5 educational things to do in Gloucestershire

It’s always great to be able to learn while travelling on holiday. There are a number of things to do in Gloucestershire that will keep both kids and adults well entertained while providing a fun educational experience.

1. Gloucester Waterways Museum

Located within Gloucester’s docks is the Gloucester Waterways Museum, a shipshape attraction which doesn’t water down the entertainment. There are film archives, hands-on activities for the kids and the chance to board historic boats. What better way to end the visit than with a boat trip? You can enjoy either the River Severn or the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal by boat, with departures from the dock at the museum. Adult tickets for the museum are £4.95 and children’s tickets are £3.50, while adult boat ride tickets are £5.50 and children’s tickets are £3.75. Combined boat and museum tickets are £10 for adults and £7 for children. The museum is open each day except December 25th, 26th and 31st and January 1st.

2. Dean Heritage Centre

At the Dean Heritage Centre in Soudley, you can discover the amazing history of the stunning Forest of Dean, with five galleries that chart the forest’s history from the Ice Age to present day. There is also a reconstructed Victorian cottage to explore, an outdoor playground and activity trails. The fun doesn’t stop there though with opportunities to view amazing chainsaw carving demonstrations and a variety of animals, plus the chance to take ferrets for a walk! There are also family-friendly events held throughout the year. The centre is open throughout the year, with adult tickets costing £5.40 and children’s (5 to 16 years old) tickets costing £4.

3. Berkeley Castle

The awe-inspiring Berkeley Castle promises a brilliant family day out with no shortage of amazing attractions, from the 12th century ancient keep to the Great Hall and Armoury which has hosted many figures of royalty throughout the years. In addition to enjoying a guided tour of the interiors, you can continue the explorations outdoors in the beautiful gardens with a selection of rare plants, as well as the Butterfly House where you can see 42 exotic species of butterflies. The castle is open to visitors from Sunday to Wednesday during the summer, with Sunday access during April and October. The Butterfly House is closed in April and October so if you want to view this attraction you should plan your visit accordingly. Adult tickets are £9.50 and tickets for children aged 4 to 16 cost £5.

4. Clearwell Caves

Dive into adventure with a trip to Clearwell Caves, found 1.5 miles south of Coleford town centre. Iron ore has been mined from these caves which are thousands of years old. You can explore nine underground caverns with informative displays throughout your tour. You might also spot the resident blacksmith in the smithy of this working mining museum. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can undertake some Deep Level exploring. This activity is done in small groups and is suitable for both kids and adults. The expedition will take you 200 feet beneath the ground and provide incredible insight into what it would be like to mine these caves. Adult tickets are £6.50 and tickets for children aged 5 to 16 are £4.50, while children younger than 5 years old get free entry. Deep Level visits are £25 per adult and £18 for people under 18 years old. Be aware that there is a minimum charge of £140 per group if there are less than 6 adults or 8 children making up a group. The caves are open every day from February to the start of November, with weekend access in January.

5. The International Centre for Birds of Prey

Spirits will soar with a visit to the International Centre for Birds of Prey. Located in Newent, it is the world’s oldest dedicated centre for birds of prey and offers a range of daily flying demonstrations. You’ll have the chance to see the staff training birds and discover amazing birds in the aviaries. The beautiful gardens are ideal for exploring and there are play areas for kids. Open daily from February 1st to November 30th, adult tickets are £11, tickets for children aged 4 to 15 are £7 and children under 4 get in free.

Other popular attractions

Gloucestershire has an abundance of other popular attractions that may take your fancy, such as the Corinium Museum, Gloucester City Museum and Art Gallery, Clifton Observatory and Sudeley Castle to name a few. Each provides a fantastic and educational family day out.

Laughing and learning

The five attractions above will provide a great day of learning for everyone in the family while also ensuring that they have loads of fun in the process. What better way to learn than while laughing and having a good time?