New hotels in Gloucester

Gloucester has long been a place visitors pass through on the way to the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean or the Wye Valley. That is starting to change: in March 2026 Hotel Indigo opened inside The Forum, the first boutique hotel in the city centre and part of a wider £200m regeneration of the Kings Quarter. We currently track one new hotel in Gloucester, and this guide is honest about that: it is a city with one newly built option rather than a crowded new-hotel scene.

What to do

A weekend in Gloucester

Start at Gloucester Cathedral, around 1,300 years old, which holds the tomb of Edward II and whose cloisters stood in for Hogwarts corridors in the Harry Potter films. From there it is a short walk to Gloucester Docks, a Victorian inland port whose warehouses now hold museums, restaurants and shops, including the National Waterways Museum, with the Gloucester Quays shopping centre alongside. The City Museum and Art Gallery covers Roman Gloucester and has paintings by J.M.W. Turner.

Using Gloucester as a base

The city sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, which makes it a practical and generally cheaper base for walking, cycling and day trips than the better-known Cotswold villages.

Where to stay

Hotel Indigo Gloucester, The Forum

Opened on 24 March 2026 at 4 Cathedral Walk, Hotel Indigo has 129 rooms and suites, an all-day bistro, a café and Crimson Spire, a rooftop bar with views of the cathedral. Its design draws on the city's pin-making trade, its docks and its Roman past. Opening-weekend rates reported by the trade press ran from about £84 to £122 a night.

Which hotel for your trip

Cathedral and city-centre weekend

Hotel Indigo is the only tracked new option, and its position beside Cathedral Walk puts the cathedral, the Docks and the station within walking distance.

Events and celebrations

The hotel's glass skybridge, The Bridge, is a private event space, which gives the hotel a role beyond overnight stays for local occasions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the newest hotel in Gloucester?

Hotel Indigo Gloucester, which opened on 24 March 2026 inside The Forum development, is the newest hotel we track in the city.

Does Gloucester have a rooftop bar?

Yes. Crimson Spire, on top of Hotel Indigo, is billed as the city's first rooftop bar and looks towards Gloucester Cathedral.

How many rooms does Hotel Indigo Gloucester have?

It has 129 rooms and suites across four floors.

Is Gloucester a good base for the Cotswolds?

Gloucester is the largest city on the edge of the Cotswolds and also gives access to the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, so it works well as a base for day trips by car or train.