There are captivating cities found all over the UK, each offering its own allure, whether that's a thriving food scene, historic architecture or picturesque cobbled lanes. Yet, some can often go underrated, including a city in the heart of Gloucestershire, which I rediscovered.

I'm familiar with the area, having attended university in Cheltenham and lived in the region for several years. However, when I recently returned for a visit to the city of Gloucester, I was amazed by what I found.

One of the most popular and trendy areas in the city is the Gloucester Docks, which has undergone significant redevelopment over the last decade or so. Once a vital hub for importing goods, it now boasts independent restaurants for waterside dining, cosy coffee shops, a wine bar, a brewery and regular food and craft markets.

In a nod to its history, the city has museums to learn about its past, while modern additions, such as its cinema and the huge designer outlet centre, Gloucester Quays, have become a staple in the city. During the festive season, it welcomes a charming Christmas market with wooden chalet cabins dotted all along the water's edge, along with an ice rink.

Having visited the Gloucester Docks area before, I knew what to expect and spent the morning wandering around the Christmas market and gazing upon the warehouse buildings that have now been converted into stylish flats. The area was bustling on Saturday, with people Christmas shopping, so when I found the cafe, Hettys Place, it was the ideal spot for a relaxing cup of coffee and to try their festive sandwich.

Yet, during my day in Gloucester, I found that there's so much more to the city than I initially thought. After the docks, I ventured further into the town centre, having not visited for many years.

I was left in awe at the medieval buildings and narrow alleyways that made up this city. One pub, called Robert Raikess House, caught my attention with its 16th-century brown and white timber-framed building, which felt as though I had stepped back in time to the Renaissance, despite being right in the city centre.

Elsewhere, I found the St. Mary de Crypt Church at one end of the high street, with its golden brick and Gothic-style windows, which offered a tearoom inside. Then there was the extraordinary architecture that stood the test of time, but was now found in stark contrast to the likes of Costa and H.Samuel, which were open underneath.

In between those was a charming watch and jewellery store called Baker, which boasted colourful figures in national dress for the four UK nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland), and bells in an arch above. A large clock accompanies the scene, which is said to chime every quarter-hour since its creation in 1904 - another nod to Gloucester's hidden history.

As I walked further down the town centre, I found numerous alleyways leading to hidden gems, including a pub called The Drunken Duck, which they labelled as the city's "cosiest local". Side lanes led off the main high street, including one with old brick buildings that featured The House Of The Tailor Of Gloucester, a museum and a Beatrix Potter shop.

Following the path, I was amazed by my next view: the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral, with its grand Norman Romanesque architecture and enormous pillar features, as well as its unique gargoyles. A stroll through the cathedral was just as mesmerising as the exterior, and was notably used as a filming location for three of the Harry Potter films, including The Philosopher's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Half-Blood Prince.

Gloucester is well worth a visit, and one of the UK's cities that offers something extraordinary, from its historic docks to its hidden-in-time high street. Not to mention, its list of eateries, attractions and stunning landmarks that fill the cathedral city.

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