Museums and Galleries

Museum of Gloucester & Art Gallery

The Museum of Gloucester and Art Gallery in Brunswick Road has undergone a facelift thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and reopened in August 2011. There are plenty of new displays and interactive exhibits charting the history of Gloucester including Iron Age artifacts, a Roman kitchen and a medieval street scene. The ground floor has been completely redeveloped and features a dinosaur display, a Gloucester night garden and the new Cafe Nerva, named after the Roman Emperor who granted ancient Gloucester (or Glevum) the prestigious ‘Colonia’ status.

Gloucester Life Museum

The city’s Life Museum in Westgate Street tells the story of Gloucester’s social history over many floors in a delightfully crooked, timber framed old building. Exhibits include accurate recreations of a Victorian classroom and an 18th century pin factory. The Life Folk Museum recently enjoyed a makeover, adding a ‘Retro Room’, a fantastic ‘country kitchen‘ tea room with an idyllic garden and a Folk Boutique gift and curiosity shop. The Life Museum run themed childrens activities every Saturday.

National Waterways Museum

Housed in one of the fine Victorian warehouses in the docks, Gloucester Waterways Museum tells the story of our wonderful canals and rivers. Visitors can climb aboard historic boats, enjoy hands-on fun, watch archive films and browse galleries rich in canal heritage and wildlife. The museum also offers boat trips along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and River Severn, with historic commentary along the way.Currently undergoing rennovation, the Gloucester Waterways Museum reopens in summer 2016.

The Jet Age Museum

Located close to where the Britain's first jet aircraft was built, Gloucester's newest museum celebrates Gloucester's pioneering aviation heritage. Star exhibits include a replica of Sir Frank Whittle's Gloster E28/39, Britain's first jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor and the Cold-War era Javelin. The Jet Age Museum is just 15 minutes drive north west of the city centre.

Nature In Art

Nature in Art is the world’s first museum and art gallery dedicated to art inspired by nature, and is housed in a magnificent Georgian mansion, Wallsworth Hall, located in idyllic grounds just two miles north of the city centre.

The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

The fascinating and illustrious history of the Gloucestershire Regiment. Nicknamed "The Glorious Glosters", the regiment carried more battle honours on their regimental colours than any other British Army line regiment. The exhibition explores the relationship between the soldiers and the people of the county, and charts the regiment’s involvement from the War of Spanish Succession, the Napoleonic Wars and both World Wars through to the Korean War.

The Tailor of Gloucester Beatrix Potter Museum & Shop

The Tailor of Gloucester Beatrix Potter Museum and Shop in fairy tale-like College Court is based in the original building used by Beatrix Potter in her wonderful story, and brings her magical world to life with displays, illustrations, unique gifts and lots more – and entry is free.

The Barn Owl Centre of Gloucestershire

Just a short swoop from the city centre in Hempsted, the Barn Owl Centre offers visitors the chance to see beautiful owls, hawks, buzzards, falcons and golden eagle up close and to find out more about the conversation and welfare of these incredible birds of prey.

The International Centre for Birds of Prey

Set in 12 acres of graounds, the Centre is home to over 250 birds of prey including eagles, owls, vultures, buzzards and falcons. There are plenty of photo opportunities, a cafe and themed events throughout the year.