Gloucestershire visitors guide

Visit Gloucestershire and expect some of the best attractions, events and views in the UK.

SoGlos’s visitors guide to Gloucestershire has been written to help you make the most of your time in what we consider to be the best county in Britain.

Here you will find a comprehensive selection of useful information about Gloucestershire’s events, attractions, accommodation, restaurants and transport.

Also see SoGlos’s Cheltenham visitors guide, Gloucester visitors guide, Cotswolds visitors guide and Forest of Dean visitors guide.

Introduction to Gloucestershire

Spanning some 1,025 square miles, the county of Gloucestershire in the south west of England encompasses some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside and historic towns.

Inside the county borders you will find six main areas including Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury – all of which offer a unique experience to visitors from around the world.

While SoGlos is the leading guide to Gloucestershire arts, entertainment and leisure, there are a host of Gloucestershire Tourist Information Centres situated across the county, which are well worth drawing upon for an expert insight into the local area.

Where to stay in Gloucestershire

Whether you are looking for an exclusive luxury hotel or a friendly bed and breakfast, the choice of accommodation in Gloucestershire is abundant. What’s more, Gloucestershire also plays host to a wealth of camping and caravanning sites, self catering and farm accommodation – meaning there is something for all tastes and budgets.

See SoGlos’s dedicated venue listings for Gloucestershire hotels section for the latest reviews and features of more than 500 places to stay in the county, as well as the more specific bed and breakfasts, budget hotels, camping, caravanning, farm stays, mid-range hotels, self catering venues and luxury hotels.

And don’t miss SoGlos’s Gloucestershire hotel reviews for a critics insight into Gloucestershire accommodation.

Things to do in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is not only home to the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, but it also hosts an array of man-made attractions, some of which date back thousands of years.

See SoGlos’s Gloucestershire Culture section for the very latest event previews, features and reviews, as well as a comprehensive list of Gloucestershire attractions in the dedicated directory.

Eating out in Gloucestershire

From American to Vietnamese cuisine, Gloucestershire offers eating-out aficionados everything their tastebuds could ever hope for. Whatever your palate or price range, SoGlos’s Gloucestershire restaurants section includes the latest reviews and features, plus a comprehensive directory of more than 600 places to eat out in the county.

Plus, for a critics guide on where to tickle those tastebuds, don’t miss SoGlos’s Gloucestershire restaurant reviews.

What’s on and events in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire boasts a jam-packed line-up of events, with something happening virtually every day of the year. For the very latest information about what’s on in the county, see SoGlos’s regularly updated Gloucestershire events calendar.

Some of the county’s most popular annual events include:

January – Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival
February – Cheltenham Folk Festival
March – Cheltenham Festival and Gold Cup
April – Cheltenham Jazz Festival
April – Badminton Horse Trials
May - Tetbury Woolsack Races
May - Robert Dover's Cotswold Olimpick Games
June – Stroud Site Festival
July – Royal International Air Tattoo
July – Tewkesbury Medieval Festival
July – Café Rene Gloucester Rhythm and Blues Festival
July – Cheltenham Cricket Festival
September – Newent Onion Fayre
September – Stroud Fringe Festival
October – Cheltenham Literature Festival
October - Tewkesbury Mop Fair
October - Halloween events in Gloucestershire
November - Fireworks and bonfires in Gloucestershire
November – The switching on of Gloucestershire Christmas lights
December – Christmas events

See SoGlos’s dedicated Gloucestershire events calendar for the most up-to-date guide to what’s on, and don’t miss the Gloucestershire festivals and wacky events guides too.

Getting around in Gloucestershire

By car – Gloucestershire enjoys excellent transport links and can be reached by car from Bristol in 45 minutes, from Cardiff and Birmingham in around one hour, from London in around two hours and from Manchester in around three hours.

By bus – There are three central bus stations in Gloucestershire offering National Express services from around the UK, including Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud.

By train – There are two main train stations in Gloucestershire offering national rail services from around the UK, including Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester. See thetrainline.com to get the latest rail timetable and to book tickets.

By aeroplane – The closest major airports are Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham, while Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton also operates flights to and from various destinations around the UK and further afield. See gloucestershireairport.co.uk for more details.

Gloucestershire map

SoGlos’s Google-powered Gloucestershire Interactive Map is an absolute must for county residents and visitors alike. See hotels, restaurants, attractions, theatres, museums and much more in the county in incredible details, at the click of a button.

More information about Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Council

Gloucestershire County Council’s website gloucestershire.gov.uk plays host to a wealth of useful information relating to Gloucestershire businesses, community and living, education and learning, environment and transport.

BBC Gloucestershire

The BBC Gloucestershire website, bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire, includes regularly updated local news, weather and traffic reports, as well as information about Gloucestershire’s sports fixtures and results.

© SoGlos

Friday 05 April 2013