St Michael’s Tower Reopens for the Summer Season on 1st April

One of Gloucester’s most distinctive historic landmarks is preparing to welcome visitors once again as St Michael’s Tower reopens for the summer season on Wednesday 1 April 2026.

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Standing at The Cross, the tower has been at the centre of city life for more than five centuries. Built in 1465, the 25-metre building is the surviving part of the former Church of St Michael the Archangel and marks the highest point in the city.

Throughout April, the tower will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., giving visitors the chance to step inside and explore this remarkable piece of Gloucester’s history. Friendly volunteers will be on hand to welcome, share stories from the tower’s past and point people towards other must-see locations across the city.

Inside, visitors can explore displays and exhibitions that tell the story of the historic church of St Michael the Archangel, with a timeline stretching back to before the Norman Conquest. The tower also celebrates Gloucester’s famous bell-founding tradition, including historic bells forged by the Rudhall family in 1710. Visitors even have the opportunity to try chiming a bell themselves.

While exploring the displays, people can also enjoy refreshments, watch films showing Gloucester through the ages and discover more about the city’s rich heritage.

Today, St Michael’s Tower is managed by Gloucester Civic Trust, which transformed the building into a heritage centre after securing restoration funding in 2008. As well as being a fascinating place to visit, the tower also serves as the starting point for guided city walks that run throughout the summer.

The Trust is always keen to welcome new volunteers. With more volunteers involved, the tower could remain open for longer periods during the season. Anyone with an interest in local history and a few hours to spare is warmly invited to get involved.

Visitors can also look forward to a programme of events throughout the summer, so it’s well worth dropping in regularly to see what’s happening.

To mark the start of the season, from 1^st April to 9^th April, the tower will host a small exhibition of artwork by Tina Pentney celebrating the Green Man. The exhibition explores the mysterious folkloric figure and highlights some of the Green Man carvings that can be found around Gloucester.

As part of the exhibition, visitors will be invited to take on a special challenge:

Can you find the Green Man carving hidden within St Michael’s Tower?

Everyone is warmly invited to stop by, explore the tower’s remarkable history and help celebrate another exciting summer at one of Gloucester’s most historic landmarks.