Attractions in Gloucester

With Roman roots and heritage, Gloucester is home to some amazing buildings and historical locations.

Built in 1825, Over Bridge is the largest single-span stone bridge in England and spans the River Severn near Gloucester. Designed by Thomas Telford, the 100-metre-long bridge took five years to build and remained in regular use until 1974, when a nearby road bridge was built to take the strain. Check out our hotels in Gloucester.

Even older still is Scriven’s Conduit in Hillfield Gardens, which is essentially a very ornate water storage device that connected several pipes and brought fresh water to the city. Built in 1636, the striking structure is decorated with lion sculptures, finely carved roundels and a floral open corona.

In the same park, you’ll find the King’s Board, a striking gazebo-type structure that was built in the 14th century. Said to be a gift to Gloucester from Richard II, no one is quite sure what purpose the impressive and ornate stone building actually served, but it’s amazingly well preserved and is a great reminder of the rich history within the region.

There’s plenty of history in the heart of Gloucester too, with Blackfriars Priory an excellent example of a medieval site that’s been lovingly tended through the centuries. A short walk from the city’s waterside, Blackfriars is one of the most complete buildings from the 13th century and was later converted into a Tudor house and cloth factory. The site is open on Sundays and Mondays from April to September, with private tours available.

Staying in the religious world, St. Oswald’s Priory was founded in the late 1880s by Alfred the Great’s daughter, and is now an impressive set of ruins, just a short walk from the cathedral.

For a full run-down on the 7th-century cathedral and its rich history, head to our Gloucester Cathedral page. We’ve also given the docks their own page – for a full account of what to expect and what to see and do, head to our Gloucester Docks page.

A short drive from our Barnwood hotel, the Barnwood Arboretum Nature Reserve & Park is a six-hectare park that has some beautiful forest trails, a pond with grazing animals, ducks, moorhens and even kingfishers, and a converted chapel which is now a non-commercial gym. Small but perfectly formed, Barnwood Park is perfect for family exploring.

One of the most popular open spaces in the city, Gloucester Park is home to some impressive sports facilities, including a skateboard park, table tennis and basketball court, as well as a cricket square and bowling green.

Children will love the play area and swings, while there’s an orienteering course for bigger kids and plenty of paths and benches dotted around the flower beds, memorial garden and aviary. Head down in July and August and you may come across the Gloucester Summer Festival held here, a two-week celebration of music and events with a carnival, funfair and fireworks.

Located in a quiet corner of Gloucester to the south-west of the city centre, and just a 10-minute drive from our Gloucester Business Park hotel, is Clock Tower Park. This is a large open space, which has been fitted out with a football pitch, tennis courts and a large playground. There’s also a skateboard park nearby, while the nature reserve at Hucclecote Meadows has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to dozens of species of birds and animals.

At 250 acres, Robinswood Hill Country Park is one of the largest open spaces in Gloucester. Located several miles to the south of the city centre, you’ll get amazing views over the Malvern Hills, the Black Mountains and the Severn Bridge from the summit. There are miles of signposted paths across the park, and animal lovers should keep a close eye out for badgers, foxes and even red kites which live in the area.

Home to Gloucester Rugby Club, Kingsholm Stadium is a 16,115-capacity stadium on the edge of the city centre. The stadium was updated in 2007, with a new 7,500-capacity main grandstand to go alongside several terraced standing areas. If you want to fully immerse yourself in the Gloucester experience, take a seat in the North Stand, also known as The Shed. With its low roof and impressively loud supporters, you can hear their chant of ‘Gloooouuuuucester’ in the heart of the city on a good day.

The team are one of the most successful in England, having been ever-present in the Premiership since it launched in 1997, as well as winning the league several times.

There are several bars in and around the ground, including the Lion’s Den Bar in the East End Terrace, as well as The Cider Tree and The Abbey closer to the city centre. If you’re looking to eat, there are plenty of stands and food trucks on match days, including some with truly terrific sausages, while the Beefeater restaurant at our Longford hotel is just a five-minute walk away.