Walking Tours of Gloucester’s Historic City Centre Return for Summer Season

Gloucester Civic Trust is delighted to announce the launch of its summer programme of daily historic walking tours, beginning April 1st, following the success of its winter weekly series.

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Running Monday through Saturday, the guided tours invite visitors to experience the rich and fascinating heritage of Gloucester. Led by knowledgeable City Guides, each tour lasts approximately one hour and offers an engaging journey through the city’s remarkable past.

Participants will discover how the Roman founding of Gloucester established the city as a key capital, and how Aethelflaed reshaped its centre during the Saxon period. The tours also explore Gloucester’s connection to the Domesday Book, whose origins are linked to a parliament held in the city.

Stories of conflict and resilience come to life, including the dramatic six-week siege during the English Civil War, where the city’s resistance led to the downfall of a king. Visitors will also hear about Gloucester’s contributions to innovation, with figures linked to inventions such as the vacuum cleaner and the telegraph, as well as the founding of Sunday Schools.

Beyond historical milestones, the tours delve into colourful local tales, from a judge entangled in a witch trial to residents who inspired iconic literary figures like Ebenezer Scrooge and Long John Silver. The programme also highlights poets, preachers, and musicians whose influence reached far beyond the city, shaping ideas across the Atlantic.

“Guided tours in Gloucester are more than a look at historic buildings they offer a window into a vibrant past filled with extraordinary people and events of national and global importance,” said Jim Dillon, Tour Guide Gloucester Civic Trust.

Tours depart Monday to Saturday at 11:00am from St. Michael’s Tower.

To book a place or find out more, visit the Gloucester Civic Trust website.

For visitors and residents alike, the Gloucester Civic Trust walking tours provide an accessible and enriching way to explore one of England’s most historic cities.