Places to visit in Gloucestershire & Things to See or Do

The county of Gloucestershire has many options for places to visit, including towns and villages. This includes visiting places in the stunning Forest of Dean and The Cotswolds. There are also many tourist attractions and things to see or do.

Hikes in the Cotswolds

The county also boasts Gloucester, the principal city of Gloucestershire, which has a nice dockland area full of restaurants. It also has various museums relating to its Roman history and not forgetting the imposing cathedral.

Gloucestershire is where I have lived on and off most of my life, off and off between living elsewhere.

Gloucestershire Winter Destination

Gloucestershire has loads of great places to eat out, including many quaint village pubs. Many of these are Dog-Friendly. It is great a great place for those interested in Regency architecture, Roman history and English History.

Places to Visit in Gloucestershire

Some of the great places to visit in Gloucestershire. There are also many options for things to do, from visiting historical sites to adventure activities.

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Visit the historic city of Gloucester

Edge of Gloucester Docks

The City of Gloucester is the county town of Gloucestershire and has plenty to see and do. The city’s jewel in its crown is Gloucester Cathedral, a stunning building. They consider it one of the great cathedrals of the UK. The city has the most inland dock in the country too. This links the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal and the tidal River Severn.

Gloucester Cathedral Grounds

Gloucester has a very rich history including significance in Roman times, The English Civil War and More. The city’s museum is well worth a visit to learn more about the historic city.

Dog Friendly Gloucester - The New Inn

If visiting, there are loads of nice places to eat out with cuisine from all around the world. There are also many options for pubs, some that have been around for centuries, like the New Inn.

Top Things To Do in Gloucester

  • Visit the historic Cathedral in Gloucester, especially during the run up to Christmas.
  • Explore the Victorian docks in the city of Gloucester and enjoy a meal out at one of many restaurants.
  • Walk the Glevum way a circular walk around the city.

Explore the regency town of Cheltenham

War Memorial & The Prom

The town of Cheltenham Spa is the second largest place in Gloucestershire and is popular with tourists. Cheltenham has lots of regency architecture from the time of George IV. The town is pretty, especially the area around Pittville Park and the Montpellier area.

Trees at Pitville park Lake

Pittville Park has 2 lakes, is great for walking and is home to the iconic Pittville Pump Room, the last and biggest spa in the town. The Montpellier at the end of the Promenade south of the town centre, including the pretty Imperial Gardens and Iconic Queens Hotel. Originally, Montpellier grew in the 1830s, along with the town’s spas. The area has many great bars, cafes, restaurants and a range of specialist shops and boutiques.

Shops on the prom Cheltenham Gloucestershire

If staying in the city, there are many options from the posh Queens Hotel or the very nice boutique Bed & Breakfast the Portland to name a few. Eating out is great in Cheltenham and has eateries to suit all tastes, including the Delightful Woodkraft a cafe by MasterChef winner Simon Wood.

Best Things To Do in Cheltenham

  • Explore the regency architecture in Cheltenham.
  • Enjoy a performance at one of the many theatres in the town.

Have an adventure in the Forest of Dean

Dog Friendly Sculpture Trail

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley area is an absolutely stunning area of the shire. It is a haven for those that enjoy outdoor pursuits and camping. Some special areas include the Speech House area. This includes Cannop Ponds, Mallards Pike Lake, and loads of ancient woodland. I prefer camping near Coleford, a market town and my favourite to date campsite is Greenacres.

Forest of Dean & Wye Valley

The sculpture trail incorporates art and walking in the forest. This is an enjoyable walk between various sculptures, including the Forest Cathedral, a hanging stained glass window. Towards the Wales border are Symonds Yat and the Wye Valley, a truly stunning place to hike, canoe or cycle.

Things To Do In The Forest of Dean

Explore the beautiful villages of the Cotswolds

Rodborough Fort in The Cotswolds

Most of The Cotswolds are in the county of Gloucestershire and the Cotswold Hills make up most of the west of the county. The area has many pretty villages and is a great place to go walking or cycling. There is a long-distance walking route called the Cotswold Way, which is a big draw as it is such a fantastic walk.

Top Things To Do in The Picturesque Villages

  • Hike on the Cotswold Way, a long distance hiking trail.
  • Visit Cotswold water park and take part in some watersports including sailing.
  • Enjoy time at various country pubs in the quaint villages of the area.
  • Visit Westonbirt Arbouretum, a stunning place especially in the Autumn.

Cirencester A Pretty Place To Visit

Cirencester

The Capital of the Cotswolds is Cirencester, a town dating back to Roman times. You can learn more about its history at the Corinium Museum. The town centre is picturesque and great for sightseeing. There are churches to see, museums and some wonderful flea markets selling antiques. Visitors can also use this as a Basecamp for exploring the nearby countryside.

Stroud A Market Town

Stroud Farmers' Market

Stroud is a pleasant town where 4 valleys converge. There are lots of things to do in this area, and some great walks. The best time to visit the town is on a Saturday when they host a fantastic farmers’ market. The town is great for shopping and has many independent shops. Visitors also have options for some great places to eat out.

Visit Frampton on Severn A Delightful Place to Visit

Frampton on Severn Church

The village of Frampton on Severn is a delightful village to the south of the county. Frampton has one of the longest village greens in England, which is pretty special. It has a few fishing lakes, cricket pitch and is great for a walk.

Frampton on Severn Gloucestershire

The village has three waterways which are unique; the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal, The River Frome and The River Severn. These have great walks through the countryside and near to WWT Slimbridge or the boat graveyard at Purton.

If visiting the village, there are a few nice cafes and local pubs to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat. My favourite in The Bell, a pub overlooking the village green and cricket pitch. The Bell serves great food, particularly on a Sunday where they serve a traditional roast dinner.

Visit Painswick A Picturesque Village

Painswick in Gloucestershire

Painswick is a fantastic place to visit in Gloucestershire, which is on the Cotswold Way Walk. The town is well preserved and has lots of Cotswold stone buildings to see throughout. In the centre of the town is St Mary’s Church, a fantastic place to visit. The churchyard is rather special and is home to 99 yew trees, which makes it a rather special landscape.

Visit Painswick

While in Painswick, you can also visit some of the town’s museums and the popular Rocco Gardens. As it has some nice places to eat out and a bus service, it is a fantastic place to end a walk along the way.

Visit WWT Slimbridge A Fantastic Attraction

Canoe Hire at Slimbridge

Visiting Slimbridge Wetland Centre is a fantastic thing to do in Gloucestershire, especially if you like nature and wild birds. The nature reserve is home to countless species of wild birds, including many migratory ones. They have a fantastic visitor centre which is rather educational where you can learn about all sorts of wildlife. The WWT Slimbridge site is a big place to explore and see a variety of habitats. You can also feed the wildfowl with seeds that they sell.

After seeing the various birds that call the wetland centre home, there are other things to do. You can go on a canoe safari through the reeds and waterways. This is a great opportunity to see birds and where they live up close. WWT Slimbridge is a fantastic tourist attraction to visit for adults and families too.

Tewkesbury A Great Place To Visit

Places to Visit Gloucestershire - Tewkesbury

Tewkesbury is a lovely place to visit in the north of Gloucestershire. Two rivers heavily influence the town because it stands where the River Severn and the River Avon meet. There are many things to see or do in Tewkesbury, including historical tourist attractions and Medieval Tudor buildings.

Visit Tewkesbury

The most popular place to visit in Tewkesbury is the town abbey. Tewkesbury Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery and is a great place to visit. Sometimes they have events on its grounds like a fantastic food fair.

Bourton on The Water A Picturesque Village

Bourton-on-the-Water is a popular place to visit in Gloucestershire. It is a picturesque place that they sometimes called the Venice of the Cotswolds. Bourton-on-the-Water is an idyllic place and rather beautiful, thus its popularity with tourists from across the world.

Bourton on the Water

The photogenic River Windrush runs through the village and they have many low bridges crossing the river. The pretty stone houses and other buildings are a big draw for visitors. There are many attractions to visit while in Bourton on the Water, including a model village, a car museum and the local countryside.

Berkeley Castle A Medieval Attraction

For a great day out and a step back in time, then a visit to Berkeley castle is a great place to visit. The castle has over 900 years of history and dates back to the 12th century. They originally built the castle as a march castle to keep the Welsh out. Berkeley castle has many features to see, including fortifications, murder holes and the remnants of a portcullis.

Berkeley Castle Gloucestershire Places to Visit

There are many exhibits to see on a visit, including many fascinating artefacts from the last 900 years. The site also has a big estate to explore. This is one of the best examples of a medieval deer park in the UK. Berkeley Castle is a great attraction for families and those interested in history.

Lechlade A Pretty Town

Lechlade

Lechlade is a pretty town in Gloucestershire and a nice place to visit. The town of Lechlade is the highest point at which the River Thames is navigable. They named the town after the River Leach that joins the River Thames St. John’s Bridge. As well as the river, there are some historical buildings to see. This includes The Church of St Lawrence, which dates from the 15th century and is a Grade I listed building.

Enjoy The River Severn

The River Severn is the biggest river in Gloucestershire and has lots of places to visit on its course. A fun and unique thing to do is to watch the Severn Bore. The Severn Bore, a tidal wave that periodically rushes upstream on the River Severn.

Things to do in Gloucestershire - River Severn Walks

The Severn Way is another long distance hiking trail in Gloucestershire. There is a lovely stretch of the trail in the remote village of Arlingham. Other pleasant places along the banks include Epney, Weir Green and Maisemore. The route mostly follows the river and its a great way to explore the lesser visited parts of Gloucestershire.

Have a Camping Adventure in The County’s Countryside

Camping

There are many options for places to go on a camping adventure in Gloucestershire. There are many campsites in the county including in the hills, Forest of dean and The Severn Vale. This is a good way to see the local area and enjoy some downtime in the countryside.

Walk Along Various Canals

Dog on the canal from Sharpness to Gloucester

There are various canals in the county. Most are completely walkable and great for wildlife spotting. You will find the occasional country pub on the way too. You can walk the length of the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal, a very nice waterway. The Stroudwater Navigation is also another lovely route to take, which passes via some pleasant places.

Try Some Local Produce At The Farmer’s Markets

Union Street Stroud Market

A fun thing to do in the towns of Gloucestershire is to buy some local produce at one of many farmers’ markets. The best in the county being Stroud Farmers’ Market each Saturday.

Is Gloucestershire Worth Visiting?

Gloucestershire is a fantastic county to visit with interesting places to visit. The countryside, including the Cotswold Hills and Forest of Dean, is fantastic. There are lots of quaint villages to visit, and these all come with good refreshments. For sports fans, there are some fantastic opportunities including Premiership Rugby and Horse racing.

3 thoughts on “Places to visit in Gloucestershire & Things to See or Do”

  1. It’s nice to see Gloucestershire getting a little love. There are some beautiful areas in this part of the world – you have reminded me of a few things I really need to do/see. Thanks!

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