenham Rd E, GL2 9QL Gloucester
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
Museum in Gloucester, England. The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum is located within the historic docks in the city of Gloucester. The museum tells the story of two regiments of the British Army, the Gloucestershire Regiment, including its antecedents the 28th Regiment of Foot and the 61st Regiment of Foot, and the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, both of which recruited heavily from Gloucestershire and Bristol.[10]
Address: 31 Commercial Rd, GL1 2HE Gloucester
Highnam Court
Highnam Court is a Grade I listed country house in Highnam, Gloucestershire, England, constructed in the 17th century. The estate passed from the Cooke family to the Guise family and, in the mid-19th century, was purchased by a member of the Gambier-Parry family.
Renovations were undertaken during the tenures of the Guise and Gambier-Parry families, with the latter also including extensive development of the grounds. The Gambier-Parry family held the estate until the late 20th century.[11]
The Folk of Gloucester
Museum in Gloucester, England. The Folk of Gloucester is a museum which is housed in two of the oldest buildings in the City of Gloucester, a Tudor merchant's house and a 17th-century town house. The museum, at 99–103 Westgate Street, is devoted to the social history of Gloucestershire.
Bishop Hooper is said to have lodged in the buildings now occupied by the museum the night before he was burned at the stake in front of St Mary de Lode Church in 1555.
The Museum was called Gloucester Folk Museum before rebranding itself in 2016. and then became Gloucester Life until it rebranded itself again in 2019.[12]
Address: 99-103 Westgate St, GL1 2PG Gloucester
St Nicholas Church
Anglican church in Gloucester, England. St Nicholas Church is a historic church in Westgate Street in the city of Gloucester, England, under the care of The Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. Its truncated spire is a landmark in the city centre.[13]
Address: Westgate St, GL1 2PG Gloucester
Blackfriars
Monastery in Gloucester, England. Blackfriars, Gloucester, England, founded about 1239, is one of the most complete surviving Dominican black friaries in England. Now owned by English Heritage and restored in 1960, it is currently leased to Gloucester City Council and used for weddings, concerts, exhibitions, guided tours, filming, educational events and private hires. The former church, since converted into a house, is a Grade I listed building.[14]
Address: Blackfriars Ln, GL1 2HS Gloucester
Museum of Gloucester
Museum in Gloucester, England. The Museum of Gloucester in Brunswick Road is the main museum in the city of Gloucester, England. It was extensively renovated following a large National Heritage Lottery Fund grant, and reopened on Gloucester Day, 3 September 2011.
In March 2016, the Museum rebranded itself; it used to be called the Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery.
Gloucester Life is a smaller museum in Westgate Street, dealing with the social history of Gloucestershire.[15]
Address: Brunswick Rd., GL1 Gloucester
St Paul and St Stephen's Church
St Paul and St Stephen's Church is a Church of England church located in Stroud Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire. St Paul's church was built between 1882 and 1883. St Stephen's church was built between 1898 and 1900. St Stephen's church was closed in 2010 and the church was merged with St Paul's which became St Paul and St Stephen's church. Closely associated with the church is St Paul's Church of England Primary school located in New Street, Gloucester which opened in 1870.[16]
Tredworth Road Cemetery
Cemetery in Gloucester, England. Tredworth Road Cemetery, sometimes known as Gloucester Old Cemetery, is a cemetery in Gloucester, England, that is run by Gloucester City Council. In addition, it contains over 250 war graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The cemetery chapel is a grade II listed building with Historic England.[17]
Gloucester Guildhall
Gloucester Guildhall is a former municipal building in Eastgate Street, Gloucester, which is now used as a arts and theatre venue. It is a Grade II listed building.[18]
Address: 23 Eastgate St, GL1 1NS, Gloucester
Prinknash Abbey
Monastery. Prinknash Abbey is a Roman Catholic monastery in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham. It belongs to the English Province of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation, which is itself part of the worldwide Benedictine Confederation. It is noted for its manufacturing of incense, and is the largest manufacturer of incense in Europe.[19]
Address: Cranham, GL4 8EX, Gloucester
Hillfield Gardens
Hillfield Gardens is a public park on London Road, Gloucester, England. It houses several historical monuments. The description in December 2020 stated: "Now a Council-owned public park covering about 1.6 hectares, Highfield Gardens is supported by an active Friends group which organises annual events".[20]
St Mary de Crypt Church
Church in Gloucester, England. St Mary de Crypt Church, Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1, is an Anglican Church, which was first recorded in 1140 as The Church of the Blessed Mary within Southgate. It is in the Diocese of Gloucester and is located adjacent to the ruins of Greyfriars. It has also been known as Christ Church and St. Mary in the South. St Mary de Crypt is a Grade I listed building.[21]
St Peter's Church
Parish church in Gloucester, England. St Peter's Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. It was built from 1860 to 1868 and designed by Gilbert Blount. It is situated on the corner of London Road and Black Dog Way in the centre of the city. It is a Grade II* listed building.[22]
Address: 17 London Rd, GL1 3EX Gloucester
St Oswald's Priory
Priory. St Oswald's Priory was founded by Æthelflæd, daughter of Alfred the Great, and her husband Æthelred, ealdorman of Mercia, in the late 880s or the 890s. It appears to have been an exact copy of the Old Minster, Winchester It is a Grade I listed building.
The site was an important part of the Burh of Gloucester and was supported by the ruling family of the time including king Æthelstan. From the 11th century its importance declined, becoming a minor house of Canons regular until suppression in 1536. The building was damaged during the English Civil War and largely demolished in 1643.[23]
St Mary de Lode Church
Church in Gloucester, England. St Mary de Lode Church is a Church of England church immediately outside the grounds of Gloucester Cathedral. It is believed by some to be on the site of the first Christian church in Britain. The church is in the Diocese of Gloucester and Grade I listed by English Heritage. It has also been known as St. Mary Before the Gate of St. Peter, St. Mary Broad Gate and St. Mary De Port.[24]
Address: 1 St Mary's Square, GL1 2TB Gloucester
St Oswald's Church
Anglican church in Highnam, England. St Oswald's Church was an Anglican church in the village of Lassington and the civil parish of Highnam, Gloucestershire, England. Only the tower survived to the present day, and it is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The tower is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building,[25]
Our Lady's Well
Historical landmark in Gloucester, England. Our Lady's Well is a holy well house in Hempsted, Gloucester. It was designated as a Grade I listed building in January 1955.[26]
Gloucester National Spiritualist Church
Church in Gloucester, England. Gloucester National Spiritualist Church is a spiritualist church in Brunswick Square, Gloucester. It was founded in April 1954.[27]
Greyfriars
Church in Gloucester, England. Greyfriars, Gloucester, England, was a medieval monastic house founded about 1231.
In about 1518 a prominent local family, the Berkeleys of Berkeley Castle, paid for the church to be rebuilt in Perpendicular Gothic style. The rest of the friary complex was later demolished.[28]
St Barnabas Church
St Barnabas Church is a Grade II listed building located in Stroud Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. It was built in 1938–40 and obtained its Grade II status on 9 March 1982. The church's denomination is the Church of England.[29]
Address: 218 Stroud Rd, GL1 5LJ Gloucester
King Edward's Gate
King Edward's Gate is a Grade II* listed gatehouse in College Street, Gloucester, at the entrance of Gloucester Cathedral.[30]
Tanners Hall
Building. Tanners Hall was a 13th century town house and is now a ruin located on Gouda Way in Gloucester. It is the oldest non-religious building and only surviving medieval domestic stone house in the city. It became a Grade II listed building on 29 July 2015.[31]
Great Witcombe Roman Villa
Historical place museum in England. Great Witcombe Roman Villa was a villa built during the Roman occupation of Britain. It is located on a hillside at Great Witcombe, near Gloucester in the English county of Gloucestershire. It has been scheduled as an ancient monument.[32]
Address: Great Witcombe, GL3 4TW Gloucester
Nature in Art
Museum in England. Nature in Art is a museum and art gallery at Wallsworth Hall, Twigworth, Gloucester, England, dedicated exclusively to art inspired by nature in all forms, styles and media. The museum has twice been specially commended in the National Heritage Museum of the Year Awards.[33]
Address: Wallsworth Hall Sandhurst Lane, GL2 9PA Twigworth
Longford
English civil parish. Longford is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. Although situated within two miles of Gloucester city centre, Longford parish falls within the jurisdiction of the Borough of Tewkesbury.
The village borders the Tewkesbury Road running north out of Gloucester and is bisected by the A40 northern bypass at the busy Longford roundabout. Connected with Segregated Bicycle Path to Gloucester.
Longford is primarily residential, and is home to Oxstalls Sports Park and Tennis Centre, the Winfield Hospital and both Longford AFC and Gala Wilton Football Clubs.[34]
Northgate Street
Northgate Street is a street in the City of Gloucester, so named because its northern end was originally the location of the north gate in the city's walls.
The street runs from the crossroads of Northgate, Eastgate, Southgate, and Westgate Streets in the south (The Cross) to London Road in the north. It is joined by St John's Lane, Hare Lane, and Worcester Street on the north side and The Oxebode, St Aldate Street, and Spread Eagle Road on the south side.[35]