Shopping in Gloucester

With over 40 stores spanning health and beauty to fashion, travel and sports, Eastgate Shopping Centre has been the leading retail space in Gloucester for more than four decades. Spread over two floors on Eastgate Street, the centre is home to retail giants, such as Marks & Spencer, H&M and JD Sports and Tesco, as well as several cafés and restaurants. The centre is open from 9am-5.30pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10.30am-4.30pm on Sunday. There is a pay and display car park with 400 spaces on the roof of the centre.

The site was actually used as a market as far back as 1786, with the current shopping centre finished in 1974. If you want to make a grand entry, head to the Portico Entrance, a three-arch Italian-style opening that dates back to 1856. In the shopping centre itself, make sure to check out the Beatrix Potter clock. It took 15 months to construct, with a parade of famous characters coming out on the hour. You’ll probably see the queues of shoppers waiting to see the clock in action first, as it’s something of a visitor attraction.

King’s Walk Shopping Centre meanwhile is a single-storey shopping centre that’s also part of the pedestrianised King’s Quarter area. The shopping centre is home to Claire’s, Primark, and River Island, and is open from 9am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am-5pm on Sundays. Handily, the centre is located over the road from the Eastgate Shopping Centre, with plenty of on-site cafés and restaurants including Costa, Jane’s Pantry and Subway.

Impressively, the site is also home to the King’s Bastion Walk, an underground chamber that contains part of the Roman city wall and a medieval defence tower dating back to the time of Henry III. Tours take place several times a year, but be sure to check in advance if you want to see a very different side to the King’s Walk Shopping Centre.

Grab some designer bargains and find out more about one of the city’s best shopping spots with our dedicated Gloucester Quays guide. 

If you like finding treasure from another man’s trash – and let’s be honest, most of us do – then get yourself down to the Gloucester Car Boot and Flea Market. With room for over 600 car boots and stalls, the market is open every Wednesday and Sunday from 6am-midday. Here you’ll find everything from kids’ toys to vintage clothing, refurbished electronics, records and books to so much more. You’ll also find plenty of catering and coffee vans, plus bouncy castles, ice cream vans and a soft play area for kids.