Last Updated on May 14, 2022 by Louise
Looking for fun things to do in the city of Gloucester? Look no further, we have a round up of the most fun experiences to be had in the city. Whether you’re a visitor to the city or have lived in Gloucester for years, experience Gloucester from a different perspective with one of the fun activities listed below.
Whether you’re a family with kids and teenagers, a single person or a couple looking for something unique to do, there’s something in Gloucester for everybody.
Table of Contents
Visit the Cathedral and Climb the Tower for Amazing Views
Gloucester Cathedral is steeped in history and an amazing place to visit. It’s a stunning piece of architecture completed between the 11th and 15th century.
Highlights to see and do in the Catherdral:
The Whispering Gallery : this is fun for adults and kids. You can stand at one end of the tunnel and when you speak, the person standing right at the other end can still hear you like you’re standing right next to them.
Climb the Tower : Gloucester Tower Tours will resume in April 2022. Climb up 269 spiral steps to experience amazing views from the top. On a clear day you can view as far as 40 miles away. Find out more.
Be in awe at the interior architecture : There is a mirror so you can admire the roof without straining your neck.
The cathedral is also a Harry Potter filming location for the first two films, so a must for Harry Potter movie fans. There is a helpful interactive screen when first entering the cloisters of the cathedral which show the Harry Potter filming locations.
Gloucester Quays and Docks
Gloucester Quays is located next to the historic Gloucester Docks and there is so much to do. It’s free to wander around, admire the boats and soak up the atmosphere. While you’re there you may also want to partake in some of the following activities:
Go Paddle Boarding or Kayaking at Gloucester Docks
See a unique view of Gloucester City. Start at the centre of Gloucester Docks and paddle your kayak around the historical tall ships for an experience with a difference.
No previous experience is required.
Hop on a Boat Ride
If paddleboarding or kayaking isn’t your idea of fun, why not hop on a boat trip?
The boat trips run from Gloucester docks and take place daily between Tuesday to Saturday from April to October.
Find out what events are taking place
If you love shopping, eating and drinking, Gloucester quays is fun anytime of the year. However it’s worth checking out what’s on as there are events that take place all year round including ice skating, food markets and even a beach for the kids.
National Waterways Museum
Discover the 200 years history of Gloucester docks, shipping and navigation in the area at the National Waterways museums
There are lots of interactive exhibits which are fun as well as models, vintage signs, and a fleet of ancient tugboats, barges, and narrowboats.
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum is a moving glimpse into the experience of soldiers and veterans from Gloucestershire throughout the last 300 years.
There’s so much to see and discover including insights into the lives of soldiers in the trenches during World War I to survival skills employed by troops fighting in the desert.
Gloucester Walking Tours
One of the best ways to discover any city is to go on a guided walking tour. Gloucester civic walking tours have a daily tour from April to October (excluding Sundays). An expert will guide you around the city and you can learn about the history on a 90 minute stroll.
The Folk of Gloucester
On Westgate Street, the Folk of Gloucester museum is dedicated to Gloucestershire’s social history is housed in two beautiful half timbered houses, a 16th-century Tudor merchant’s residence and a 1600s town house.
The merchant’s house was where John Hooper, the Anglican Bishop of Gloucester, resided the night before he was burned at the stake by Queen Mary I in 1555.
There’s so much to see at the museum including period costumes and a replica of a Victorian classroom.
Discover local history, domestic life, crafts, trades, and industries from the Middle Ages to the Present, including a Toys and Childhood exhibition with hands-on toys and a puppet theatre, the Retro Room with 1950’s kitchen, and much more.
The Museum of Gloucester
The Museum of Gloucester is a small museum which tells the story of the city’s origins as a Roman settlement and it’s evolution through the Dark Ages and Medieval period. There is also a fine art collection.
It’s a nice museum for kids as there are some interactive exhibits which include a Roman Kitchen, playhouse and medieval street.
Beatrix Potter – The House of the Tailor Of Gloucester
If you’re a Beatrix Potter fan, a visit here is a must.
It’s a small shop and small museum and it’s the building that Beaturix potter chose to draw on page 37 in the book the Tailor of Gloucester. The book tells the story of a poor tailor trying to survive in a freezing workshop over a hard winter.
There are some lovely things to buy in the shop for Beatrix Potter fans.
Try Axethrowing
Axe throwing centres are popping up in city centres throught the UK and Gloucester is no exception. No experiences is necessary, you’ll get full instruction on arrival. Once you’ve learned what to do you can have so much fun throwing axes at the target.
Escape Rooms
If it’s a rainy day, why not check out trapped escape rooms or Houdini’s Escape Room Experience. Have fun solving the clues and finding a way out of the room before the timer runs out.
Go on a Gloucester Ghost Tour
There are two different spooky ghost tours which take place in Gloucester. You can go from Newent on a Friday night or Gloucester on a Saturday night. The walking tours take place from 8pm and last about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
VRXperience
VRXpereince aim to offer VR for everyone. Whether you want to visit a sunny beach or immerse yourself in VR racing with vibration and wind, this is the place to come. They also offer VR escape rooms. Transport yourself, family and friends into an Egyptioan Pyramid, survive a plane crash or explore a haunted house.
Darklight Lazertag
Be transported to another world where you have to fight for your life (not really obviously!) Games are around 15 minutes so you can play more than once or combine your visit with JDR karting or axe throwing which both take place at the same venue.
Gloucester Prison and Events
Photo by quisnovus / Flickr Creative Commons
Have a look and see the events that are running at Gloucester Prison. Gloucester Prison opened in 1791 and closed in 2013. It has a fascinating if gruesome history, over 123 people were executed there. Today there are many regular events that you can go to there. They include regular guided tours, a paranormal investigation with haunted happenings event and airsoft games!
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