Gloucester has a diverse industrial base with many engineering firms and a growing service sector including some large insurance companies. It has many historic buildings including a fine Cathedral but the town has always been something of a poor relation to the nearby spa town of Cheltenham.
However, ongoing developments are helping to boost the tourist appeal: the old docks particularly are a focal point of new plans, and the area around them is attractive to tourists and new businesses alike.
The county's capital, Gloucester, is both a shopping centre and a market town with the second largest livestock market in England. Walls operates one of the world's largest ice-cream factories here.
But unfortunately for the town, Gloucester in recent years has been associated with the ‘House of Horrors’ murders committed by Rosemary and Fred West at 25 Cromwell Street - now demolished by the council.
After a 27-year gap, Tess Kingham became the third Labour MP for Gloucester in 1997. Three years later she decided not to contest the next election due to the late hours and working practices of Westminster.