With the anticipated return of Giffords Circus, as well as Fresh: Art Fair and Gloucester History Festival's popular Spring Weekend, April is shaping up to be a busy month for Gloucestershire's arts and culture scene.
Not forgetting new openings, exhibitions and Easter events galore, discover 10 unmissable events to get in your diary this month.
Start ticking things off the Gloucestershire Family Bucket List
Featuring 100 ways to make magical memories with your loved ones in the county, the 2025-26 edition of the Gloucestershire Family Bucket List is available now — with free printed guides to pick up at key locations across the county, as well as a handy digital version on SoGlos.
Encouraging families to get out and about in Gloucestershire, there's plenty for toddlers, teenagers and big kids to tick off — from exploring the hallways that made Hogwarts at Gloucester Cathedral to navigating the Tree Top Walkway at Westonbirt Arboretum.
Don't forget to share your adventures with SoGlos on social media, using the hashtag #GlosFamilyBucketList.
Experience the magic of Giffords Circus
Gloucestershire's legendary Giffords Circus is back at Fennels Farm from Thursday 17 to Sunday 27 April 2025, with the chance to see gravity-defying stunts and jaw-dropping costumes in its 25th anniversary show, Laguna Bay, before it sets off on tour.
Once under the big top, you'll be transported to 1950s America for an immersive performance from Giffords' awe-inspiring acrobats, magicians and musicians — with plenty of clowning around from Tweedy, too!
Quench your curiosity at Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend
Gloucester History Festival brings its Spring Weekend programme back to Blackfriars Priory this month, with thought-provoking events from leading historians and broadcasters taking place from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April 2025.
Learn about new Viking discoveries in Gloucestershire, England's forgotten medieval queen and, at what promises to be a standout highlight, hear from one of the most influential figures in contemporary British politics sharing what it was really like in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet.
See this year's exhibition at Cotswold Sculpture Park
Open from Tuesday 1 April for the 2025 season, the mesmerising Cotswold Sculpture Park showcases contemporary sculpture work in a stunning open-air setting near Cirencester — and comes highly recommended for a relaxing day out, whether you're in the market for a unique new art piece or not.
Voted SGGLA Art Gallery of the Year by SoGlos readers in 2022, the outdoor gallery displays sculptures from a global cohort of over 100 artists, with everything for sale if you spot something that inspires you.
Have an egg-cellent Easter in Gloucestershire
From cracking egg hunts to fun family activity trails, there’s heaps to keep Gloucestershire’s little bunnies happy during the Easter holidays, from Saturday 12 to Sunday 27 April 2025. SoGlos’s Easter guide covers all the highlights.
While for grown-ups, Gloucester Brewery's Easter Beer Festival promises a bank holiday weekend packed with street food, live entertainment and of course, beer!
Smell the spring flowers at Badminton Estate
The gorgeous Badminton Estate is throwing open the gates to its spring gardens on Sunday 27 April 2025, for its first open day of the year.
Take this rare chance to explore the private gardens of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, with colourful tulips, formal plantings and beautifully landscaped grounds to admire. Plus, green-fingered visitors can shop for plants and gardening tools on the day — as well as treats and coffee from KNEAD Bakery.
Browse Britain's biggest choice of art at Fresh: Art Fair
This month, Gloucestershire art lovers only need to travel as far as Cheltenham Racecourse to see the widest range of contemporary art outside of London, when Fresh: Art Fair returns from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 April 2025.
Described as Britain's biggest regional art fair, browse and buy artwork from more than 40 different galleries, with exciting up-and-coming talent exhibiting alongside some of the art world's biggest names, from Hockney to Picasso.
Dive in at Cheltenham Lido, now open for the 2025 season
The UK's biggest outdoor pool is ready to welcome swimmers back for the 2025 summer season, with a brand-new name, enhanced facilities and some significant improvements to its car park for its 90th anniversary year.
Now officially Cheltenham Lido, the 50m pool is heated for lane swimming, classes and family swim sessions, with family-run coffee shop Paddy and Bear taking up residence in the lido cafe for post-swim milkshakes and ice cream.
Go behind-the-scenes of Wolf Hall at Berkeley Castle
Step into the lavish world of Tudor court at Berkeley Castle, one of the filming locations for the BBC's critically acclaimed historical drama, Wolf Hall, with an exclusive costume exhibition launching this April.
With scenes from both series of the BAFTA-nominated show shot right here in Gloucestershire, fans can get up close to costumes worn in production. For an immersive experience, time your visit with King Henry VIII's arrival on Sunday 13 April 2025, with living history actors playing him, Cromwell and the queens roaming the castle grounds.
Tuck in at Gloucester Food Dock's newest opening
Off the back of its success in Cirencester, Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden opens its second restaurant at Gloucester Food Dock this month, becoming the twelfth independent eatery to join its thriving foodie community.
Drop in for field-to-fork brunches, seasonal specials and made-to-order takeaway options, all made using locally sourced produce, from Tuesday 8 April 2025.
