Located near the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is a wonderful mix of the traditional and modern. It is the most complete Regency town in the UK and is a great place to visit for culture, shopping, and its famous festivals.
Read on to find out how to spend a weekend in this beautiful town.
| Press trip |
I visited Cheltenham for the weekend with my travel blogger friend Louise from Formidable Joy, who I recently met on a ski trip in the Swiss Alps. We enjoyed a brilliant girls’ trip with cycling, cocktails, and exploring (not necessarily in that order!).
Where to stay in Cheltenham
In Cheltenham, we stayed at Beechurst Serviced Apartments. The apartments are ideally situated for anyone travelling into the town just off the M5 and with excellent public transport links to both Cheltenham and Gloucester town centres.
The apartments used to be the home of Angie and Steve. They decided to convert their large house into several apartments, and they live at the back.
They were the nicest couple, and it was great to have them on hand to help with anything we needed and give us many recommendations for things to do in Cheltenham.
All of the apartments are named after famous residents of Cheltenham. We stayed in Wilson, named after the explorer Edward Wilson, very apt for someone who loves travelling!
The apartment had little touches as a nod to this, with maps on the blinds and a big trunk underneath the TV.
The apartment was freshly decorated with an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space, a double bedroom, and a gorgeous en-suite bathroom. There was plenty of room for a couple, so it would make a great place to stay for a romantic mini-break.
The self-catering kitchen has everything you need to make your own meals during your stay, perfect if you’re travelling on a budget. All in all, the apartment is the ideal space to relax after a busy day of exploring nearby.
We loved it so much that we stayed in, drinking wine and watching films on both Friday and Saturday nights!
Beechurst Serviced Apartments are also available for longer-term lets, so they are a great option if you are working in the area or planning to stay for a while.
Things to do in Cheltenham
Cheltenham and its surroundings are jam-packed full of things to do, from cycling trails to festivals, independent shops, and a vibrant food and drink scene.
The Regency Cycle Trail
What better way to explore a new town than on two wheels? Cycling is a fantastic way to explore Cheltenham.
The town is really geared up for cyclists with its dedicated cycle lanes and paths, making cycling here a breeze – even if you’re a novice like me!
We did the Regency Cycle Trail with Compass Holidays, and our bikes were delivered to us at Beechurst Serviced Apartments. From here, it was a couple of miles to get to Cheltenham train station, where the trail starts, and then a six-mile ride through Cheltenham.
You can also pick bikes up from the Cycling Hub at the beginning of the trail.
The Regency Cycle Trail has an app that has the map on it along with points of interest along the way. The bike has a waterproof pouch to put your phone in so you can follow the app as you go along. It was super easy to follow.
Along the way, you see points of interest such as the Pittville Pump Rooms, the shops of Montpellier, and some beautiful parks.
Pittville Pump Rooms & Park
The Pittville Pump Room is a stunning Grade I listed Regency building built when Cheltenham was a spa town in the 1830s. There is a self-guided audio tour that you can do around the building, which brings the history of the place to life.
The Heritage Orangery Cafe is also open seven days a week, serving refreshments. Events like artisan markets are also held here.
The park around the Pittville Pump Rooms is worth exploring too. Cheltenham’s largest ornamental park has lakes, woodlands, tennis courts, a pitch and putt, a skate park, and a children’s play area.
Visit Gloucester
Just 15 minutes drive from Beechurst Serviced Apartments is the city of Gloucester. We visited on the Sunday before heading home.
Although the weather was grey and drizzly, the city still looked beautiful with its charming streets and stunning cathedral.
The cathedral itself is actually a Harry Potter filming location. In the first two movies, it’s the setting for the Hogwarts corridors and the Gryffindor common room, amongst others.
Unfortunately, we visited on a Sunday, so there was a religious service in the cathedral, which meant we couldn’t look around, but it was spectacular from the outside.
We ended up just wandering around and taking in some of the sights, like the docks and the pretty shopping streets.
Other things to do in Gloucester include visiting the Museum of Gloucester, shopping in the many independent shops in the city, and the Gloucester Guildhall, where you can see musical performances and theatre.
Go to a festival
Cheltenham is famous for its festivals. The most famous of them is the Cheltenham Festival, the horse jump-racing event that takes place over four days in March.
But other festivals are taking place in Cheltenham too, with something to suit every taste. With jazz, science, music, and literature festivals, there’s always something happening in the town.
Visit the Cotswolds
For a relaxing day trip from Cheltenham, visit the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is home to quintessentially British chocolate box villages like Castle Combe, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Bourton-on-the-Water, as well as rolling hills with plenty of hiking opportunities.
I didn’t get chance to visit the Cotswolds on this trip, but it’s definitely on my UK list.
Where to eat in Cheltenham
Cheltenham is packed with restaurants, cafes, and bars, with plenty of places to choose from when it comes to eating. I didn’t get to try quite as many as I would have liked to, but I did get to try a couple of places to eat in Cheltenham during my stay.
The Cosy Club
The Cosy Club is a cute chain restaurant with elegant decor, yummy cocktails, and a delicious menu. They have a great location in the town centre, and it wasn’t super busy when we went on a Friday afternoon.
I had a mushroom risotto which was full of flavour, and we also shared the best sourdough bread I’ve ever tasted!
I’ve had brunch at other Cosy Club branches and really enjoyed their eggs royale, so I can highly recommend this as an excellent spot for brunch with the girls.
Whittle Taps
On a Saturday afternoon Whittle Taps had a lively atmosphere with lots of groups of friends out together and live sports on the TV. We had some great small plates to share and some cocktails – perfect for refuelling during our bike ride.
My favourite dish was the beef tacos.
Cheltenham is a perfect destination to visit with your other half or friends. Its close proximity to the Cotswolds and Gloucester means you’ll be spoilt for choice for things to do and beautiful places to explore.
