find your venue
feature your venueDiscover the best pubs & restaurants in Cheltenham
Town/City Name
Cheltenham
County
Gloucestershire
Population
116,306
About Cheltenham
Found on the edge of Gloucestershire’s Cotswold, Cheltenham is a large spa town where several mineral springs were discovered in 1716. There are Regency towns in Britain, but Cheltenham is said to be the most complete one.
A lot of festivals are held in Cheltenham, honouring culture and often featuring attendees and contributors who are nationally and internationally popular. Going out in Cheltenham is easy for there are several activities people can do in the area. Some places tourists can visit include the Montpellier District, the Promenade and Long Gardens, Pittville Park, Pittville Pump Room, and the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum.
Among these sites and places, the most famous would have to be the Montpellier District. This is considered the grandest part of the town. Visitors can do shopping, dining, walking around, and relaxing in this area.
There are several restaurants in Cheltenham, too. Stylish places and incredible restaurants like Muse Brasserie and Le Champignon Sauvage can be found here. When it comes to the pubs in Cheltenham, a renaissance of pub culture can be experienced in the area, as pubs range from cosy ones to the fanciest bars.
There are many famous people from Cheltenham, too. Some of the most famous people in the field of arts include Jake Chapman and Frances Emilia Crofton, Michael Bruston, Brian Jones, and Solemn Sun in terms of music, and in the field of literature, Cheltenham has Sarah Burney, James Payn, and Kate Thornton
Places to eat in Cheltenham, Restaurants in Cheltenham
Places to drink in Cheltenham, Pubs and Bars in Cheltenham
A brief history of Cheltenham
Cheltenham is found on River Chelt. This is located near Dowdeswell and goes to Severn, running through the town. Cheltenham is first called Celtan hom in 803. There is no one real explanation of the name’s meaning, but some scholarships state that the first element comes from cilta which means steep hill. Meanwhile, the second element is thought to mean water-meadow or settlement.
In 1226, Cheltenham was granted a market charter. In 1716, several mineral springs were found in this town. As a result, it was known as a holiday spa town and as a health spa town, too. The first person thought to exploit the mineral springs was Captain Henry Skillicorne.
In 1732, Skillicorne was married to Elizabeth Mason, but Elizabeth’s father has not exerted much effort to promote the mineral water’s healing properties. Skillicorne was fully aware of the advantages and the importance of the mineral springs, so he was determined to make the benefits and the actual mineral springs known to the locals and the tourists. Because Skillicorne is a merchant, he improved the place to attract visitors to his spa. After some time, many popular and notable people came to town to experience Cheltenham’s beneficial waters.
The spa town became more well-known when George III and the queen and royal princesses visited the place in 1788. Cheltenham’s railway station is also called Cheltenham Spa, which reflects the popularity of the place. Other spa facilities opened in different towns, and they were all named after Cheltenham or inspired by it.
In 1815, horse racing began in town. It became a major national attraction when the Festival was established in 1902. With the boost in the number of visitors coming to town because of horse racing, the number of spa visitors coming to town declined.
In World War II, the primary headquarters of the United States Army Services of Supply was located in Cheltenham. This was headed by Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee, and the town has become a large storage depot of trucks, tanks, and other war pieces.
The Gloster E.28/39 was built in this town. It is the first British jet aircraft prototype, and the location of production moved from Hucclecote to Regent Motors so that it would be safer from the bombings happening during World War II
Popular things to do in Cheltenham
- Taste the best dishes in Prithvi - https://prithvirestaurant.com/
- Take a quick snack at Boston Tea Party – https://bostonteaparty.co.uk/
- Visit Michelin-starred Le Champignon Sauvage - http://www.lechampignonsauvage.co.uk/
- Take the best photos at Daffodil - https://thedaffodil.com/
- Experience the Cheltenham Jazz Festival - https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz
Free things to do in Cheltenham
- Enjoy Cheltenham Music Festival - https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music/
- Taste the spa water at Pittville Pump Room - https://www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/visit-us/pittville-pump-room/
- Experience the Bird Watching Webcams - https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/livestreams-wildlife/
- See marine creatures at the Tropical Reef Cam - https://explore.org/livecams/aquarium-of-the-pacific/pacific-aquarium-tropical-reef-camera
- See the aviation collection at The Jet Age Museum - https://jetagemuseum.org/
Great for kids in Cheltenham
- Walk around the Sudeley Castle - https://sudeleycastle.co.uk/
- Ride the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway - https://www.gwsr.com/
- Live a fantasy life at Fairytale Farm - https://www.fairytalefarm.co.uk/
- Encounter different animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park - https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/
- Have a good time at Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre - https://gloucesterski.com/
Great for dogs in Cheltenham
- Crickley Hill Country Park
- Cleeve Hill loop
- Cotswold way – Winchcombe to Belas Knap route
Dog friendly bars
- Harry Cooks
- The Exmouth Arms
- The Swan
Dog friendly restaurants
- Archies of Cheltenham
- Coffee Dispensary
- The Urban Meadow
Did you know?
265,000 pints of Guinness were sold in the Cheltenham Festival. 120,000 wine bottles were also opened during this event in town. Lastly, this four-day event employed over 6,000 workers.
Alice in Wonderland was also inspired in Cheltenham. There was one Alice, Alice Liddell, who lived in a suburb of Cheltenham – Charlton Kings. The looking glass in this story was a real looking glass found at the Liddell home. This is found in Charlton Kings Cudnall Street.
The hidden gems of Cheltenham
One hidden gem in Cheltenham is Hatherley Park. This is an ornamental park, and several houses can be found around the area. There is a lake in this spot, and guests can feed the ducks in it. There are a lot of flora and fauna that people can enjoy, and people can certainly enjoy a quiet and splendid time in this park.
Unique to Cheltenham
Cheltenham is a famous film location. Famous television shows and films like These Foolish Things, Pride and Prejudice, and The Whistle Blower were shot in this area.
