Things to do
around Gloucester

Gloucester rewards the kind of visitor who likes a city with layers to it. Within a couple of miles of the centre you'll find around 179 places to eat and drink, 57 shops, 26 things to visit and a handful of places to stay, which means you can plan a day loosely and still stumble into something you didn't expect. It's a working city rather than a polished market town, and that's part of the appeal: independent cafés sit alongside chain fronts, and the streets between the cathedral and the docks shift character every few hundred yards. Seven events and culture venues and four activity spots give you a reason to stay into the evening.

For a good few hours, start with breakfast at Sisu Pancakes, then walk over to The Folk of Gloucester to get your bearings on the city's history in a building that's part of the story itself. Browse the shops afterwards — Matura is worth your time if you're buying rather than just looking — and finish with a drink at The Thirsty Pine Beer Cafe or a proper sit-down meal at The Regal before you head off.