Gloucester Cathedral has a packed programme of events this summer 2025, with everything from family-friendly trails to exhibitions showcasing ancient arts and crafts.
SoGlos handpicks the highlights...
Lions at Large at Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral is proud to be taking part in the Lions at Large — The Pride of Gloucestershire Trail this summer 2025, with a colourful lion sculpture taking pride of place on Cathedral Green from Friday 11 July until Sunday 14 September 2025.
Raising money for the Big Space Cancer Appeal to help build a new cancer care centre for local patients, there are 32 lions to find across Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Visitors are also encouraged to follow the Cubs in the Cathedral trail, where a pride of playful lion cubs decorated by local schools and community groups are hiding around the building – with a small prize to take home if you can find them all.
'Medicine and Mayhem' at Gloucester Cathedral
Perfect for budding herbalists and little history fans, kids can learn all about ancient ailments and the medicines that treated them at Gloucester Cathedral's 'Medicine and Mayhem' events.
Encouraging little ones to get hands-on making medieval remedies like lotions, potions and cures, as well as taking part in soothing 'sleeping lions' soundbathing sessions, there's plenty to keep young minds engaged.
'Medicine and Mayhem' family fun days take place from 11am to 3.30pm on Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6, Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 August 2025 and are free to attend, with no pre-booking required.
'Crafts that Built the Cathedral' exhibition and Stone Carving Festival
Celebrating the ancient arts and crafts which shaped this spectacular space, 'Crafts that Built the Cathedral' showcases traditional skills from stone carving to stained glass, with pieces created by members of the community in specialist workshops throughout the year being displayed around the Cloister from Saturday 12 July until Sunday 7 September 2025.
Then the Gloucester Cathedral Stone Carving Festival brings this incredible craft to life over the August bank holiday, with live demonstrations from apprentice and master stonemasons out on Cathedral Green, as well as the chance to try your hand at stone carving in 'have a go' sessions on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August 2025.
The exhibition and Stone Carving Festival are both free to attend, but any donations will go towards preserving and protecting the cathedral's medieval Cloister.
Gloucester Cathedral Tower tours
With a brand-new roof deck opened just in time for summer, visitors to Gloucester Cathedral can climb the 269 steps to the top of the Tower to enjoy breathtaking views across the county – and all the way to the Malvern Hills on clear days.
As well as snapping selfies with the best view in Gloucestershire, they can also step inside the bell ringing chamber to see Great Peter – the only medieval bell of its size still in use in Europe.
Guided Tower tours last around 60 minutes and are available on selected days throughout the summer, with tickets costing £12 per adult and £6 per child aged six to 17.
Cream teas at The Monk's Kitchen
With two signature cream teas to try either sat out in the courtyard or basking in the sun on Cathedral Green, The Monk's Kitchen at Gloucester Cathedral is the perfect pitstop while you're exploring.
Choose from the Glouceser Rugby-inspired Cherry and White cream tea, with a white chocolate topped scone, cherry jam and clotted cream; or the Rhubarb and Custard cream tea with rhubarb grown in The Deanery garden, a custard-flavoured scone and clotted cream – both costing £7.25 each with a hot or cold drink included.
For more information, or to book a Tower tour, visit gloucestercathedral.org.uk.
