Gloucester Hotels

Sightseeing in Gloucester

One of the city's highlights is Gloucester Cathedral. The building started as a Benedictine abbey, and was designated a cathedral in 1541. It's part of the Harry Potter Trail throughout the county, having been used as the corridors of Hogwarts.

St Oswald's Priory is another historic religious site in the city, from the ninth or tenth century.

Two miles outside of Gloucester, the Georgian-style Wallsworth Hall houses a gallery of art inspired by nature. The collection is the first of its kind in the world.

Pack a picnic and book an English Holiday Cruise, which starts from Gloucester. It takes you on a serene, relaxed tour of the great British countryside.

History and museums

Gloucester has several niche museums, representing the area's industrial history. At the National Waterways Museum, you can climb aboard a canal boat with the family. The interactive lock exhibit is a favourite with kids.

The Gloucester Folk Museum is one of the city's oldest museums. It's inside a Tudor-style building with period timber frames. The museum's collection includes historic costumes, wooden crafts and a reconstructed Victorian classroom.

Soak up some more of the city's history at Gloucester Docks, with a 16-mile canal link to Sharpness Docks and then the sea.

Shopping

The city's main shopping area is The Cross – where the old Northgate, Southgate, Eastgate and Westgate roads meet. You can recognise it from St Michael's Tower in the middle.

At The Eastgate centre, find all of the holiday essentials and general shops you need. Conversely, the Westgate Quarter is full of independent stores.

Gloucester Quays is packed with designer outlets stores, offering discounts of up to 70% off regular prices. Brands include Calvin Klein™, Puma™, Gap™ and Nike™. It's also where the city's Victorian Christmas Market is held each year.