📍 Gloucester
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
Interactive military museum at Gloucester Docks where children can try on army uniforms and step into a First World War trench.
✦ We visited
The chance to dress up in uniform and step into the trench replica is what gets primary-age children properly engaged. Pre-book tickets before you go and combine the visit with the Waterways Museum a short walk along the docks.
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum is housed in the Custom House at Gloucester Docks, telling the story of the county regiment from the 1690s to the present day through interactive displays, period uniforms and personal stories of the soldiers who served. It is one of the more hands-on smaller museums in the county, with children able to try on military clothing from different eras, look into a replica First World War trench and engage with interactive exhibits about medals, tactics and life in service.
The approach throughout is to make the history feel immediate rather than distant, and the museum runs an active family programme through school holidays with creative and history-themed activities. Being entirely indoors in a Victorian warehouse with real character, it is a reliable wet-weather option in Gloucester and pairs naturally with the National Waterways Museum and the wider dockside for a relaxed half day or more.
Tickets must be pre-booked online before visiting, so it is worth doing this before you travel. The museum suits primary-age children and older most, with the dress-up and interactive exhibits helping younger ones engage with a subject that can feel remote in a conventional gallery. The restored Gloucester Docks waterfront outside is worth a wander after the visit.
Good for: history, rainy-day. Ages: 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Do you need to book the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum in advance?
Yes, tickets must be pre-booked online before visiting; walk-up admission is not available.
Can children try on uniforms at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum?
Yes, there are military uniforms from different eras for children to try on, plus a replica First World War trench and interactive displays about medals and service life.
Is the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum indoors?
Yes, the whole museum is indoors in the Custom House at Gloucester Docks, making it a good choice on a rainy day.
