Planning the perfect day out with your uni mates or looking for a solo adventure as your studies are wrapping up? Gloucester is an ideal starting point for loads of amazing towns – you’re right on the edge of the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley and the Cotswolds. Here’s a curated list of the best small-town day trips from Gloucester, tailor-made for students: affordable, Instagram‑ready, and packed with good vibes.
Painswick
Just 7½ miles south is Painswick, nicknamed the “Queen of the Cotswolds”. Its narrow, honey‑stone streets lead to the famous Rococo Garden – ideal for laid‑back picnics and photos. You’ll also find lively student‑friendly pubs and cafés. It’s a perfect mix of countryside charm and convenience. As it’s only a 15-minute drive away, a taxi could work; otherwise, there are public transport routes which take roughly an hour from Gloucester.
Winchcombe
A 45-minute bus ride east takes you to Winchcombe, a medieval market town with timber‑framed buildings and its own stop on the vintage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. History nerds will love Sudeley Castle and Hailes Abbey, while walkers can tackle sections of the famed Cotswold Way.
Bourton‑on‑the‑Water
The so‑called “Venice of the Cotswolds” sits by the River Windrush and is rife with quirky attractions: a miniaturised model village, a bird park, motoring museum and seasonal medieval football matches in the river – yes, you read that right! Its central green and low bridges scream ideal chill‑out spot, plus there are plenty of cafés for cheap bites. Possibly one of the prettiest day trips from Gloucester…
Stow‑on‑the‑Wold
A classic student photography destination with medieval stocks in the Market Square, independent shops and one of the UK’s oldest pubs, The Porch House (from AD 947). If you’re visiting mid‑month, the farmers’ market is worth a wander. Tolkien fans – be sure to snap the iconic church door rumoured to have inspired the doors of Moria.
Bibs & Burford (Bibury)
Bibury is tiny but extremely photogenic – check out Arlington Row, the cute collection of 14th‑century cottages featured in official UK passports. Close by is Burford, with medieval streets and lovely riverside walks; make a day or even a weekend of it and visit both!
Stroud & Nailsworth
A bit of a different one, but brilliant if you’re into markets, cafés, vintage and DIY culture. Stroud is artsy with a scrappy festival vibe, while Nailsworth is a small mill‑town turned trendy with a bustling farmers’ market and lunchtime deli scene. Both are easy to reach by bus for fun days out from Gloucester!
Forest of Dean
Swap stone cottages for ancient woodland. The Forest of Dean is filled with magical paths, Puzzlewood, the on‑demand Robin bus, and heritage railways. It’s an ideal spot for forest bathing, cycling, paddle‑boarding or spooky walks – and Harry Potter fans will recognise some filming spots, too.
These day trips from Gloucester are perfect for weekends, mid-week days off or those days when lessons and exams have finished but you’re not quite ready to head home for the Summer yet. We hope you have fun exploring! Check out our ideas for day trips from Hereford, too.
Image credit: James Kelly-Smith
