Tourist Attractions in Gloucestershire, Cotswolds & Forest of Dean

A summary of the most popular tourist attractions in Gloucestershire. Many places in the county attract tourists and day-trippers. The Forest of Dean also offers a wide variety of attractions to visit.

Tourist Attraction Types

• Churches – Some of the best historic religious buildings in Gloucestershire.
• Walks – Many walking routes are available throughout the area.
• Outdoor Activities – Some excellent options for adventure.

Gloucestershire Tourist Attractions

Some of the popular or more unique visitor attractions in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.

Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral is a fantastic, popular place to visit. It has over 1000 years of history within it and is a very enjoyable place to visit. It hosts many special events throughout the year, from art exhibitions to concerts and services.

Gloucester Docks

The historic docks are another popular place for visitors to see in the county. The area is made up of many Victorian warehouses, which are home to museums, restaurants and shops. Gloucester Docks host some interesting events throughout the year, including the famous Tall Ships Festival, a retro car festival, dragon boat racing, and more.

The Barn Owl Centre in Gloucester

A conservation project that aims to help birds of prey in its sanctuary near Gloucester. The Barn Owl Centre hosts flying days where you can watch falcons and owls flying in the beautiful habitat they have created. Another similar local attraction is the International Centre of Birds of Prey, which is a great family day out.

Dean Forest Railway

A very popular tourist attraction for steam rail enthusiasts and the public. You can enjoy a few train trips on old trains on their branch line through the Forest of Dean. The Dean Forest Railway also has a museum of all things rail and a few nice places to eat and drink on the way.

GoApe in The Forest of Dean

This is a popular place in the Forest of Dean for a glorious adventure. The GoApe site is very popular with families looking for something more active. It’s a great day out, and the local scenery is spectacular too. Basically, there are lots of things to climb, zip wires and other fun things high up in the trees.

Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham

The Pittville Pump Room in Pittville Park in Cheltenham was the last and largest spa building built in the town. They completed the Pump Room in 1825, and it is now a grade 1 listed building. The building’s architecture is fantastic, with a colonnade and lots of iconic columns. It still houses the original pump, made from marble and scagliola.

Pittville Pump Room is open to the public to have a look around and is also a premier wedding venue. Inside this grand building are a ballroom, billiards room, library, and reading room. It is one of the town’s popular tourist attractions.

WWT Slimbridge

The WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre is very popular with tourists in the county, specifically those interested in wild birds and nature. You can get up close and personal and feed many types of wildfowl.

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre is a great day out in Gloucestershire. It is a wetland nature reserve run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. They are near the village of Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. WWT Slimbridge is in a beautiful rural location in between the River Severn Estuary and the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal. The reserve is home to many swans, ducks, geese, otters, flamingos, and many other bird species.

You can observe countless species of birds and other animals at WWT Slimbridge. Some of which are migratory and visit the site at specific times of the year.

Cotswold Wildlife Park

The Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens exhibit mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates from all around the world. The gardens and grounds are part of the Bradwell Grove estate.

The manor house at Bradwell Grove dates from 1804. However, they planted many of the mature trees in the park during the 19th century. In 1970, the owner, John Heyworth, opened the gardens to the public, with 230 animals from 40 species exhibited. http://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

Stanway House in the Cotswolds

Visit Stanway House and Fountain, a Jacobean manor house and the world’s tallest gravity-fed fountain. Family home of the Earl of Wemyss with water gardens and a 14th-century tithe barn. Restored working watermill next door to the main house. On the Cotswold Way. Tuesdays and Thursdays afternoons in June, July and August. Groups by appointment throughout the year. www.stanwayfountain.co.uk

St Michael’s Tower in Gloucester

St Michael’s Tower is over 500 years old. It was the former bell tower of the Church of St Michael. The Tower once housed 10 bells, and the church was once a famous city landmark.

Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle is a castle in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK. The castle dates back to the 11th century. English Heritage later designated it a Grade I listed building. This is a great day out and very educational for visitors of all ages.

Dr Jenner’s House, formerly known as the Edward Jenner Museum

They house the Edward Jenner Museum in Berkeley, to the south of the county, in a Grade II listed early 18th-century building called the Chantry. This is famous as the home of Edward Jenner, the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine. However, it is now used as a museum. http://www.jennermuseum.com

Purple Glaze Pottery

Supplying hand-painted and bespoke ceramic tableware, as well as gifts for a range of occasions. They are located in a tiny studio in the Cotswold countryside. Purple Glaze Pottery designs and hand-paints a range of tableware in its distinctive, fun, playful style. Their range appeals to adults and children and makes you smile. About Purple Glaze.