Antiques, clocks and coffee at Upstairs Downstairs

If you enjoy browsing old shops without a fixed plan, Upstairs Downstairs Antiques Centre is worth a visit. It's an independent antiques and vintage centre at 2 Severn Road, close to Gloucester Docks and West Quay. The centre holds around 20 dealers spread over two floors, so there's a lot to look through.

The owners, husband and wife Vic and Shirley Foster, run the place together. Vic has over thirty years' experience in the trade, and antique clocks and furniture are his specialities. Rob looks after a large military section with medals and military items, and the centre also has coins from GM Coins, a well-respected coin dealer. Other things you can find include Wedgwood, toy cars, pine, porcelain, silver, jewellery, architectural salvage, general smalls and shabby chic painted furniture. There is also a canal art and chandlery section, which sells boating items and some pieces that can be made to order.

Upstairs, there's a café that serves home-baked scones and cakes, which makes it easy to take a break while you look around. The centre has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 145 reviews. The variety of stock across two floors and so many dealers is the detail that stands out most, since you can move from clocks to coins to canal items in a single visit.

Getting there is straightforward. The centre is about a 10-minute walk from the town centre and the train station, and there is free parking. It's open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Today is Thursday, so it's open until 16:00 this afternoon. If you want to check something before you go, you can call 01452 421170. Several nearby attractions are within a short walk, including the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and the National Waterways Museum Gloucester, so it's easy to combine a browse with a wander around the docks.