South West - Gloucestershire

There’s a saying, ‘as sure as God’s in Gloucester’, which is surely testament to the wealth of religious history and buildings in the city.

Dominating the skyline is the spiritual and physical focus of the city: the great tower of Gloucester Cathedral. An ancient, spectacular and beautifully serene place to visit, the Cathedral is one of the most magnificent gothic buildings in the world. It is also where William the Conqueror ordered the writing of the Doomsday Book, where Henry III was crowned, where Edward II was buried and where pilgrims have flocked for years. Film fans can visit the stunning Cloisters that set the scene for ‘Hogwarts’ in the infamous Harry Potter films or walk in the footsteps of Dr Who, who’s Christmas Special was filmed in the very same building.

The Victorian Docks, which was granted port status by Queen Elizabeth I in 1580, are a unique destination described by Charles Dickens as ‘extraordinary’. Gloucester’s intriguing dockland is the most inland port in Britain, dominated by towering warehouses which line the water’s edge as a testament to the areas maritime heritage. Visitors to this area will find a plethora of things to visit, including the recently refurbished Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, which tells the story of the lives of Gloucestershire soldiers and their families over the past 300 years. The museum has interactive displays, medals, decorative uniforms, weapons and much more. The historic Docks also house the Gloucester Waterways Museum, which tells the story of the Country’s canals and waterways. Visitors can climb aboard historic boats, enjoy hands on fun and browse galleries rich in canal heritage. The museum also offers boat trips along the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and River Severn.

The stunning 13th-century Blackfriars Priory, located just off Ladybellegate Street, is one of the finest examples of a medieval Dominican building in England. The priory boasts an array of monastic buildings built around a beautiful Cloister Courtyard. The Scriptorium at the Priory was a setting for medieval monastic learning and features an original scissor brace timber roof and study booths. Visitors can enjoy a gentle amble around the site at their own leisure, or can book a private tour to really bring this beautiful building to.
Not only does Gloucester have some magnificent churches, priories and friaries it also has some wonderful Museums for your group to explore. The Folk Museum tells the story of Gloucester’s social history and boasts an amazing collection of displays set over several floors in a delightfully crooked, old timber-framed building. This is the perfect museum to visit if you are interested in exploring the quirks, traditions and culture of Gloucester and its residents throughout the ages.

Why not visit the recently refurbished City Museum and Art Gallery? It features an impressive collection of displays and interactive elements including a Roman kitchen and medieval street scene, plus a new café for you to get a real taste of Gloucester.

Located next to the famous Cathedral, The Tailor of Gloucester Beatrix Potter Museum & Shop is housed in the building which provided the inspiration for Beatrix Potter to write and illustrate her book, The Tailor of Gloucester, published in 1903. The museum brings Potter’s magical words to life with displays, illustrations, unique gifts and lots more.

Gloucester and the surrounding areas are very well known for their mouth-watering Local Delicacies, such as Double Gloucester cheese, Gloucester Old Spot sausages and Pilgrim Pie, but don’t just take our word for it! Gloucester has an eclectic range of over 100 independent shops and unique city centre eateries, all of which are within close walking distance from Westgate Coach Park and are guaranteed to give you a real taste of what Gloucester is made of.

If you like the sound of all of the above then contact a member of our coach booking team on 01452 396500 or Coachbookings@gloucester.gov.uk, who will happily book your coach in to Westgate Street Coach and Car park. Not only will you receive free coach parking and a meal voucher for your driver to the value of £10.00, you will also be offered the free Meet & Greet service. A Gloucester Greeter will meet your group at the coach park or one of the drop off points across the city and provide them with a welcome pack before leading them up in to the city centre, answering any questions along the way.

To help you make the most of your visit, the friendly team at the award-winning Tourist Information Centre on Southgate Street will be delighted to help with any enquiries you have. Simply give them a call on 01452 396572 for help with accommodation bookings or ideas on what to do during your visit.