Gloucester, the Cathedral City of the Cotswolds, sits on a wonderful array of history and heritage stretching back over 2,000 years to Roman times. So as you can imagine, the limit to what you can do and see in the area is endless and it’s definitely one to think about for a summer getaway!
And that’s why we’re excited to share a dedicated tour package to ensure you don’t miss out on all there is to offer in the area! The Edward Hotel makes seeing the local sights and landmarks of the city even easier. We caught up with the proprietor, Howard Milton, to find out a bit more about the hotel, what’s on offer in the local area and what their tour package includes…
How accessible is the Edward Hotel for sightseeing in Gloucester?
We have the perfect location as the hotel is just a short 10 minute stroll to the centre. This means we are far enough away from the city to get a good night’s sleep but close enough to explore the sights! We are also the only hotel in the centre with a large private car park and no day charges.
What top sights would you recommend for first-time guests in the area?
There is an array of historic buildings, medieval churches and museums are top sights to see! The jewels in the crown though are the Quays, the Antiques Centre, Gloucester Docks and Gloucester Cathedral.
With the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and the Severn Valley surrounding the city, visitors are never short of something to do.
Does the Edward Hotel feature any interesting connections with the history of Gloucester?
Lots! The hotel has a gallery with 140 pictures and 75 plates of information on the history and heritage of the city which means you can ‘tour’ Gloucester without leaving the hotel!
The property sits on the old Roman road, Ermin Way; close by the hotel is a C13th Chapel; at the top of the road are gardens which contain the Medieval water conduit, and part of a Market structure which were previously in the main Gate streets.
What does the historic and cultural tour of Gloucester include?
There are a variety of tours on offer, some starting from the hotel.
The guided walking tours are best because the guides bring the buildings to life by sharing anecdotes, explaining events and showing places and details which can be easily missed by those visitors just wandering around.
There is a daily guided walking City tour, run by volunteers from the Civic Trust, which leaves at 11am (not Suns) from The Cross, and proceeds from this tour go towards the restoration of historic buildings. These tours last for approx 90 minutes and are a fabulous introduction to Gloucester.
More in-depth pre-booked tours such as the Romans, Royalty in Gloucester, Historic characters, the Docks or Cathedral Precincts are available from the Civic Trust.
Half day and whole day guided tours for guests are available by arrangement through the hotel and can be done via foot, bicycle or car. For those that want to go self-guided, we can recommend routes and share tips.
The Cathedral offer free tours and offer tours of the Tower and Crypt for a small charge.
Canal and River tours are available seasonally, Prison, Brewery and Ghost Tours, can be booked online.
What are your favourite parts from the tour the Edward Hotel hosts?
The best bits are the spectacular ‘hidden’ parts that the guides show you where not so many visitors go.
Aside from the tours, for food lovers, what traditional dishes/foods would you recommended for guests to try in Gloucester?
You can’t leave Gloucester without trying Gloucester Old Spot (sausage), double Gloucester cheese & traditional Gloucester Beer!
How often does Edward Hotel host tours for guests?
City tours are available all year around, except for the Christmas period when the tours are dependent on the availability of guides. Pre-booking is advisable.
If you’d like to find out more or make an enquiry, please call the Infotel team on 01775 843417, open 9am – 5.30pm from Monday to Friday or alternatively, submit your enquiry online here.