Out & About in Gloucester

Gloucester is an English city located in the South West region of the country, close to the Welsh border, and home to some 125,000 inhabitants. The historical importance of Gloucester dates back to Roman times and evolved significantly during the Tudor and Stuart periods.

Gloucester Cathedral is a key landmark in the city and comprises stunning Gothic and Norman architecture, with a tower height of almost 70 metres. The Cathedral's interior is truly awesome, as large towers of stone and glass extend impressivley overhead. Indeed, Gloucester is a popular destination amongst tourists and it is well worth a visit.

Gloucester's economic profile consists largely of manufacturing, aerospace and financial services. For instance, the largest Birds Eye Walls ice-cream factory resides in the city and large international producers such as Messier-Dowty, Du Pont and BTR Permali. Gloucester is also home to key banks, mortgage lenders and insurance companies.

The city is also home to a rich sporting history and has a successful Premier League rugby club, who have been crowned champions twice in the last few years. Gloucester also boasts football and cricket clubs and is awash with sports and leisure venues such as a large golf course and the Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre, which features two relatively large dry slopes.

Shopping

Although Gloucester is a city with a reputation for the 'rural lifestyle', there are nevertheless plenty of things to do and places to shop in the area. The Mall Gloucester, for instance, which is situated on Eastgate Chambers, is a modern and busy shopping centre that incorporates large department stores such as Marks & Spencer and H & M in addition to smaller independent retailers such as Timewatch. The Mall is easily accessed by train, bus or car and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm, and 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sundays. There are 400 car park spaces located at the Mall and there is an availability of disabled and baby facilities.

Gloucester is also home to the Westgate Quarter, which is an area of the city that is rightly regarded as a prestigious shopping zone. From fashionable designer stores, boutiques and jewellers, to top quality hair dressers, barbers, health and beauty salons, Westgate Quarter has it all. Fashion shops such as John Lawrence Menswear, The Material Shop and Tuxedo Junction are popular stores amongst tourists and locals alike.

Food and Drink

There is a wealth of places to eat and drink, from popular fast food joints to deli's, pubs and high quality restaurants. Offering fantastic views across the River Severn and the Malvern Hills, Carrington's Restaurant at Hatton Court features delicious English cuisine and an excellent wine menu. Serving dishes such as roasted fillet steak and poached turbot with a fine bean salad for starters, guests can finish off their feast with a traditional English pudding and a glass of French wine.

A fine meal can also be made on a budget in Gloucester. Indeed, Frankie & Benny's New York Italian Restaurant and Bar combines traditional American and Italian cuisines with exceptional value for money. Dishes range from T-bone steaks and chargrilled burgers to light pastas, risotto and pizza. The bar serves a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to wash the meal down, whilst the desserts are also of a very good standard. The friendly hospitality and relaxing environment complete what is an enjoyable yet affordable dining experience at Frankie & Benny's.

Gloucester also has plenty of trendy bars, cafés and public houses dotted around the city. In fact, it is not a stretch to say that there is a pub around every corner.

Arts and Entertainment

Arts and entertainment in Gloucester are diverse and interesting. Nevertheless, because the area has such a rich cultural heritage, tourists find themselves drawn to the area's vast collection of historic monuments as a source of entertainment. Such monuments include St. Oswald's Priory, Nelson Memorial and the Cenotaph.

Aside from popular venues such as the cinema and bowling alleys, Gloucester has a selection of museums and theatres. The National Waterways Museum is one such example, as too is the Guildhall Theatre, which is the largest of its kind in the city and regularly hosts live music, productions and dance sessions, and includes a cinema, café, bar and art gallery.

Hotel and Travel

Among the very best places to stay in Gloucester is the Corse Lawn House Hotel, which is a stunning Queen Anne Grade II listed building set amongst 12 acres of gardens. The rooms are elegantly decorated whilst the services are what would be expected of such a high class hotel.

Gloucestershire Airport is within 3 miles of the city, whilst Gloucester Railway Station operates services for more than 1 million passengers annually. Gloucester is situated close to the M5 motorway, via the A38 and A417 carriageways.