Car Hire Longford

Longford, with its population of approximately 2000 residents, enjoys excellent connectivity via major routes including the M5 motorway, A40, A417 and A38, providing seamless access for car-based exploration. The village sits alongside the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, offering scenic towpath walks and narrowboat watching opportunities. You’ll find spring particularly delightful with mild temperatures perfect for garden visits and canal walks, while summer offers warm weather ideal for outdoor farm attractions and historical site exploration. Autumn brings spectacular colours to the area’s parks and gardens and winter provides crisp, clear days perfect for museum visits and cosy indoor attractions with reduced crowds.

The village benefits from its proximity to the Severn estuary with excellent birdwatching opportunities, whilst serving as a peaceful base for exploring the Forest of Dean (12 miles), Cotswolds market towns and Gloucester’s cathedral and docks.

Attractions In Longford

Experience village tranquillity and rural heritage attractions, featuring traditional architecture, local community facilities, peaceful countryside walks and excellent access to nearby market towns and regional points of interest.

Painswick Rococo Garden

Your journey begins at this exceptional garden on Gloucester Road in Painswick, operating Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM until 5 PM, earning an impressive 4.5 rating from over 1,800 visitors as Longford’s premier attraction. This remarkable site represents Britain’s last surviving Rococo-style garden, featuring elegant follies, fresh running water cascading into plunge pools and lakes, plus seasonal displays including spectacular snowdrop carpets during late winter. The theatrical garden design creates enchanting atmospheres throughout different seasons, making annual memberships worthwhile for returning visitors.

Hillfield Gardens

Always accessible on London Road, this peaceful sanctuary offers tranquil experiences despite its proximity to busy main roads, creating perfect urban escapes for relaxation and contemplation. You’ll be impressed by the stunning mature trees, particularly the magnificent oak specimen that dominates the landscape and fragrant lavender borders that provide sensory delights throughout the warmer months. The secluded areas throughout the gardens create ideal spots for meditation, mindfulness practices and quiet moments away from urban pressures and traffic noise.

Longford Park

This lovely community park in Longford welcomes families continuously with dog-friendly policies and special entertainment events that create memorable experiences for children and adults alike. You’ll often encounter character visits, including Snow White and Cinderella, who pose for photographs with delighted children, creating magical moments that families treasure for years. The park maintains excellent cleanliness standards with strategically placed dog waste bins, ensuring pleasant environments for all visitors throughout their recreational activities.

Alney Island Nature Reserve

Available 24/7, this remarkable nature preserve provides raw countryside and wetland experiences right beside Gloucester’s city centre, offering exceptional value for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers. You’ll witness the fascinating Severn Bore phenomenon where the river divides, creating unique tidal effects that attract visitors from across the region. This precious green space demonstrates urban conservation success, though ongoing development pressures highlight the importance of protecting such valuable natural environments for future generations.

Folk Of Gloucester

We find this impressive cultural centre on Westgate Street operating Tuesday mornings, 10 AM to 12:30 PM and Thursday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, combining museum exhibits with versatile event hosting capabilities. The building’s architecture merits visits independently but the displays showcasing Gloucester and regional artefacts provide comprehensive historical insights into local heritage and development. We particularly appreciate the peaceful Tudor garden recreation and café facilities that create perfect settings for reflection and cultural appreciation.

The House Of The Tailor Of Gloucester

You’ll discover this charming museum on College Court, open daily except Sundays from 10 AM until 4 PM, celebrating Beatrix Potter’s beloved tales in the authentic setting that inspired The Tailor of Gloucester story. This hidden gem occupies a narrow historic street and contains delightful details, including knitted mice hidden under teacups and television areas where children can watch animated stories. The friendly staff enhance your visit to this small shop filled with Peter Rabbit memorabilia and second-floor museum displays.

Nature In Art

Located at Wallsworth Hall, this exceptional art gallery beckons both connoisseurs and nature enthusiasts through its unique convergence of artistic expression and natural world appreciation. You’ll experience profound journeys into creativity inspired by nature’s wonders, where brushstrokes capture the intricate beauty surrounding us in countryside settings. This cultural destination provides more than gallery visits, offering inspirational experiences that demonstrate how artistic vision translates natural magnificence into lasting visual celebrations perfect for art lovers.

Scriven’s Conduit

Always available for exploration within Hillfield Gardens on London Road, this fascinating historical landmark represents one of Gloucester’s numerous ancient curiosities, deserving attention from history enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. You’ll discover informative boards explaining the conduit’s significance alongside other interesting features throughout the gardens, creating educational opportunities during summer evening visits. The laid-back atmosphere often includes barbecue activities and relaxed social gatherings that enhance the area’s community spirit and welcoming environment.

Planning to explore the wider region? Consider these nearby destinations:

• Gloucester
• Barrow
• Quedgeley
• Cheltenham
• Newent
• Tewkesbury
• Randwick
• Cowley

St Oswald’s Priory

You’ll explore this significant historical landmark on Archdeacon Street, continuously accessible for understanding Anglo-Saxon heritage and celebrating important regional historical figures, including Saxon queens. The fine stone arches provide dramatic backdrops for community events, processions featuring period costumes and music, plus variety stalls that attract visitors from Birmingham, Bristol, London and beyond. These celebrations demonstrate Gloucester’s historical importance and create opportunities for regional cultural exchange and historical education experiences.

Bishop Hooper Memorial

This poignant memorial in St Mary’s Square commemorates Bishop Hooper, who suffered martyrdom by burning at this exact location in 1555 for his Protestant religious convictions. You’ll appreciate how the monument, constructed between 1861-63, preserves important religious heritage from England’s turbulent Reformation period and the courage of individuals who maintained their faith despite facing ultimate persecution. The memorial serves as both a historical marker and a reminder of religious freedom’s precious value throughout different historical periods.

Infirmary Arches

Always open for exploration on Pitt Street, this beautiful historical landmark showcases impressive architectural heritage that has survived centuries of urban development and social change. You’ll admire the structure’s aesthetic qualities and historical significance, though some visitors express concerns about structural integrity during potential seismic events, adding elements of vulnerability to the viewing experience. The landmark represents important examples of historical building preservation within modern urban environments that require ongoing conservation attention.

Blackfriars Priory

We visit this stunning monastery on Ladybellegate Street, open Sundays from 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon, where medieval architecture creates a calm atmosphere despite its central city location. The venue provides exceptional settings for special events, including weddings, offering flexibility for personal customisation and creative freedom that some venues restrict. We appreciate the dog-friendly policies, helpful coordination services and the building’s timeless beauty that creates memorable experiences for visitors seeking tranquil moments and architectural appreciation within busy urban environments.

Over Bridge

You’ll marvel at this remarkable bridge on Horseshoe Drive in Highnam, representing Europe’s longest single-span stone bridge and an engineering triumph from 200 years ago. Built by Thomas Telford between 1825-1828 and opened in 1830, the bridge served as the crucial crossing point for traffic between South Wales and Western England until 1974. You can park near The Lock Keepers and follow footpaths to appreciate this historical achievement, noting how the centre initially sank significantly after completion.

Herefordshire And Gloucestershire Canal

This fascinating tourist attraction at Over Basin on Horseshoe Drive showcases approximately one-third mile of restored canal featuring completely renovated basin areas and ongoing restoration projects. You’ll discover free pedestrian access to explore the site, with hotel parking available and roadside parking typically accessible for visitors. The footpath under the main road provides direct access to the historic Telford river bridge, creating combined heritage experiences that demonstrate 19th-century engineering achievements and transportation innovation.

Over Farm’s Farm Park

Open daily from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon, this exceptional countryside adventure attraction promises outstanding family entertainment through diverse activities and exceptional staff service that creates memorable experiences. You’ll enjoy fantastic value with online booking for extensive activities including foam parties, quad train rides, footgolf, mini golf, bouncy pillows, informative tractor rides, magic shows and adventure trails through shaded woodland areas. The array of activities and space utilisation ensures families spend entire days exploring, feeding animals and participating in seasonal events throughout the year.