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Gloucester — Crossroads of England

By Marilyn Loeser

Gloucester, located northwest of London on the River Severn, stands on the site of a Roman fortress dating from 60 AD. Visiting this city cradled in the Cotswolds offers the opportunity to visit historic attractions and family-oriented sites as well as a day or two of shopping in the city.

The fortress provided a defensive wall around the core of the city. This is still reflected by the names of streets leading toward what were wall gateways and by the curving corner of Brunswick Road and Parliament Street which skirts what was the stronghold wall.

Captured by the Saxons in 577, it’s still not clear how much of the Roman town survived from this time or when the Saxons actually occupied it. It is know, however, that in 1085 William the Conqueror ordered the Domesday Survey in Gloucester to assess the extent of the land and resources owned in England at the time and the extent of the taxes he could raise. 

Henry I approved a charter giving the city privileges equal to those of London in 1155. During the English Civil War in 1643 between the Crown and Parliament, King Charles I demanded the surrender of the city following his capture of Bristol. The citizens refused even with his army camped outside its doors. The city was rescued when the opposing army from London arrived and with it Charles’ last real chance of winning the war.

Visiting the city

Many of the city’s shopping, dining and visitor attractions are located within walking distance of the city’s center.

A great place to start your visit is the City Museum and Art Gallery. Guests gain an understanding of the area’s natural wildlife and the early years of the city including Roman remains. Special displays of furniture, the decorative arts and paintings by well-known artists including landscape artist J.M.W. Turner are on display here.

Not to be missed is Gloucester Cathedral in the heart of the city. A breathtaking monument to fine craftsmanship, the cathedral was one of the locations used in filming Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Founded 1,300 years ago, the Norman cathedral is used daily for worship and features medieval stained glass, fan-vaulted cloisters, and glorious wood and stonework. Other features of interest are the Chapter House and the tomb Edward II.

Near the cathedral is the House of the Tailor of Gloucester, which is the actual shop that Beatrix Potter used as inspiration for the tailor’s home in her famous book Tailor of Gloucester.

The shop is currently closed, but if you’re a fan of the author, a quick look is worth the short walk.

The Folk Museum, housed in a historic Tudor and Jacobean half-timbered house, opened in 1935 and contains many exhibits of local note.

Local fishing, Gloucester bank notes, civil war relics, children's toys and cheese making are a few examples of the many exhibitions and demonstrations provided here.

The Historic Gloucester Docks is another popular tourist area. In its heyday tall ships queued for miles along the canal just to unload their cargoes of grain and timber. Today, 15 Victorian warehouses stand watch over Britain’s most inland port.

The area is being restored and offers museums, specialty shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.

The National Waterways Museum here offers a look at the 200 year story of inland waterways. The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum highlights the histories of two regiments: one a regular army infantry, the other a territorial Yeomanry cavalry regiment.

The Gloucester Antique Centre once served the docks as a five-storey grain warehouse. Filled with antiques, collectables and crafts offered by more than 120 dealers, you can spend hours here finding just the right British souvenir to take home.

Throughout the dock restoration, care has been taken to preserve the historic atmosphere. You can see the original rails, old mooring rings and a steam crane once used for the loading and unloading cargo.

During the summer months, boat trips and guided walks are available.
Shopping in Gloucester is another adventure! The city's pedestrian-only main streets are laid out in a cross, so it’s both safe and easy to enjoy a day checking out the shops here. The streets are simply named Northgate, Eastgate, Southgate and Westgate.

As well as the usual franchises, you’ll also find a wide range of specialty shops and boutiques.

The city has managed to retain much of its market town atmosphere and the city's naturally advantageous position between Wales and the rest of England means that market trade is still important more than 2,000 years since it began.

Not your typical tourist-town and that’s what I find so alluring about Gloucester and all she has to offer.

If you go:
This city of just over 100,000 is located between two international airports: Birmingham and Bristol.

Accommodations include budget, bed and breakfast and luxury. Two good websites to start your accommodation search are http://www.federal-hotel.co.uk/uk-city-gloucester-hotel-50248.htm and http://gloucesterswebsite.co.uk/hotel.

For additional information on attractions visit http://www.softdata.co.uk and http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/libraries/templates/page.asp?URN=4.

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