Cheltenham is a stylish, fashionable and growing Regency Spa Town. Originally Cheltenham was a small market town but grew in popularity and size after the salty mineral rich Spa water became popular with the British upper classes and so it is the most complete regency town in the UK and is also known as Cheltenham Spa where several new spas were opened between 1801 and 1825 including Montpellier and Sherborne.. Cheltenham is now more famous for the racecourse and the world renowned Cheltenham Gold Cup Festival  which takes place every year in March at Cheltenham racecourse overlooking the Malvern hills and attract thousands of visitors from all over theworld for the annual National Hunt Chase open to horses 5 years and older. Badminton Horse Trails is  another key on horse lovers calender held annually in April.  For further information on Cheltenham Racecourse and Events at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Cheltenham festival

The annual jazz, music, science and literature festivals, brought to Cheltenham by the Cheltenham Festivals Charity organisation which has been historically supported by Cheltenham Borough Council.

The Cheltenham Jazz festival , held in April attracts a wide audience from jazz fan all over the world. With a wide variety of activity in 2010 from performances from artists such as Jamie Cullum, to the jazz jive night there is something to suit everyones taste.

In June there is the Times Cheltenham science festival. With its mix of interactive elements in the Discover  Zone, suitable for all ages to the discussion sessions featuring  high profile guests, the popularity of the science festival continues to grow.

Cheltenham Shopping

Cheltenham offers many things to see and do, it has many exclusive boutique shops in Montpellier, along with smaller shopping centres such as the Brewery, The Regent Arcade and the Beeches shopping centres, all within as well as many independant shops around the town centre, within close proximity of each other.

It is surrounded by the Cotswolds and Malvern hills, the surrounding countryside is some of the best in England. Cheltenham is about 120 miles west of London, and can be accessed through Oxford via the M40 and A40 major roads. Cleeve hill is the highest point closest to Cheltenham, and the road race the Prestbury hill climb takes place each year. (GCHQ) Government Communications Head Quarters lies on the outskirts of Cheltenham close to the M5 and is one of the major employers in Cheltenham.

Cheltenham is now firmly established as a tourist destination with its glorious setting in the heart of the Cotswolds. Today the popularity of Cheltenham as a tourist destination with its close proximity to the Cotswolds is as strong as ever with its regency architecture and fine selection of Cheltenham hotels, bars  and restaurants. The town is also now a popular student destination accompanied by the distinction of Cheltenham Ladies' College, Cheltenham College, and main campus for the University of Gloucestershire.

Cheltenham Town Centre

Many things have changed over the years in the centre of Cheltenham. New developments such as the Brewery offer many new restaurants that are easy to access and a brand new cinema at Cineworld which is great for kids and adults alike with a good choice of restaurants for a meal after the cinema in the Brewery.

The Promanade offers a wide range of high street stores and features many regency buildings, at the top of which is the Cheltenham Townhall, a fine example of regency architecture with magnificent features and spa which still remain in the foyer area to the left.

Cheltenham Festivals

Year round there are plenty of events and festivals, including the well known Cheltenham Gold Cup Festival, a major event on the Cheltenham Races calender, Cheltenham Festivals a charity organisation  hold the well know Literature, Jazz and Science festivals. Wychwood Music Festival and the Greenbelt Festival both held annually at Cheltenham Racecourse. There are also 2 major airshows held in June and July with close proximity of Cheltenham attracting visitors from around the world, The Cotswold air Show ant the largest airshow in Europe The Royal International Air Tattoo known as the RAIT held at RAF Fairford Gloucestershire.
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Just outside of Cheltenham town centre there are many areas of greenery and parks such as Pitville Park and pump room, which are fantastic for families on a summers day. At Montpellier gardens, sports facilities such as the outdoor tennis courts, children’s playground and the skatepark.  With the Sandford Park Lido being a major attraction on Hot summer days.

Cheltenham also has 4 Theatres The Everyman Theatre, The Playhouse and The Bacon Theatre and Tuckwell Ampitheatre, and the new Parabola Arts Centre  forming part of The Cheltenham Ladie’s College, all host a great selection of shows throughout the year. See what's on at the Theatre in Cheltenham

Cheltenham and Gloucester

The town is supported by fantastic transport links close to the M5 and M4, the railway station is a 20 minute walk from the town centre and trains run from Cheltenham to Edinbrugh (or there is a bus service to the station from the town centre). There is also a small regional airport  at Staverton is between Cheltenham and Gloucester,  with Bristol airport just over 1 hour away, with many internal and international flights covering a wide variety of destinations..

Gloucester is also nearby about 8 miles from Cheltenham, and is becoming a popular place to visit, with the redevelopment at Gloucester Quays, the National Waterways museum, the soldiers museum and docks which hosts the Tall ships event in the summer, the large antique market has a good reputation, and Gloucester Cathederal one of the largest Cathederals in the South west and steeped in history also featured in the Harry Potter movies.

Cheltenham Places of Interest

The Cotswolds surround Cheltenham where there are many picturesque small villages such as Chipping Campden,  Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadway, Bourton-on-the-water, and the Slaughters. Winchcombe, Guiting Power and Brockhampton villages lie not far from Cheltenham. Many National Trust properties can be found situated within close proximity to Cheltenham and include Snowshill Manor near Broadway, Hidcot Manor Gardens near Chipping Campden, Chedworth Roman Villa near Cirencester housing the most unique find of Roman tiles and building remains in Britain.

Cheltenham Hotels and Accommodation

Cheltenham has a wide selection of Hotel accommodation to offer ranging from luxury Spa Hotels such as Cowley Manor a chic contemporary country house just outside Cheltenham to the stylish Boutique Hotels such as the newly opened Montpellier Chapter in the heart of Cheltenham, The Queens Hotel is a wonderful example of regency architecture, stylish good value hotels such as the Big Sleep Hotel to family run quaint and homely hotels to bed and breakfast and Pub accommodation  to romantic breaks there is something to suit all budgets.

Art Galleries and Museums in Cheltenham

Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, Gloucestershire opened in 1899. Offers free admission, with a programme of special exhibitions throughout the year. A major extension to the museum was opened by the Princess Royal in September 1989.

The museum is on Clarence Street, designed as the Cheltenham Public Library by architect William Henry Knight.

The museum houses an Arts and Crafts collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics, carvings, silver and jewellery

Holst Birthplace Museum

Gustav Holst, a British composer of Latvian-Russian descent,  born in Cheltenham in 1874 and died in London in 1934. Holst was a composer of many choral and orchestral pieces. for which he is best known  for his orchestral suite entitled 'The Planets' which he composed here in Cheltenham in 1914–1916.

The museum consists of four rooms, which have been furnished from the collections from Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. The sitting room shows how a Regency sitting room  in the 1830s would have looked.  The music room contains many items associated with Holst and his music, notably the oil portrait of the composer from the 1920's and his  piano on which much of 'The Planets' and his most famous works were composed. The kitchen and scullery show visitors how Victorian households looked.

The Holst Birthplace Museum was founded by Holst's daughter, Imogen Holst, in 1974

The Music Room