I discovered an unexpected side of Cheltenham, with street art, great shopping and stylish boutique hotels that make the perfect base for a weekend in Cheltenham. Stay in boutique style at No131 The Promenade Hotel in Cheltenham. Revel in a friendly, intimate atmosphere, with 130 of the best bands that the world has to offer such as Jimmy Eat World and Idles, plus amazing food and locally produced ciders, ales & lagers. Last Updated 01st March 2023. Welcome to Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre; an intimate community theatre set in a Regency period building. Enjoy the warmth of Sri Lankan hospitality & cuisine at the Coconut Tree in St Pauls. 9. You may also enjoy: A weekend in Oxford our 48 hour itinerary. The Edward Wilson Gallery is a space dedicated to the Cheltenham-born explorer who died on Captain Scotts ill-fated South Pole expedition in 1912. To assist you in planning your visit, we have categorised all the things to do in Cheltenham into groups and themes, so just hover over the Things to Do tab to display a whole host of options and click on what takes your fancy. To build your own itinerary, click to add an item to your itinerary basket. Learn about Cheltenhams fascinating historical buildings and Regency history as a spa town on this free self-guided tour which features a map of Cheltenham. This guide has been written to help visitors (and locals) make the most of their time here. 4 Gordon Mews . Of course a big draw of the Cheltenham Literature Festival is the talks from TV presenters like David Attenborough and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, comedians like Ruby Wax and authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, Philip Pullman and Anthony Horowitz. Meanwhile,The Wilson Art Gallery and Museumhas recently seen significant refurbishments to re-cement the centre as Cheltenhams leading cultural hub. Images feature Curious Cafe (left), Boat House in Pittville Park (top), Lido (bottom). We enjoyed this mean looking girl in her wellies by Dice 67 as well as pieces by Roo Art, Nol, Snub23 and My Dog Sighs. . Also in the park is a nine-hole golf course, a newly revamped play area for kids, tennis courts and a skatepark. Explore at your own pace and uncover some of the locals best kept secrets. A mecca for National Hunt (jump) racing, Cheltenham has 14 Grade I races, in a season that starts in November and culminates with the world-famous Cheltenham Festival in March. Magazine in 2018, 2000trees is a 15,000 capacity music festival held in July and set in the rolling Cotswold Hills. Arenas & Stadiums. Lively and diverse, its popular nightlife, music and sports make it the perfect city for students to call home. Established in 1971 as the home of rare breed conservation, Cotswold Farm Park offers a fun-filled day out. Nearby youll find The Paragon Gallery, Park Gallery and the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen all stocked full with unique crafts and art. Set to reopen in July 2022, the new space will include a vibrant arts caf, the Sir Charles Irving Community Art Gallery, and new artists studios. If you love horse racing this is an unmissable event that fills the town with visitors. Coffee connoisseurs can enjoy 10 per cent off food and hot drinks with a Unidays card, to keep you full of beans. Now the park is a place to relax on the open lawns and admire the colourful bedding displays that change with the seasons. This line eventually closed in 1976 after decades of neglect, but as early as 1981 preservation work began on a stretch not far from Cheltenham at Toddington. Cheltenham is in a handy location to get the most out of the Cotswolds and lies just west of the first hills of this much-loved range. The 6 mile route is an easy cycle ride on mostly flat trails, with about half of the cycle paths being traffic-free. This article may contain affiliate links that provide commission on purchases you make at no extra cost to you. Situated near the train station, DEYA is Cheltenham's signature brewery with a huge selection of in-house pale ales, IPAs and hoppy beers on the menu. Just a stone throw from the cinema is Hollywood Bowl which is a bowling alley with 16 lanes meaning even at its busiest time you may still be able to bowl with your friends. Stay at the stylish Queens Hotel in the heart of Cheltenham. Lets explore the best things to do in Cheltenham: In the southern part of Cheltenhams town centre, the Montpellier District is the poshest part of a well-to-do town. If you prefer the raucous and rough-edged quality of street art to that found in a gallery then Cheltenham has got you covered here too. The Promenade and Long Gardens Cheltenham's famous Promenade dates back to 1818 at the height of the Regency period, when the Holst Victorian House Explore life in Cheltenham's only Victorian home open to all, the birthplace of composer Gustav Pittville Pump Room Cheltenhams vibrant Brewery Quarter offers fun family entertainment like bowling, adventure golf and escape rooms; upmarket dining, cocktails and craft beer; and a multiplex cinema showing the biggest blockbusters with plenty of dog-friendly venues to visit with your pup, too. Having spent the morning cycling along the Honeybourne Line and through Pittville Park, we had worked up quite an appetite and were pleased to arrive at the Cotswold Grange Hotel in Cheltenham, where our group was having lunch. Completed in 1442, the castle would have close royal ties after being seized by the crown from its owner because of his Lancastrian connections, and was given to the future Richard III. The couple, who got married . SoGlos rounds up 18 of the best student hot spots in town, perfect for making new friends during fresher's week. Roughly an hour to the north is Birmingham which is a city with a bustling culture and lots to do, it is also known for having a great nightlife if you wish to travel that far. The track was relaid, stations were restored and in 2018 the line has been extended between Cheltenham Race Course and Broadway, for a round trip of 28 miles. While there isn't a dedicated student night, it offers two cocktails for 12 before 11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Other areas to find interesting shops in Cheltenham include; The Promenade: Further down the high street youll find The Promenade, which is opposite the Promenade Gardens. Cheltenham is known as the most complete Regency town in England, a showcase for the typical style of tall terraced houses decorated with classical columns and wrought iron balconies. 32. Or unwind and indulge with one of the many feel-good summer experiences Cheltenham has to offer including the Cheltenham Balloon Fiesta, Food and Drink Festival and the very popular Wychwood Festival. If youre looking for just a gym without the fuss, this is probably your best bet. If you can get to Coopers Hill in Gloucester for May go and watch. Cheltenham's premier indoor soft play centre, for children aged 0-12 years based at The Brewery Quarter. Further west, across Evesham Road, is the larger boating lake, fringed by the gorgeous boathouse (hosting a cafe), and renting out pedal boats and rowboats in summer. Registered as a limited company in England and Wales under company number: 7619022. I'm going with my significant Home to 42,000 students, Newcastle is well known for being one of the most iconic cities in Britain. Not only do we ensure that you have the best home to start or continue your university life but we also want to make sure you know what a wonderful city you are in, this is why our site teams are here to help you with local tips and tricks and our blog pages are full of places to discover while youre at university in Cheltenham. You may also enjoy: A weekend stay in luxury Cotswold cottages at Bruern Cottages. Images Cheltenham Literature Festival (top), Everyman Theatre performance (bottom), Gloucester Cheese Rolling (right). Burger and beer-loving students can get 10 per cent off at Hub Box in The Brewery Quarter with a valid student card. We have compiled a quick-fire guide to a variety of the best student hot spots in Cheltenham that we hope everyone can enjoy. There are also packed year-round programmes to enjoy at the more intimate Bacon Theatre and Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre. They have small and large boats which can hold a maximum of 3 - 5 people respectively. More info: Cheltenham Literature Festival website. But dig a little deeper and you will find some unique, quirky and vibrant places that make this town special. The small terraced garden has been landscaped to make a pretty outdoor retreat for guests. Recitals are occasionally given on this instrument, known for its soft touch keys. On the ground floor of the Cotswold Grange Hotel is a bar for guests and a large dining room where we had a delicious lunch of wraps, salads, and spring rolls with some excellent options for vegetarians. Oh and it has a slide! With its close vicinity to the Cotswolds, Cheltenham lends itself as an ideal base if you enjoy outdoor activities walking, cycling, golf, clay pigeon shooting and equine sports are just some of the activities to tempt you into exploring the area. The racing, the setting, the tradition and history, and the shared sense of enjoyment all combine to give race goers an experience theyll never forget. Cheltenham is an incredibly interesting city for students, and the its increasing popularity has bought many fun activities for students to enjoy. Aptly located at the top of Pitville Park, this social venue allows you to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine and marvel at the facade featuring a magnificent piece of regency architecture with Ionic columns. The Brewery Quarter is Cheltenham's Entertainment Hub, day and night Our suggested itinerary for a weekend in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds. His aim was to create a rival spa town to Cheltenham, which had been popularised by King George III as a place for fashionable society to come and take the spa waters. This dignified building has a colonnade of Ionic columns beneath three statues, representing Hygieia (Greek Goddess of Health), Asclepius (God of Medicine) and Hippocrates. For more staycation inspiration check out our helpful guides: Bookable things to do in Cheltenham|48 hours in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds|Weekend for foodies in Cheltenham|Cheltenham weekend of discovery|16 Cheltenham staycation ideas|Day trip to the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley from Cheltenham|Day trip to Gloucester from Cheltenham|15 reasons to visit Gloucester|Spa break in Cheltenham|What's on in Cheltenham|Festivals in Cheltenham|Stag do in Cheltenham & Gloucester. The Cheltenham Literature Festival happened to be taking place on the weekend I was there, one of the many festivals held in Cheltenham throughout the year. With such a large range of activities available at Leisure At Cheltenham there really is something for everyone from swimming to racket sports, soft play and even trampolining. A post shared by Urban Outfitters Europe (@urbanoutfitterseu). Cheltenham has a plethora of brilliant places to drink and be merry in the town. They date back to the 1840s when Cheltenham was experiencing its boom. Zwings - Electric Scooter Hire Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, The Wilson - Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. The stadium has a capacity of over 7000 which makes for a great atmosphere on matchday, the university also works close with the football club and occasionally offer students discounted tickets so keep an eye out for that! A spa resort wouldnt be complete without a racecourse, and Cheltenhams is one of the most revered in the country. Cheltenhams own professional association Cheltenham Football Club hold frequent matches at the Johnny-Rocks stadium on Whaddon Road with other League One teams. So what could be better than a spa day or weekend, with a focus on your health and wellbeing in the hometown of modern spas? Home Travel Guides United Kingdom England 15 Best Things to Do in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire, England). There are two fairly big courses but Id say just one game is enough, followed by a drink in the bar. With classes, swimming and an athletics track included in the price it is one of the best value gyms in the town. My eye was drawn by the unusual classical figures decorating the front of the shops, known as the Caryatids. This part of the park is relaxing place to stroll for nature lovers, with wildflowers and native plants under the trees. Our cycle ride ended here although the trail continues through the heart of Regency Cheltenham, so its a great way to see the town if you only have a limited time. The castle has an exhibition about the life of Catherine Parr, including exceptionally rare books that she wrote and love letters to her last husband Thomas Seymour. I wandered around the festival village in Montpelier Gardens, where there were plenty of free activities, especially aimed at children and families. The kids have always enjoyed themselves and their friends have always said what a great party it has been. The course has a capacity of 67,500, bolstered by the new 6,500-seater Princess Royal Stand, and sits in a scenic position, just below the escarpment of the Cotswolds. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Aw it was such a fab bike ride. The festivals are extremely well done and if you live there you can apply to help out as well as potentially be a part of the festival. Hands down this is the best place for a hangover brunch in Cheltenham. Featured in The Telegraphas one of theGreat British Drives, The Romantic Road takes you on a drive through quintessentially English countryside,starting in Cheltenham. Known as the home of rare breed conservation, Cotswold Farm Park offers a fun-filled day out on the lawns! Two fairly big things to do in cheltenham for students but Id say just one game is enough, followed by a drink in the.... 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