Living in Gloucester

Your guide to moving to Gloucester

Why Gloucester is a good place to live

Steeped in history and culturally diverse, with some innovative regeneration projects underway, Gloucester is home to some lovely architecture and property prices are generally cheaper hear than the nearby Cotswolds and Cheltenham.

Gloucester is in a great location, offering easy access to beautiful surrounding villages including Bourton-on-the-water, Chipping Camden, Painswick, Lower Slaughter and many more.

And within the city itself, there's plenty on offer for culture vultures to enjoy.

Spend an afternoon strolling through Gloucester Cathedral and Museum, Blackfriars Priory and The National Waterways Museum, or take in the ancient 13th century monasteries, Tudor buildings and revamped Victorian docks.

Gloucester Quays has recently undergone a £300 million makeover and is a great place to hang out in the evenings and weekends, with lots of cool cafes, restaurants and stores to enjoy.

What's Gloucester famous for?

Gloucester's 11th century Cathedral is one of the finest medieval buildings in England and is the burial place of King Edward II.

More recently, Harry Potter fans may recognise it from The Philosopher's Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Half Blood Prince: since it was used as a location for filming Hogwarts.

In fact, J K Rowling was born in Yate in Gloucestershire, as was Hollywood actor Simon Pegg.

Beatrix Potter's charming story, The Tailor of Gloucester, was one of the author's favourites from her Peter Rabbit series and was originally inspired by a shop here on Westgate Street.

And finally, canal fans will love the Gloucester Waterways Museum. Set in an old Victorian warehouse, it looks back over 200 years of canals in Britain and features lots of narrow boats, river barges and tugs.

Things to do in Gloucester

Gloucester is set in a fabulous location. You can easily explore the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, right on its doorstep, or soak up the delights of any of the local Cotswold villages nearby.

If you love nature, you'll love Nature in Art: a museum and art gallery at Wallsworth Hall, Twigworth, dedicated exclusively to art inspired by nature.

Obviously a visit to the splendid Cathedral is a must, as is a tour of Blackfriars Priory, where you can enjoy an afternoon tea too.

For shopping and foodie fans, an afternoon at Gloucester Quays is not to be missed. Recently transformed into a bustling hub of cafes, restaurants and shops, it's a great place to meet up and hang out.

In fact, foodies are well catered for in and around Gloucester. Head to the pretty village of Longford for one of the finest gastropubs, the Queen's Head, and tuck into Longford lamb and mash, Wagyu beef burgers or slow cooked belly pork with cider sauce.

In the city itself, Sebz on Northgate Street serves the best tapas and Mediterranean dishes in town, while Greek on the Docks at Merchants Quay serves authentic cuisine in a beautiful waterside location.

And pizza fans should be sure to swing by Settebello at Merchant Quay or Dough from Dough Pizza for the best slices in town.