If you are coming to Gloucestershire with children, or if you live here, then you may well want to take them to visit Gloucester Cathedral. It isn’t just a stuffy old building full of religion and history – it’s actually a lot of fun. PLUS it is the location for some of the filming of Harry Potter!
In fact the history and religion are beautifully presented visually, with tours tailored to your needs (including a Harry Potter tour, Library tours, Crypt tours and Tower tours. Children’s Church is every Sunday at 10:15am during children’s term time; where they can enjoy fun, discovery and learning with friends. There are also special events organised such as family learning taster days (Archaeology and Geology); Silent film screening (with live organ improvisation); Relief stone carving course, dance fitness classes; Cathedral Junior Voices Project and The Discovery Trail (£4.50).
The Discovery Trail at Gloucester Cathedral
The Nave
The Discovery Trail Guide includes a map and begins with some history about Gloucester Cathedral. There are things to look out for and count as you go around. The Discovery Trail begins in The Nave and the West Window. History is explained, things to be observed including the architecture (with a section for the children to draw an arch in their guide). The Stonemasons couldn’t read and write like we can and so marked the stones to show their work and then the Master Mason would know how much to pay each of them. The children are then guided to match marking from their Discovery Trail guide and on the stone pillars.
Henry III
Next the Discovery Trail takes you on to the Henry III Window. It explains about Henry III and how he was only 9 years old when he was crowned King. I will not spoil the contents of the Discovery Trail guide, but I will say that here there is a ribbon for the children related to this.
St. Andrew’s Chapel
St. Andrew’s Chapel is beautiful and how the whole of Gloucester Cathedral would have been decorated in medieval times. As Andrew was a fisherman, there are fish here, and the children are invited to count them in the Discovery Trail.
Then there’s the Candle Stand, Mason’s Bracket, Robert Duke of Normandy, Thomas Chapel, Lady Chapel, Edward II and The Quire, before heading to the Tribune Gallery.
Tribune Gallery
Here there are lots of fun activities for children including dressing up, creating their own Gargoyle, and solving a stain glass window jigsaw. It is also the way to the Whispering Gallery too.
The Cloisters
The Cloisters are where the monks went about their daily business but at Gloucester Cathedral it is also where part of Harry Potter were filmed.
The Discovery Trail is quite sensory with things to feel and smell as well as touch. It is great for getting children to interact, learn and discovery in Gloucester Cathedral.
If you are visiting Gloucester Cathedral check out the gift shop to see what extra activities are on/coming soon. For information on Planning your Visit to Gloucester Cathedral (including parking) please visit: https://www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk/visit/plan-your-visit/find-us/
We were invited along to Gloucester Cathedral by Tots100 and received the Discovery Trail and lunch at no charge. All opinions are honest and my own.
Wow, it looks lovely. I will have to take the girls to do the discovery trail soon. I was sorry I couldn’t make it to the day with Tots, glad you had a good time.
Nat.x
That looks like a wonderful place to visit and what gorgeous photos too xx