Gloucester

Two thousand years of history line the streets, but Gloucester feels very much alive today. The cathedral's soaring spires dominate the skyline - you'll recognise it from Harry Potter films - while the Victorian docks buzz with waterside restaurants and the National Waterways Museum. It's a proper working city that happens to have some cracking medieval bits.

Wandover through the old city centre and you'll find timber-framed buildings squashed between modern shops on Westgate Street. The cathedral is the real showstopper though. Those fan-vaulted cloisters are genuinely breathtaking, especially when afternoon light streams through the windows. Don't miss the tomb of Edward II either - bit morbid, but historically fascinating.

Down at the docks, things get more contemporary. The Victorian warehouses have been converted into apartments, galleries, and cafes. It's a lovely spot for a weekend wander, particularly when the antiques market sets up. The nearby Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum tells the county regiment's story rather well.

Getting here's straightforward - junction 12 off the M5, or regular trains from London Paddington take about two hours. The city sits at the head of the Severn estuary, so you're perfectly placed for the Forest of Dean to the west or the Cotswolds to the east. Both are cracking for walking and village-hopping.

Basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to nip into the city for dinner or cathedral evensong, but far enough out to enjoy the Gloucestershire countryside. Several touring parks dot the area around Slimbridge and the Severn Vale - ideal for exploring both the city and the wider county without the hassle of urban parking.