Cheltenham became a spa town in 1716. According to tradition, the first medicinal waters were discovered when locals saw pigeons pecking at salty deposits which had formed around a spring. The town received a Royal patronage in 1788 when King George III came to drink the waters. This led to the rapid development of Cheltenham as a fashionable spa between 1790 and 1840.

The town was patronised by a stream of noble and royal visitors including the Duke of Wellington and Princess Victoria (later Queen). Distinguished of literary figures who took the waters have including Lord Bryon, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Dickens even went as far as to write “Rarely have I seen a place that attracted my fancy”.

Cheltenham has many fine churches including the medieval St Mary’s churchyard where John Wesley is said to have preached from the old cross. In the 19th century, through to the ending of British rule in India in 1947, Cheltenham became known as “the Anglo-Indian’s Paradise”.

The Holst Birthplace Museum, details the famous musician and composer of “The Planets”, you can enjoy his music and see his piano in the restored Regency House.

Cheltenham is one of the few English towns in which traditional and contemporary architecture complement each other.

travelling to Cheltenham

by road - Situated at junctions 10, 11 and 11a of the M5, Cheltenham lies within the main motorway network and the important London, Bristol, Birmingham triangle.

by rail - Cheltenham Spa is well served by Intercity and British Rail regional railways, including direct services from London Paddington, Bristol, Birmingham, Swindon, Cardiff, Plymouth, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

by air - Gloucestershire Airport, Cheltenham’s local airport, is only 4 miles from the town and offers aircraft for charter, including HS125 jets and helicopters.

entertainment in cheltenham

Cheltenham offers a world of arts, entertainment and top events.

the everyman theatre
Offers a wide variety of live entertainment including drama, comedy musicals, classics and touring West End Productions.

the playhouse theatre
Is the base for Cheltenham’s amateur companies.

Cheltenham’s elegant baroque town hall, set among the colourful gardens of Imperial Square, is the home of Cheltenham's major festivals. It stages an impressive concert programme, featuring both classical and contemporary music, plus comedy, dance, exhibitions, antiques, craft and collector’s fairs.

cheltenham racecourse
Britain’s premier National Hunt Racecourse. The National Hunt Festival, featuring the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is held every March. For more than 50 years the Queen mother endowed National Hunt racing, and Cheltenham was privileged that each March, Her Majesty visited the Festival.

cheltenham town football club
Cheltenham Town Football Club, otherwise known as the The Robins or The Red & White Army are Cheltenham’s biggest sporting successes. After two seasons of finding their feet in Third Division, their third season took them to Cardiff, where they defeated Rushden & Diamonds, at the magnificent Millennium Stadium and as a result, started the 2002/2003 season in the Second Division of the Football League.

shopping…with style
Shopping in Cheltenham is one of life’s pleasures. Summer floral displays, wide avenues, relaxed arcades and a great variety of shops proide a truly enjoyable shopping experience in an unrivalled atmosphere.

The Promenade. One of the most stylish shopping boulevards in England, is home to the best-known shops. Major stores such as Cavendish House, Habitat, Waterstones and Laura Ashley can be found here.

The high street. There are fashionable shopping arcades such as the Regent Arcade Shopping Centre, where you will find well known stores including BHS, The Body Shop and Mothercare as well as smaller individual shops. The Feature of the Regent Arcade is the famous Wishing Fish Clock designed by Kit Williams. Every half hour the magical performance of the bubble-blowing clock brings the arcade to a standstill. The High Street also has shops such as Marks & Spencer, Littlewoods and Boots.

The beechwood shopping centre, houses Next, the Disney Store and Debenhams.

montpellier. An abundance of specialist boutiques and gift shops, together with pavement cafés and fashionable wine bars.

sunday shopping. Cheltenham town centre offers a seven day shopping experience with over 100 shops open.

antiques. Cheltenham is an important centre for collectors of antiques. Monthly antiques and Collectors Fairs are staged at the Cheltenham Racecourse on Sundays.

farmers markets. Cheltenham Farmers Markets are held on the Promenade on the last Friday of each month. Over thirty stalls will tempt you with a fresh and natural produce including delicious cheeses, mouth-watering meats and a wide variety of vegetables.