💷 Free entry
Gloucester Cathedral
One of England's great Norman cathedrals, with fan-vaulted cloisters, medieval stained glass and family trails running throughout the year.
✦ We visited
Walking the cloisters is the obvious starting point and they genuinely impress. The vaulting is intricate in a way that photographs do not quite convey. Worth budgeting ninety minutes at least to get beyond the entrance and into the quieter spaces at the east end.
Gloucester Cathedral stands on College Green in the city centre, a working church built on foundations laid in 1089. The building has been added to across centuries, and what you see today layers solid Norman nave against soaring Perpendicular Gothic. The east window, filled with medieval glass, dates from around 1350 and is one of the largest surviving medieval windows in England.
For families, the fan-vaulted cloisters are the heart of the visit. Begun in the mid-14th century, the interlocking stone fans overhead are extraordinary, and the cloisters were used as filming locations for the Hogwarts corridors in the first two Harry Potter films. Children who know the books or films tend to respond strongly to walking them. There is a small exhibition space near the Welcome Desk, and seasonal trails run through the year: the Easter trail is a clue-cracking walk around the building, and the Christmas trail runs through December into January, both free.
Entry to the cathedral is free, with a suggested donation of around £5 per adult. Guided tours are available for groups and give more depth on the architecture and the royal tombs in the south ambulatory, including the fine medieval effigy of King Edward II. The cathedral cafe is open most days.
The building is largely accessible, with level entry to the main body and ramp access at the main door. The cloister garth has some uneven stone. If you are combining it with other Gloucester attractions, the National Waterways Museum at the Docks is fifteen minutes on foot.
Good for: history, arts, rainy-day. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Is Gloucester Cathedral free to enter?
Entry is free, with a suggested donation of around £5 per adult to help maintain the building. Guided group tours have a separate charge.
Did they film Harry Potter at Gloucester Cathedral?
Yes. The fan-vaulted cloisters were used as the Hogwarts corridor locations in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Are there activities for children at Gloucester Cathedral?
Seasonal family trails run throughout the year, including an Easter trail and a Christmas trail in December and January. Check the cathedral website for what is on during your visit.
