Gloucester

Gloucester began as a Roman town because it lies at the first point where the river Severn can be easily crossed and it became a thriving port. In the 12th and 13th centuries Gloucester was important strategically because of frequent warfare between the Welsh and the English.

Today, the population of Gloucester is 110,000 and the dock area has been opened as a heritage centre. Gloucester’s manufacturing past is declining in importance whilst service industries like banking and insurance have increased.

At its heart, stands the beautiful Norman Cathedral with its magnificent fan-vaulted cloisters and great east window. It was used extensively as a location for the films in the Harry Potter series based on JK Rowling’s famous books.

In terms of shopping, There is a main pedestrianised shopping area and the city's wide, airy, main streets are laid out in a cross structure and they are simply named Northgate, Eastgate, Southgate and Westgate. As well as all the usual high street stores, Gloucester also boasts a wide range of unique specialist shops. Just off East Gate Shopping is an all year round covered market which has stalls selling traditional local produce such as the locally renowned Gloucester sausage. A five-storey Antiques Centre can be found in one of the old warehouses and has over 70 individual shops packed with collectibles of every kind.

In the Westgate Quarter of the city is renowned for food, fashion and family businesses. There are street café’s and hidden courtyards, where you can enjoy good food and drink.

The Gloucester docks waterfront contains many impressive converted warehouses. The docks are home to all kinds of vessels including pleasure boats, narrow boats and sea-going ships.

Whatever the time of the year, the city of Gloucester offers a lively and fun calendar of festivals and special events. Artists from Europe are brought together to entertain in a variety of street theatre, music and drama, culminating in a large fireworks display. The events range from outdoor Shakespeare performances to twilight classical concerts.

The city embraces diversity and a multi-cultural society. Europe's Cajun & Zydeco Festival comes to Gloucester each January. The event draws fans from all over Europe gathering to enjoy live bands, workshops and dancing. In May the city hosts Jumping at the Woodside which is Europe's biggest gathering of jazz-jivers. The sound of Blues fill the streets in July with the Gloucester International Rhythm & Blues Festival.

You can also celebrate Gloucester's great built and cultural heritage with the Mediaeval Fayre, Barton Fayre and Gloucester's Heritage Open Days or do something a bit different in May at the unique Coopers Hill Cheese Roll.

With an established Farmers Market every Friday, there are also a number of restaurants catering for truly global tastes, including the best of English, Chinese, Greek, Mexican, Thai and Indian cuisine. There are many wine bars, pubs and clubs offering a range of local and regional fayre. We can also boast some of the finest beers created by Gloucestershire breweries, such as Cats Whiskers, Grim Reaper and Cotswold Way.

Gloucester Folk Museum is one of the oldest-established museums dedicated to social history. The collections have been drawn together through mainly gifts from the entire county of Gloucestershire.

The National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks bring the history of Britain’s waterways to life. It is housed in a Victorian warehouse at Gloucester Docks with a collection of boats including narrowboats, river barges, canal and river tugs, and a steam powered dredger.

Gloucester is well positioned on the M5 motorway to explore further including the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean.