Gloucestershire is such a fantastic place to visit with a mixture of elegant spa and market towns, stately homes, splendid religious buildings, green landscapes and a whole lot of history to explore. Wherever your heart takes you in the Shire there is also bound to be plenty of entertainment for the whole family.
Things for Children to do in Gloucestershire
Gloucester Cathedral is certain to delight any Harry Potter fan as it was the location used to film some parts of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (see more information here).
Nearby is The House of the Tailor of Gloucester which is where Beatrix Potter drew and was inspired to write the book. Now it is a Beatrix Potter Museum and Shop. If Star Wars is more their thing then a trip to Puzzlewood would be ideal as it is where scenes of Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens were filmed.
Gloucestershire has plenty of places where you can pick your own fruit and vegetables and wonderful farms (many of which have plenty of places to play). My favourites include Primrose Vale PYO; Cattle Country; Cotswolds Farm Park (which also offer Bushcraft experiences) and Dick Whittington Farm Park. At Overfarm Market there are also many seasonal activities laid on for the children – including Giant Inflatables, Pumpkin Picking and Halloween fun; and not forgetting that there’s WWT Slimbridge.
There are plenty of fantastic play areas and parks – including the recently installed new play area at Pitville Park; which also boasts an aviary, Pump room and fishing lake. Of course there’s plenty of places to just play – especially if you like a forest! I like Beechenhurst Lodge which often has different trails for children as well as its permanent Sculpture Trail; or Cotswold Lavender if flowers are your thing.
Why not visit Tewkesbury whilst in Gloucestershire – an ancient settlement at the meeting of the Rivers Severn and Avon. It is one of the best medieval townscapes in England with fine half-timbered buildings, overhanging upper storeys and narrow alleyways. A lovely place to visit with its Abbey, Medieval Festival (July 8th-9th) and Annual Mop Fair (October). It is also one of the places you can enjoy a boat ride or access water sports at Croft Farm. Also home to The Roses Theatre where there are many lives acts for children as well as films (including sensory performances). Gloucestershire also has Cotswold Water Park and The Dive Centre – which welcomes divers of all abilities, and ages and include a landrover lagoon, training platforms, an old cruisers/carriers, a diving bell and jet streams.
These are just a handful of the many, many things for Children to do in Gloucestershire – it is well worth a visit. Do you have any to add?