South West
OUT AND ABOUT IN GLOUCESTER IN A WHEELCHAIR
Westgate Street Gloucester
The City of Gloucester has a wealth of history from Roman heritage through to its' Victorian Docks. It has a busy and vibrant centre with a wide variety of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, much of which is pedestrianised. Access in the city is good in most areas with plenty of dropped kerbs. There are disabled parking spaces throughout Gloucester including some in Southgate Street and at the docks. A Shopmobility scheme operates from Hampden Way off of Wellington Street with free loan of wheelchairs, battery powered wheelchairs and scooters, booking is advisable tel: 01452 302871.
For accessible places to stay in the area please scroll to the bottom of the page and for a wider accommodation search for other areas of South West and the UK click here.
The clock at Bakers Jewellers in Southgate Street
Guided walks around the city are available by booking at the Tourist Information Centre in Southgate Street. They last between an hour and an hour and a half and are extremely informative. There are a lot of interesting places in the city that otherwise could easily be missed and we highly recommend these walks. The guides who are very knowledgeable will choose a wheelchair friendly route. The above clock is included in the route and has five figures which represent England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales as well as Father Time.
Gloucester Cathedral
Building was begun on Gloucester Cathedral in 1089 but there was a place of worship on the site from 700 AD. The building started life as the Abbey Church of a Benedictine Monastery but in 1540 it was abolished. It was saved however and became a cathedral because Edward the 2nd was buried here. There is a disabled toilet, the key may be obtained from the shop. There is also a restaurant in the undercroft that can be accessed from around the side of the cathedral.
Roman Gravestones in the City Museum
The City Museum and Art Gallery is situated in Brunswick Road. There is good access throughout with a lift to the first floor. There are very good disabled toilets just off the entrance hall. The museum gives a fascinating insight into the unique history of the area and there is a small collection of paintings. Admission is free.
Gloucester Docklands
The present dockland warehouses were built in the Victorian era and this was due to commercial trade from Ireland, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Today these provide waterfront housing as well as shops, cafes and museums. There is also an Antiques Centre but wheelchair access is limited to part of the ground floor. Also on the waterfront is the Mariners Chapel which was opened in 1849 after public subscription by the dock traders. The National Waterways Museum is situated in Llanthony Warehouse. It uses touch screen displays, working models, floating exhibits and interactive technology to bring the history of the waterways to life. There is a cafe, shop and disabled toilet.
Soldiers of Gloucester Museum
The Soldiers of Gloucester Museum is housed in Custom House in the docks. Access is very good with a lift to the first floor. It tells the story of the soldiers from Gloucestershire who have been involved in battles all over the globe for over three hundred years. It is very informative and well worth a visit. There is a shop and excellent disabled toilets on site. Adjacent to Custom House is a ramped walkway that gives easy access to the City Centre.
A sculpture in the sculpture garden at Nature in Art
The Nature in Art Museum and Art Gallery is two miles north of Gloucester on the A38 towards Tewksbury. The exhibition is housed in the fine building and grounds of Wallsworth Hall. It is the worlds first museum dedicated exclusively to art inspired by nature, with examples of art work from a rich variety of artists. The site is fully accessible with a lift to the first floor. There is a studio in the garden where various artists take it in turn to demonstrate and exhibit their work, wheelchair access to this is signposted. There is a cafe and shop on site as well as a small disabled toilet.
The Market House in Newent
Newent is a small market town located nine miles west of Gloucester on the B4215. It lies in the Leadon Vale at the most northern point of the Forest of Dean. Amongst its wide variety of interesting buildings is The Market House which dates from 1668 and the Church dating from the 13th century. Once a year on the second Saturday in September the town hosts an Onion Fayre with lots of stalls and live music. There is a car park off of Broad Street with disabled parking spaces and a disabled toilet.
The Shambles Victorian Museum
Situated in Church Street, Newent is The Shambles museum of Victorian life. Most of the museum is accessible and it gives a fascinating insight into the Victorian era, with a wide variety of quaint shop windows to look into. Some of the alleyways and courtyards have uneven surfaces and you may need an able assistant to push the wheelchair. There is a gift shop, a disabled toilet and limited access to a cafe.
The National Birds of Prey Centre
The National Birds of Prey Centre is located just outside Newent, follow the brown tourist signs from the town. The centre is home to one of the most significant Birds of Prey collections in the UK. As well as a large collection of aviaries there are flying demonstrations held each day. There is a shop, a cafe and disabled toilets on site. The toilet by the cafe is the most suitable. The best surfaced pathway to the flying field is located near the cafe.
Hazelfield Garden Centre is just north of Newent on the B4215. There is an excellent restaurant and coffee shop that overlooks an ornamental pond with koi carp. There is good access and a disabled toilet.
There is a Express by Holiday Inn just south of Gloucester on the A38 Bristol Road tel: 01452 726 400. Adjacent to the hotel is The Bumblebee Inn that serves excellent meals and has good level access.
Gloucester is a friendly city with a wide variety of places to see and things to do. There are plenty of restaurants, pubs and cafes many with outside eating areas that are suitable for wheelchair access. On our visit we had lunch at The New County Hotel in Southgate Street and had an enjoyable meal served by very friendly staff.