I have lived and worked in Gloucester for years, and I host two properties here — one steps from the Quays, one near Kingsholm Stadium. Guests ask me the same question every week: what should we do while we're here? This is the guide I give them.
Gloucester is genuinely underrated. Most visitors come for a rugby match or a shopping trip and leave without seeing half of what makes this city special. Here is where to actually spend your time.
Right on the Doorstep
The Victorian Docks are one of the most beautiful settings for a shopping centre in England — over 60 outlets including All Saints, Joules, White Stuff and Adidas, set around a working waterway with narrowboats and a stunning marina. Don't just shop — walk the full length of the docks and take in the Victorian warehouses. The Orchard Street Market returns each month from spring with independent stallholders, street food and artisan crafts. New in 2026: Banchina Italian has opened in the former TGI Friday's space and is already drawing queues.
2 min walk from Southgate StreetOne of England's finest Norman cathedrals — and a Harry Potter filming location (the cloisters appeared in several of the early films). Entry is free, though donations are welcomed. The medieval fan vaulting in the cloisters is breathtaking and genuinely unlike anything else in the country. Allow at least an hour. The tower tour, available on certain days, gives extraordinary views across the city and towards the Cotswold escarpment.
10 min walk · Free entrySet in a magnificent Victorian warehouse right on the docks, this is one of the best free museums in the South West. Boat trips along the canal run seasonally and are well worth the modest fare. The museum tells the story of Britain's inland waterways in a way that is genuinely engaging — even for guests who arrive thinking they won't be interested.
Gloucester Quays · Free entryFounded in 2011, Gloucester Brewery is now based in a beautifully converted Victorian malthouse right on the docks. Taproom tours and tastings are available, and the bar is a great place to end an afternoon on the waterfront. Their Gloucester IPA is the one to start with.
Gloucester Docks · Tours availableGloucester Quays' brand-new climbing attraction opened in February 2026 and has already become one of the most popular family destinations in the city. Nineteen colourful climbing challenges plus a multi-level soft play area. Book in advance — it fills up quickly at weekends.
Gloucester Quays · Booking requiredA Little Further Afield
Home of Gloucester Rugby — one of the most atmospheric grounds in English rugby. If there is a match on during your stay, go. The Cherry and Whites faithful are famously passionate and the ground holds over 16,000. My Dean's Way property is a two-minute walk from the ground — guests regularly tell me the match-day atmosphere is the highlight of their trip.
15 min walk from Gloucester QuaysGloucester sits right on the edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, Cirencester and the Slaughters are all under 30 minutes by car. Cheltenham — for architecture, restaurants and the famous racecourse — is just 9 miles away. If you have a car, a day in the Cotswolds is one of the finest days out in England.
20–30 min driveThe original WWT centre founded by Sir Peter Scott — one of the world's great wildlife reserves, just 10 miles south of Gloucester. Winter brings huge numbers of migratory birds including wild white-fronted geese. Beautiful at any time of year and undervisited by most Gloucester guests.
10 miles south · WWTA genuine hidden gem — medieval priory ruins tucked behind Gloucester College, just a short walk from the Quays. Almost nobody visits, which is exactly why you should. The gatehouse and barn are remarkably intact for a 12th-century structure and the atmosphere on a quiet morning is something special.
10 min walk · Free · Hidden gemThe Gloucester and Sharpness Canal runs right alongside the Quays and offers one of the most peaceful walks in the county. Head south along the towpath and within 20 minutes you are in open countryside with narrowboats drifting past. Saul Junction — where the canal meets the River Severn — is a lovely spot for lunch at the Anchor Inn.
Starts at the Quays · Free"We walked to the cathedral in Gloucester which was a pleasant stroll. A great location."
Where to Eat
For dinner on the Quays, Banchina Italian is the new opening to try in 2026. For something more established, the waterfront restaurants along the docks are reliable and the views over the Victorian warehouses make them worth the slightly tourist-facing prices.
Away from the Quays, guests who ask me personally always get the same recommendation: The Fountain Inn on Westgate Street. A proper Gloucester pub, real ales, good food and none of the self-consciousness of the waterfront spots. Several guests have come back to tell me it was the best meal of their trip.
For coffee, the Folk on Westgate Street is the best independent in the city centre — small, excellent and exactly the kind of place that makes a city worth visiting.
Staying near
Gloucester Quays?
My Southgate Street apartment is steps from the Quays, the Cathedral and everything in this guide. A beautifully designed Guest Favourite with a 4.96 rating.