Gloucestershire - 83 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Gloucestershire

The cathedral city of Gloucester nestled between the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean, is Britain’s most inland port, rich with history dating back to Roman times. Gloucester’s many museums and attractions tell the stories of those that have made a great impact on England and the world.

Types of Attractions in Gloucestershire

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Gloucestershire

Cotswold Falconry Centre

The Cotswold Falconry Centre is home to around 150 Birds of Prey – many of which can be seen in free-flying demonstrations each day. The Falconry Centre is open from mid-February to mid-November. The center provides bird lovers with a rare insight into the secret world of a number of species, many of which fly freely inside this protected habitat.

Cotswold Farm Park

Cotswold Farm Park

Outdoors- Other

Started in 1971 for the purpose of protecting rare breeds of farm animals and was owned by Adam Henson who is passionate about farming and a regular feature on TV programmes such as Spring Watch. It has now developed into one of the UK's finest open farms and rare breed centres. There are ride-on tractors and an array of rare breeds of goats, sheep, pigs and cattle and also there are so many attractions in and around this place.

Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection

The Cotswold Motoring Museum is a museum in the Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, England. It features the motoring history of the 20th century. The Museum has seven galleries - overflowing with vintage and classic cars, caravans, precarious-looking motorcycles, original enamel signs, a unique toy collection and an intriguing array of motoring curiosities. The museum's toy collection includes pedal cars, bicycles, toy cars, buses, aeroplanes and other vehicles.

Cotswold Water Park

Cotswold Water Park

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Outdoors- Other

This unique area of over 150 lakes has something for everyone – from watersports and land activities, fantastic and varied birdwatching, excellent angling, off-road cycling, an inland beach, peaceful lakeside walks to beautiful Cotswold towns and villages waiting to be explored. You can come for a day visit, a short break or a family holiday.

Cotswold Way

Cotswold Way

Outdoors- Other

1 Day Treks

The Cotswold Way is a long distance walk that runs for 102 miles (163km) from the medieval market town of Chipping Campden in the North Cotswolds, to the historic City of Bath. Although recognised as a suitable route for a National Trail in due course, the path was initially sponsored by Gloucestershire County Council, who had no powers of footpath creation, and so used only existing rights of way.

Cotswolds AONB

Cotswolds AONB

Outdoors- Other

1 Day Treks

The Cotswold Hills rise gently west from the broad, green meadows of the upper Thames to crest in a dramatic escarpment above the Severn valley and Evesham Vale. Rural England at its most mellow, the landscape draws a unique warmth and richness from the famous stone beauty of its buildings.

Crickley Hill Country Park

Crickley Hill Country Park

Outdoors- Other

Parks

A beautiful country park that covers an area of 143 acres of grassland and beechwoods situated on the Cotswold escarpment. Site of archaeological interest with panoramic views and waymarked trails. The park is a haven for nature and home to many birds, reptiles and mammals and is recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wonderful variety of wildflowers. Rising above the city of Gloucester, Crickley Hill it also boasts breath-taking views over the Severn Vale, the Brecon Beacon

Dean Forest Railway

Dean Forest Railway

Outdoors- Other

The Dean Forest Railway is a 4 1⁄4-mile long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Traveling in nostalgic and comfortable carriages, pulled by either carefully restored steam locomotives or delightful diesel locomotives, this line winds through the atmospheric and calming panorama of the Forest of Dean, passing the numerous quaint station houses that have been repaired and maintained by the dedicated volunteers that continue to run the lin

Dean Heritage Centre

Dean Heritage Centre

Iconic Buildings

The Dean Heritage Centre is located in the valley of Soudley, Gloucestershire, England. Discover the history of the Forest in a grade 2 listed mill building nestled in a valley in the heart of the glorious Forest of Dean. Explore our beautiful five-acre site and experience for yourself the splendour of the Forest that surrounds us.

Dover's Hill

Dover's Hill

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Dovers Hill is a popular hill on the edge of the Cotswolds. It has been used as the national hill climb championship on six occasions. On the top of the hill is a trig point, and also a toposcope illustrating many of the landmarks that are visible from it. These include the Black Mountains in South Wales and the Long Mynd in Shropshire.

Dr Jenner's House, Museum and Garden

This is the house where Edward Jenner, pioneer of vaccination against smallpox, lived and told the world about his work. Less than 200 years later, smallpox had been eradicated, with countless lives saved in the process. Today you can see Jenner’s Study, explore his garden, including the historic Vinery and the modern Physic Garden, and stand in the Temple of Vaccinia, where Jenner vaccinated the people of Berkeley free of charge.

Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail

Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail

Outdoors- Other

1 Day Treks

This 4.5 mile long Sculpture Trail was one of the first to open in the UK which was established in 1986. It provides a unique opportunity to walk through the woodlands and discover art along the way. The Sculpture Trail links several different site-specific sculptures commissioned for the forest. It is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year.

Gloucester Cathedral

The magnificent Gloucester Cathedral was built in 1100 as a Norman abbey church and survived the Dissolution thanks to its historical connection with the monarchy. It has one of the largest medieval stained glass windows in England and an elegant and impressive interior. The diocese covers the greater part of Gloucestershire, with small parts of Herefordshire and Wiltshire. The cathedral has a stained-glass window depicting the earliest images of golf.

Gloucester Life Museum

Gloucester Life Museum is one of the oldest-established museums dedicated to social history. It holds an important and fascinating collection of artefacts from the last few hundred years up to the 1960s and 1970s including a working jukebox.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer operated heritage railway in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire offering a round trip of 28 miles. It uses part of the route of the former Great Western Railway's main line from Birmingham to Cheltenham which used to run via Stratford-upon-Avon. The 28 mile round trip on steam and heritage diesel trains follows part of the route of the former Great Western main line from Birmingham to Cheltenham.

Great Witcombe Roman Villa

Great Witcombe Roman Villa

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Great Witcombe Roman Villa was one of the largest Roman houses in Britain and was part of a cluster of very wealthy villas in the Cotswolds area. A rich family lived here, together with their slaves and freedmen, for around 200 years, until the end of the Roman period in Britain. The remains include a bathhouse complex and perhaps the shrine of a water spirit. Mosaic pavements hint at the villa’s opulence in Roman times.

Hailes Abbey

Hailes Abbey

Churches

Old Ruins

One of the beautiful abbeys which was founded in 1246 by the Earl of Cornwall, Hailes Abbey is set amid delightful Cotswold countryside. Once the center of monastic life, the tranquil ruins are now the perfect place to relax and enjoy a picnic in a unique historic setting. Visit the new museum to discover the treasures of Hailes, uncovering stories of the monks who lived and worshipped at the abbey for nearly three centuries.

Highgrove House

Highgrove House

Iconic Buildings

Botanical Gardens

Highgrove is the private residence of TRHs The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. The house is noted for its extensive gardens, which receive more than 30,000 visitors a year.

Hopewell Colliery

Hopewell Colliery

Man-made Structures- Other

Hopewell is a working coal mine managed by Rich Daniels, a freeminer of the forest. It offers a unique visitor experience in that you can actually visit the mine workings. See how coal, the power source of Britain for many centuries, is mined. Understand the extreme conditions that miners have to work in and so more.

Isis Lake

Isis Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Isis lake is a beautiful 54 acre rectangular lake in the northern part of Avon Park, Florida. It has very clear water. The lake is surrounded by white-sand beaches. The lake is a natural freshwater lake. It was used as a scuba diving training site, and the property held by the church camp was used by area residents.

Map of attractions in Gloucestershire

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For more information about Gloucestershire, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucestershire