Located at the Docks near the hotel and re-Opening in early 2016,Gloucester Waterways Museum brings to life the Age of canals and rivers. The Romans were the first to build a quay in Gloucester. Long after the Romans this quay silted up and the quay was moved to a section of river by Quay St. The docks were built for an expanding Victorian Gloucester. Visitors will be able to clamber aboard boats, watch archive footage, and be interactive. You can book boat trips along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and River Severn from here.
Located in Westgate Street the Folk museum is dedicated to the social history of Gloucester. It is set in a 500yr old timber framed building of Tudor times which adds to the atmosphere of hands on heritage. Used as a pin factory (for which Gloucester was famed) with original machines in situ, it is set over many floors and overs education, fashion and other important aspects of Gloucester’s past. Exhibitions events and role play days are regularly held here, children’s activities are held most Saturdays. The tea rooms offer refreshments that can be taken into the courtyard garden.
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
Located at the Docks with redesigned interactive displays this museum is a fitting tribute to the men who have fought as soldiers of Gloucester and Gloucestershire. “The Glorious Glosters” carried more regimental colour battle honours than any other British Army line regiment. Their stories of fighting in the Americas, Europe, Korea and more are told in a way that interests all ages. Children can try on costumes and battle gear. At present if you sign up online you can get a 2 for 1 entry.
Gloucester Art Gallery and Museum
Located off Eastgate St he City Museum compliments the Folk museum with a chronological history of Gloucester ; Iron Age and Roman scenes, dinosaurs, archaeological finds, fossils decorative arts, furniture and lots more. Look out for the Birdlip mirror and the very first backgammon set. The Nerva café serves refreshments. (Emperor Nerva was instrumental in the construction of Gloucester as a Roman settlement).
Eastgate Viewing Chamber
Located in Eastgate and accessed via Gloucester Museum on Saturdays at certain times this underground chamber can be viewed a little from street level but the true magnificence has to be viewed form below.The history of the Eastgate and remnants can be found below with some of the Roman walls and a Medieval horse pool. This is well worth the effort.
Beatrix Potter Museum – the Tailor of Gloucester
In the shadows of the Cathedral is another Potter, Beatrix, no relation. This original building used in stories and illustrations is a tribute to the storywriter and her characters. Look out for some of the nearby street names that appear in her stories. Entry to the museum and shop is free.
Located a short drive or bus ride two miles north of Gloucester is a fabulous Georgian mansion that houses the world’s widest range of nature inspired art. Work of 600 artists from 50 countries is displayed. There are also temporary exhibitions and an artist in residence as well as bronze statues stanging in the gardens.
The Jet Age Museum
Amid great secrecy on 8thApril 1941 Sir Frank Whittle’s Gloster E28/39 or Gloster Whittle took to the skies above Gloucester, this was the birth of the Jet Age. This museum is the only place in the world that three examples of Gloster Aircraft can be seen. See a Gloster biplane and a replica of a Hawker Hurricane of which almost 3,000 were built in Gloucester, aircraft that fought in the Battle of Britain. Located at Staverton airport a short bus or car ride from Gloucester this charity run museum provides all round family fun.