Top 15 Attractions in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

The market town of Cheltenham underwent significant transformation following the discovery of its mineral springs in the 1700s.

This event initiated a century-long period of growth, peaking during the Regency period in the early 19th century.

Characterized by Neoclassical spa buildings, rows of stuccoed townhouses, and lavish gardens, Cheltenham is often regarded as the most authentic Regency town in Britain.

Although it has been some time since the affluent frequented the town to partake in its waters, Cheltenham continues to exude an air of prosperity.

In March, Cheltenham Racecourse hosts the Gold Cup, a key event in the British horseracing calendar.

The town is also situated at the foot of the first escarpment of the Cotswolds, placing the region’s picturesque villages and delightful countryside within easy reach.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Cheltenham:

1. Montpellier District

Located in the southern sector of Cheltenham’s town center, the Montpellier District represents the most affluent area of this prosperous town.

Established in the 1830s, this district features elegant Regency townhouses and charming green spaces in Imperial Gardens and Montpellier Gardens.

Typically a venue for shopping and dining, the businesses in this area—ranging from design boutiques to antique shops and wine bars—are primarily unique establishments, bestowing the Montpellier District with a distinctive character.

Notable on Montpellier Walk are the Neoclassical Caryatids, which are designed in homage to the Erechtheion in Athens.

Additionally, near this district lies Montpellier Arcade, one of the oldest shopping galleries in the UK, which was completed in 1832.

2. The Promenade and Long Gardens

To the north of the Montpellier District lies one of England’s most cherished shopping thoroughfares.

The Promenade was initially designed as a tree-lined avenue in 1818, coinciding with the establishment of the Sherborne Spa.

This avenue is lined with horse chestnut, copper beech, plane, and lime trees, juxtaposed against rows of Regency homes and modern establishments.

These premises accommodate cafes, restaurants, and a diverse array of both mid-market and upscale retailers, including Waterstones, Karen Millen, House of Fraser, and Whittard of Chelsea.

Adjacent to the Municipal Buildings are the Long Gardens, embellished with ornamental flowerbeds and enhanced by the Neptune Fountain (1893), which draws inspiration from the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

3. Pittville Park

The mineral wells of Cheltenham are distributed across a vast area, leading to the town’s expansion northward during the early 19th century, highlighted by the creation of Pittville, orchestrated by attorney and developer Joseph Pitt.

Pittville Park was inaugurated in 1825 and is overseen by the splendid Pittville Pump Room, situated on a slight elevation to the north.

This 33-hectare park served as a retreat for individuals taking the waters at the Pump Room.

Its eastern section slopes down to an ornamental pond, and includes an aviary housing various birds and rabbits.

To the west, across Evesham Road, there lies a larger boating lake bordered by a beautiful boathouse (which contains a cafe), and offers pedal boat and rowboat rentals during the summer months.

The park is also equipped with a nine-hole golf course, a newly renovated children’s play area, tennis courts, and a skatepark.

4. Pittville Pump Room

The Pittville Pump Room stands as Cheltenham’s Regency architectural masterpiece, positioned on the northern edge of Pittville Park.

This Grade I listed structure was constructed during the latter part of the 1820s as a venue for sampling the therapeutic waters within the new town of Pittville.

The distinguished building is characterized by a colonnade of Ionic columns supporting three statues, which symbolize Hygieia (Greek Goddess of Health), Asclepius (God of Medicine), and Hippocrates.

The Pump Room’s dome is sustained by more Ionic columns, enclosed in a gallery where musicians traditionally played as patrons consumed the potent waters.

The Regency pump remains operational, showcasing an impressive, monolithic design crafted from marble and scagliola.

While the Pump Room is currently used for functions, it is open for public exploration from Wednesday to Sunday.

5. The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum

Situated within a Regency building, which features a modern extension, The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum is highly regarded for its designated collection of Arts and Crafts artifacts.

This collection encompasses textiles, ceramics, paintings, leatherwork, furniture, wood carvings, silverwork, and jewelry from the Arts and Crafts movement, which celebrated the English countryside and was predominant in the Cotswolds from 1890. Additionally, visitors can appreciate paintings from the Dutch Golden Age by artists such as Gerrit Dou, and exquisite porcelain from the Far East.

The Edward Wilson Gallery is dedicated to the Cheltenham-born explorer who tragically perished during Captain Scott’s ill-fated South Pole expedition in 1912. Moreover, visitors can explore Cheltenham’s historical journey and its evolution as a spa resort beginning in the late 18th century.

6. Imperial Gardens

Adjacent to Cheltenham Town Hall on Imperial Square, Imperial Gardens dates back to 1818. Initially, it was designated for patients of the Sherborne Spa, which currently occupies the site of the Queens Hotel on the western side of the square.

Enclosed by rows of stately townhouses and the prominent Town Hall, these formal gardens are famed for their vibrant floral displays, with 25,000 blooms creating a colorful spectacle each spring.

During the summer, the gardens serve as a picturesque venue for various outdoor events associated with the Science, Jazz, Literature, and Music Festivals.

The gardens also honor the Cheltenham native, Gustav Holst, commemorated by a life-sized statue over a fountain, unveiled in 2009.

7. Holst Birthplace Museum

Gustav Holst was born in Cheltenham in 1874 to a musical father and the daughter of a prominent solicitor from Cirencester.

This flat-fronted residence on Clarence Road has been transformed into a museum honoring Holst since 1975 and stands as one of only two birthplace museums dedicated to composers in the UK. The museum provides a glimpse into domestic life in Victorian Cheltenham, displaying rooms adorned with Holst family furniture and a kitchen furnished with antique utensils and a vintage stove.

Highlighting the museum is the very piano Gustav Holst utilized to compose his renowned work, The Planets.

Recitals are occasionally performed on this instrument, known for its soft touch keys.

The Holst Discovery Space offers an interactive experience featuring over 3,000 items related to Holst, along with the opportunity to listen to the composer’s earliest manuscripts.

8. Everyman Theatre

Among the two premier performing arts venues in Cheltenham, the Everyman Theatre is a splendid structure designed by Frank Matcham, which opened in 1891. It is the oldest surviving auditorium constructed by this esteemed architect and is adorned with intricate gilded stucco, cherub paintings, custom wallpaper and carpets, scagliola, marble, and representations of the Angels of Comedy and Tragedy on the spandrels flanking the proscenium arch.

The theatre underwent a significant restoration at the beginning of the 2010s and now serves as an exceptional venue for a diverse array of performances including ballet, opera, dance, and theatre, as well as festive pantomimes during the holiday season.

9. Cheltenham Town Hall

Located on Imperial Square, the name Cheltenham Town Hall can be misleading, as it has never operated as a government building.

Instead, it functions as an assembly hall that historically served as a venue for members of the upper classes to convene and host social gatherings.

This Neoclassical establishment replaced Cheltenham’s former Assembly Rooms in 1903 and boasts a magnificent main hall, accommodating over 1,000 spectators and adorned with marble Corinthian columns featuring gilded capitals along with an exquisite coffered ceiling.

An array of events, including comedy, music, spoken word, dance, and children’s performances, takes place here, offering plenty of entertainment options for visitors.

Adjacent to the entrance hall is the Central Spa, which dispenses waters from all of Cheltenham’s spa facilities, showcased through a remarkable octagonal Doulton stoneware counter and urns still in service today.

10. Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway

The Honeybourne Line, constructed by the Great Western Railway in the 1900s, established a link between Cheltenham, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Birmingham.

This line ultimately ceased operations in 1976 due to prolonged neglect; however, preservation efforts began as early as 1981 on a portion near Cheltenham at Toddington.

The track was relaid, stations restored, and, by 2018, the line has been extended between Cheltenham Race Course and Broadway, providing a round trip of 28 miles.

Passengers can settle into a vintage carriage pulled by a steam locomotive and traverse through some of the Cotswolds’ most enchanting landscapes, passing charming hamlets and villages, while enjoying scenic elevated views of the range and the nearby Malverns.

Services are nearly daily from April to October, with a schedule available in December as well.

11. The Cotswolds

Cheltenham is ideally located for exploring the Cotswolds, situated just west of the initial hills of this beloved range.

When one thinks of the Cotswolds, images of idyllic rolling hills, inviting villages, market towns brimming with architectural heritage from a historic wool boom, and structures built from the region’s distinctive golden oolitic limestone come to mind.

Cheltenham serves as a starting point for two circular driving routes, collectively known as the Romantic Road.

The northern route leads you to the highest elevations of the range, including Cleeve Hill (330 meters), and towns and villages such as Chipping Campden, known for its stunning 17th-century Town Hall and Perpendicular Gothic Wool Church.

The southern route descends towards the source of the River Thames and Cirencester, showcasing its Roman heritage at the exceptional Corinium Museum.

12. St Mary’s Minster

Designated as a minster in 2013, Cheltenham’s parish church is the sole remaining Medieval monument within the town.

St Mary’s was originally established by the Normans in the 11th century and features enduring Gothic architectural elements.

While the church exhibits characteristics from the Early English period, the majority showcases Decorated Gothic style from the 13th and 14th centuries, particularly evident in its window tracery.

The charming north porch retains its lierne vaulting, whereas the church tower, dating back to the early 13th century, houses a peal of twelve bells newly cast in 2018. Within the church, you can observe the royal coat of arms commemorating George III’s visit to Cheltenham in 1788, alongside a memorial dedicated to Henry Skillicorne, an 18th-century merchant mariner who founded Cheltenham’s first spa.

13. Sudeley Castle

Located just a few miles from Cheltenham in the Cotswolds, Sudeley Castle is notable as one of the rare castles in England that remains a private residence.

Completed in 1442, the castle has strong royal connections, having been seized from its owner due to his Lancastrian affiliations and granted to the future Richard III. Henry VIII’s sixth wife, Catherine Parr, spent her final months at Sudeley Castle, where she passed away in 1548 due to childbirth complications. Her tomb is located in the castle’s chapel, St Mary’s Church, which was concealed for nearly 250 years until its rediscovery in 1788. The castle also features an exhibition dedicated to Catherine Parr’s life, showcasing exceptionally rare books she authored and letters to her last husband, Thomas Seymour.

Other remarkable artifacts include beer jugs belonging to Charles I, lacework crafted by Anne Boleyn, and Abusson bed hangings created for Marie Antoinette.

14. Devil’s Chimney

For a brief excursion into the Cotswolds, a quick trip to the famed landmark, Devil’s Chimney, is recommended.

The origins of this impressive limestone column remain uncertain; however, it towers from a decommissioned quarry and is believed to have been shaped by human handiwork centuries ago rather than erosion.

This unique landform is thought to serve as the chimney for the devil’s subterranean habitat, and there was once a tradition of tossing coins atop it to encourage the devil to remain beneath the earth.

Moreover, the ascent to this ridge provides stunning views over Cheltenham, portions of Gloucester, and even the Malverns, 15 miles to the northwest.

15. Cheltenham Racecourse

As a spa resort, Cheltenham is complemented by its racecourse, renowned as one of the most esteemed in the nation.

A hub for National Hunt (steeplechase) racing, Cheltenham features 14 Grade I races, with its season commencing in November and culminating in the world-famous Cheltenham Festival in March.

This four-day event hosts some of the most fiercely competitive races in the sport, including the Champion Hurdle, the Stayers’ Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and ultimately the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which boasts a prize purse of nearly £600,000, all within a matter of minutes.

The course can accommodate 67,500 spectators, enhanced by the newly built 6,500-seat Princess Royal Stand, and is set against a picturesque backdrop, nestled below the escarpment of the Cotswolds.