ON the fringes of some of the most beautiful countryside in England, Gloucester itself may not be the first name on many tourist lists.

But sitting on the River Severn just off the M5, it provides plenty of attractions for a perfect weekend break.

Founded by the Romans, the clear highlight as you arrive in the city is the glorious cathedral.

Featured in scenes from the Harry Potter franchise, it dominates the cityscape and the pedestrianised streets that surround it are full of quaint shops to dip in and out of.

And if shopping is your thing, there is plenty to choose.

Just a mile’s walk from the cathedral takes you to Gloucester Quays – a restored part of town with apartments, restaurants and shops dotted along the quayside edge.

At the end of the mile walk, you reach Gloucester Quays designer outlet. Be it Calvin Klein or Marks and Spencer or Nike or Next – all the big names are here.

And if you get bored from all the shopping, check out the variety of restaurants or cinema.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Gloucester-Cheltenham, just minutes from the motorway.

The hotel possesses everything you expect from the chain, comfy rooms with great facilities and a large bathroom stacked with all those essentials you may have forgotten to pack – shampoo and shower gel.

Plus plenty of free parking.

Following a comfortable sleep in the good size beds, it was down to enjoy the excellent buffet breakfast – full English, cereal, muffins, fruit or more.

And daily specials such as kippers and salmon were all on the menu, depending on the day you arrive.

We enjoyed dinner during our stay in Traders restaurant at the hotel.

There was great choice at the brassiere style eatery and I tucked into an excellent fish and chips while my boyfriend had a tasty pie and chips.

The choice of deserts was excellent too.

And if you are feeling in need of some exercise after all that food, the hotel comes complete with a leisure club, swimming pool and sauna.

On our return home the choice of days out before the drive was extensive. Bristol and its waterways and Severn bridge, Oxford and its colleges and narrow streets and Cheltenham for a spot of horse racing.

But we opted to head into the Cotswolds.

It may have been slightly out of holiday season but our first stop, Bourton on the Water, was plenty busy.

A beautiful village with chocolate box houses and a crystal clear stream flowing through its heart, wandering over the bridges and through the gift and coffee shops was a great way to while away a couple of hours.

Fewer tourists and families trying to find the model village or bird park would have made it better!

Arrive by 9am, we were told, to discover it on your own.

Burford, framed by stone houses and pitched on a hill, was enjoying a traditional festival which made an excellent stop.

But our favourite place was Chipping Camden, former home of artist and designer William Morris.

An impossibly pretty village with thatched cottages and flowers blooming from gardens, there were dozens of places to eat lunch and we even picked up some very early Christmas presents from the variety of gift shops.