A weekend in Gloucestershire

Harry Potter fans and history buffs will both get a kick out of Gloucester Cathedral. Aside from the fact that the cloisters starred as the corridors of Hogwarts (that’s the school of magic attended by Harry and his mates, for those of you who still haven’t seen the movies), the foundations date back to around 1072. Even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan (why not?!), though, a walk around the cloisters is still a bit of a treat. The intricacy of the stonework and vaulted ceiling is pretty impressive, as is the ‘monk’s lavatory’ – a shared washbasin that runs along the north walk of the cloisters, which dates back to the 14th century.

What you need after all that history is cheese. Double Gloucester to be precise, and the best place to get it is the Friday farmers’ market, held on Southgate Street from 9am to 3pm. As well as cheese, you could grab an ‘Old Spot’ sausage sandwich then nip for an ale (there are 10 to choose from) at the New Inn. You can stay here, too, but why not book yourself into the New Inn at Frampton-on-Severn instead? This cute little village is about 15 minutes’ taxi ride away, is surrounded by gorgeous walks and has the longest green in England. Perfect for walking off those sausages…