Blogs > A snapshot of UK Cities

A snapshot of...Gloucester

• March 22, 2021

Gloucester is a city located in the West of England, known for its famous cathedral in which a number of movies have been filmed. It has a population of 128,500, and its beautiful docks and restored Victorian warehouses make it a scenic and interesting place to relocate to.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of specialist acute services, including a regional cancer centre, from its two large general hospitals, Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospital and also maternity services at Stroud Maternity Hospital. 

Their specialist clinicians see patients in the county's community hospitals including  Stroud, Berkeley Vale, Forest of Dean, Tewkesbury, the North Cotswolds and Cirencester.

The Trust has developed groundbreaking services such as its Mobile Chemotherapy Services, and also provides a national lead in Diabetic Retinal Screening and AAA Screening Services.

Facts about Gloucester

• 25% of the famous Gloucester Cathedral’s electricity is supplied by solar panels! Very environmentally friendly!
• The King’s School Gloucester opened its doors back in 681. It was later established as a College School by King Henry VIII in 1541.
• Britain’s first Allied Jet was constructed in Gloucester by the Gloster Aircraft Company.
• Gloucester Cathedral is the burial place of King Edward II and is one of the few burial places of a monarch that resides outside of London.
• In the Eastgate underground viewing chamber, there are ancient remains of Roman architecture.
• The coronation of King Henry III was hosted at Gloucester Cathedral in 1216, when the king was only nine years old!
• Back in the 1350s, when it was first built, the Great East Window at Gloucester Cathedral was the largest window in the world at the time. It is 22 metres high and 12 metres wide!
• Parts of Hogwarts school from the Harry Potter movies were filmed at Gloucester Cathedral.

Cost of Living in Gloucester

Renting Accommodation Per Month

One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre	£550
One-Bedroom Apartment Outside of the City Centre	£487.50
Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre	£760.71
Three-Bedroom Apartment Outside of the City Centre	£685

Transportation

1ltr Petrol	£1.26
One-Way Public Transport Ticket	£2.35
Monthly Transport Ticket	£66.96
1km Taxi Journey	£5.00

Entertainment

Meal out for two in a local pub	£22
Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, three courses	£46
Cinema Tickets for two people	£20
One Month Gym Membership	£29.12
Tennis Court Rental for 1 Hour on the weekend	£8.75
Beer 0.5ltr Bottle	£3.50
Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle	£1.60
Cappuccino	£2.71

Time it takes to Travel by Train from Gloucester to other Cities in the UK

Manchester: 2 Hours 36 Minutes

Newcastle: 4 Hours 44 Minutes

Birmingham: 57 Minutes

London: 2 Hours

Liverpool: 2 Hours 30 Minutes

Edinburgh: 5 Hours 49 Minutes

Bristol: 49 Minutes

Cardiff: 1 Hour 8 Minutes

Education in Gloucester

There are 286 primary schools, 78 secondary schools and 56 sixth forms and colleges in Gloucester. Most schools in the Gloucester area have received and Ofsted rating of ‘good’ with some also receiving a rating of ‘outstanding’. The University of Gloucestershire in Gloucester has also been ranked in the top 3 UK universities for support of international students.

Things to do in Gloucester

Gloucester Cathedral

As we’ve already mentioned it multiple times in this article, we couldn’t really start this list with any other location! Gloucester cathedral prides itself on being open to people of any faith or background and is open throughout the year. A number of events are held around the cathedral, such as charity concerts and exhibitions, or you can simply pay it a visit to view the gothic architecture it is well known for. They also hold Greek and Latin courses for any history buffs. There is no set entry fee, but a donation of at least £5 will be expected to maintain the upkeep and events hosted by the cathedral. There is access for less able visitors, but given the age of the cathedral, some areas may be less accessible than others, but it is possible to ask staff members about this upon arrival.

Gloucester Quays

Gloucester Quays are located beside Gloucester Docks. The Quays are probably most well known for being a shopping area with a number of homeware, clothing and health and beauty stores. As well as shopping, there are also a variety of restaurants to dine at and a cinema where you can catch the latest movie releases. Events are also held at the quays throughout the year, including an ice rink during winter. The quays are open 10am-8pm Monday to Friday, 10am-7pm on Saturdays and 10am-5pm on Sundays. There is also access for less able visitors.

Jet Age Museum

If you have an interest in aviation, we would recommend taking a trip to the Jet Age Museum where you can explore the artefacts and history of Gloucester’s skies! There are several aircrafts on display for you to view at your leisure. There are also attracts to keep children entertained if you decide to bring the family, as well as a gift shop on sight, and if you’re feeling peckish, a café where you can grab some refreshments. Entry to the museum is free.

St James City Farm

Located at the Barton and Tredworth area of Gloucester, this farm is nestled in the centre of the city. A perfect day out for the family, or for animal lovers in general, you’ll have the opportunity to see cows, sheep, goats and even rabbits and guinea pigs. Children are even able to hand feed some of these animals, with supervision. There is a café on site if you want to stop for some food between playing with the animals, and admission to the farm is free.

The National Waterways Museum

The National Waterways Museum holds the relics of Gloucester’s quayside history with displays for the family to explore. Daily boat trips are run throughout the year, allowing yourself and the family the opportunity to get a unique view of the docks from a boat! If you’d like to learn more after your boat trip, you can visit their gift shop with an array of books and memorabilia on the museum. There is also a restaurant and café on site, and access for less able visitors. Tickets for the boat tour vary, but adult tickets currently cost £5, children between the ages of 6-15 cost £3.60, and children under 5 can ride for free.

Relocation to Gloucester

If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to Gloucester, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK.

Are you a member of our Facebook Group? When you join IMG Advisor, you will join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs into the group every single day. We will also be on hand to answer all your relocation queries.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 45 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS!

Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go with IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.

References

SoGlos. (2019). 15 fascinating historical facts about Gloucester. [online] Available at: https://www.soglos.com/culture/41605/15-fascinating-historical-facts-about-Gloucester 

SoGlos. (2019). 20 things you didnt know about Gloucester Cathedral - SoGlos. [online] Available at: https://www.soglos.com/culture/44220/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-Gloucester-Cathedral 

Edit, G. (2019). Gloucester Cathedral | About. [online] Gloucestercathedral.org.uk. Available at: https://www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk/about/ 

Gloucester Quays. (2019). Gloucester Quays Outlet - Up to 70% off all day, everyday. [online] Available at: https://www.gloucesterquays.co.uk/ 

Visitgloucester.co.uk. (2019). Jet Age Museum - Museum in Gloucester, Gloucester - City of Gloucester. [online] Available at: http://www.visitgloucester.co.uk/things-to-do/jet-age-museum-p1631163 

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 2021. Who we are and what we do. [online] Available at: <https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/our-trust/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/> [Accessed 22 March 2021].