Visiting Cheltenham

Something you’ll notice about the stately old buildings of Cheltenham is the way they glow in the sunshine. This is down to the distinctive and rare Cotswold limestone, which was sourced in the beautiful rolling countryside to the south and east of the city. Cheltenham took off in the 18th century after the discovery of natural springs, becoming a wealthy spa town. The waters are closed to the public today but you can head to the ornate Pump Room to get a sense of the opulence. There’s loads of green space here, in the form of elegant parks like Imperial Gardens and Pitville Park, while the architecture is also fittingly grand, and the streets boast numerous upmarket shops and boutiques. A number of the upmarket homes have now been converted into hotels, providing visitors with a further insight into the local grandeur.  For many others Cheltenham will be most closely associated with horse racing, and the Gold Cup, which takes place every March just the north of the city.