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Gloucester

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Gloucester

Gloucester works well as a base: 10 minutes from Churchdown, 22km from Sudeley Castle.

Gloucester is a city located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 132,416, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Gloucester sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Gloucester to your route.

About Gloucester

Gloucester ( GLOSS-tər) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west. It is situated 7 miles (11 km) from Cheltenham, 19 miles (31 km) from

Read more Monmouth, 33 miles (53 km) from Bristol, and 17 miles (27 km) east of the England and Wales border. Gloucester has a population of around 132,000, including suburban areas. It is a port, linked via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to the Severn Estuary. Gloucester was founded as a Roman colony in AD 97, under Emperor Nerva as Colonia Glevum Nervensis. It was granted its first charter in 1155 by Henry II. In 1216, Henry III, aged only nine years, was crowned with a gilded iron ring in the Chapter House of Gloucester Cathedral. Gloucester's significance in the Middle Ages is underlined by the fact that it had a number of monastic establishments, including St Peter's Abbey, founded in 679 (later Gloucester Cathedral); the nearby St Oswald's Priory, founded in the 880s or 890s; and Llanthony Secunda Priory, founded in 1136. The town is also the site of the siege of Gloucester in 1643, during which the city held out against Royalist forces in the First English Civil War. A major attraction of the city is Gloucester Cathedral, which is the burial place of King Edward II and Walter de Lacy; it features in scenes from the Harry Potter films. Other features of interest include the museum and school of art and science, the former county gaol (on the site of a Saxon and Norman castle), the Gloucester Shire Hall (now headquarters of the Gloucestershire County Council) and the Whitefield memorial church. A park in the south of the city contains a spa, a chalybeate spring having been discovered in 1814. Economically, the city is dominated by the service industries and has strong financial, research, distribution and light industrial sectors. Historically, it was prominent in the aerospace industry. In 1926, the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company at Brockworth changed its name to the Gloster Aircraft Company because international customers claimed that the name Gloucestershire was too difficult to spell. A sculpture in the city centre celebrates Gloucester's aviation history and its involvement in the jet engine.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Gloucester

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Gloucester?

Gloucester offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Gloucester?

Plan your road trip to Gloucester with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Gloucester as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Gloucester located?

Gloucester is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 51.8657 latitude, -2.2431 longitude.

What is the population of Gloucester?

Gloucester has a population of approximately 132,416 people, making it a city in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
132,416
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
England
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
51.8657, -2.2431

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandCity

Worth the detour from Gloucester

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

racetrack

Prescott Speed Hill Climb

Famous Cotswolds hill climb owned by the Bugatti Owners' Club since 1937, twisting up through the grounds of Prescott House. Home of the celebrated La Vie en Bleu vintage festival.

19 km · about 20 min drive

castle

Sudeley Castle

A Tudor castle near Winchcombe, the only private home where a queen of England, Katherine Parr, lies buried.

22 km · about 25 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Symonds Yat Rock

A famous viewpoint 504 feet above the River Wye, where peregrine falcons nest and the river performs a dramatic horseshoe bend.

27 km · about 30 min drive

landmark

Morgan Motor Company

The last family-owned British car maker in Malvern, offering factory tours where hand-crafted sports cars are built.

28 km · about 30 min drive

landmark

Snowshill

A timeless hilltop hamlet famed for its lavender fields and the eccentric manor of collector Charles Wade.

30 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Bibury

Charming Cotswolds village famously described by William Morris as the most beautiful village in England, home to the iconic Arlington Row.

31 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

The Classic Motor Hub

A curated classic car showroom and events space set in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Bibury.

31 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Broadway Tower

A folly castle crowning the Cotswold escarpment at 1,024 feet, with views across 16 counties from the second-highest point.

33 km · about 40 min drive

Driving roads near Gloucester

  • 27 kmSymonds Yat RockA famous viewpoint 504 feet above the River Wye, where peregrine falcons nest and the river performs a dramatic horseshoe bend.
  • 35 kmDevil's PulpitA narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
  • 53 kmClifton Suspension BridgeIsambard Kingdom Brunel's iconic 1864 suspension bridge soaring 75m above the Avon Gorge at Bristol, still carrying traffic and glowing with lights after dark.
  • 60 kmGospel PassThe highest road pass in Wales at 549m, a narrow single-track lane over the Black Mountains between Hay-on-Wye and Llanthony, with vast views across the Wye Valley from beneath Hay Bluff.
  • 74 kmCheddar Gorge ViewpointEngland's largest gorge with 450-foot limestone cliffs, offering jaw-dropping views from several pull-off points along the winding road.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Gloucester.

Barnwood

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 km awayPop. 2,500

Churchdown

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 km awayPop. 13,287

Shurdington

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

8 km awayPop. 1,798

Painswick

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

9 km awayPop. 1,762

Huntley

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

11 km awayPop. 1,105

Corse

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

11 km awayPop. 1,178

Cheltenham

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

12 km awayPop. 118,836

Stonehouse

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

13 km awayPop. 7,481

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence