Living in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a county in the south west of England, known for its varied countryside, historic towns and long standing rural traditions. The landscape ranges from rolling farmland and river valleys to higher ground and wooded areas, giving the county a gentle but diverse character. Its position bordering Wales and the Midlands has influenced trade, travel and settlement over many centuries.

The county includes towns such as Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester and Tewkesbury, each supporting surrounding communities in different ways. Gloucester serves as the county town with a long history linked to the River Severn, while Cheltenham developed as a spa town and later a cultural and commercial centre. Elsewhere, market towns and villages continue to play an important role in everyday life and local identity.

Gloucestershire is strongly shaped by its natural surroundings, including river landscapes, open countryside and areas of protected land. Walking, cycling and outdoor recreation are widely enjoyed, often along quiet lanes, riverside paths and well used footpaths. Overall, Gloucestershire offers a calm and enduring mix of rural landscape, historic settlement and working communities, giving it a settled and well balanced character within England.

Largest Towns in Gloucestershire 12

Bristol
404.2K
Gloucester
173.3K
Cheltenham
159.3K
Stroud
55.5K
Cirencester, Fairford, Lechlade
42.7K
Evesham, Broadway
41.6K
Bath
40.6K
Tewkesbury
28.4K
Chippenham
28.1K
Bampton, Burford, Carterton
25.3K
Chepstow
23.8K
Chipping Norton
22.9K

Location

Elevation & Terrain

Lowest point Beachley — 0 ft (0 m)
Highest point Stockwell — 922 ft (281 m)
Average across towns 322 ft (98 m)
Elevation range 922 ft (281 m)

Gloucestershire stretches from 0 ft at Beachley up to 922 ft at Stockwell, a span of 922 ft across 1,038 towns and villages. This reflects notably varied terrain, with clear contrasts between lower valleys and higher ground.

Deprivation Index (IMD)

Average deprivation scores across 48 postcode areas in Gloucestershire. Higher deciles (closer to 10) indicate less deprivation.

Overall Deprivation
7/10
Income
7/10
Employment
7/10
Education
7/10
Health
8/10
Housing
5/10
Environment
5/10
347,614 Children (0-15) 17%
1,241,458 Working Age 62%
543,458 Older (60+) 27%

Places in Gloucestershire 1038

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

Postcode Areas in Gloucestershire 8

Gloucestershire is served by 8 postcode areas. Each area contains multiple postcode districts covering different parts of the county.

BA 1 places
BS 139 places
GL 852 places
HR 7 places
NP 14 places
OX 6 places
SN 9 places
WR 10 places

Neighbouring Counties 6

Bristol 26 miles away
Monmouthshire 26 miles away
Herefordshire 30 miles away
Worcestershire 32 miles away
Wiltshire 32 miles away
Newport 33 miles away