Did you know that Cheltenham is the perfect pick for a Cotswolds city break? This vibrant and cultural regency town has plenty to see and do, with the added bonus of being just a stone’s throw away from the Cotswolds.
Back in March, Sam and I reunited for a girly city break in the wonderful regency town of Cheltenham. This time, we swapped our skis for bikes for a more slow-paced holiday! Whilst there, it became apparent that Cheltenham is a great home base for exploring The Cotswolds – particularly if you want to swap the countryside for the hustle and bustle of a city for a weekend.
Here’s why.
Cheltenham Things to Do
Cheltenham is a known spa town but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton of history and heritage to find if you visit.
Though Cheltenham is known as a spa town, you’re more likely to find history and heritage in this city. In fact, the only links that Cheltenham has to spas these days are that of the train station that’s named Cheltenham Spa and the Pittville Pump Room.
At the Pittville Pump Room, you can learn all about Cheltenham’s heritage and can even see a hand-made replica model of the original pump room. The Grade I listed Regency building is also home to various pop-up events throughout the year, as well as a cafe.
Spa town aside, Cheltenham is also famous for the many events and festivals that take place there throughout the year. In fact, there are more than 30 that take place each year! These include the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, 2000trees (music) festival and, of course, The Cheltenham (horse racing) Festival. There’s also the world’s oldest literature festival!
The best way to explore Cheltenham has to be on two wheels with the Regency Cycle Trail. Perfect for all levels of cyclists, this excellent six-mile route took us through the city where we spotted colourful graffiti, lots of beautiful parks and various points of interest – including the Pittville Pump Room.
See more: Exploring Cheltenham on two wheels
Developed by Compass Holidays, the cycle trail is followed either by a physical map or with a nifty phone app. The app is key to navigating the best spots around the city. The bikes come with a waterproof pouch at the front of the bike, so you can easily follow the trail without faffing about with your phone.
Cheltenham is also a great place to cycle, with the town offering lots of easy and dedicated cycle routes. You could even cycle on to explore the rolling hills of The Cotswolds too!
If you have time, I recommend taking a day trip to Gloucester for some Harry Potter filming locations – many of which you can find all around The Cotswolds.
Read more: 5 of the best UK staycation ideas
Where to Stay In Cheltenham
Sam and I stayed for a two-night press trip at Beechurst Serviced Apartments, which are wonderful sustainable and budget-friendly accommodations a mere ten-minute drive outside of the city centre (or a 20-minute bike ride!). With easy public transport links into the heart of Cheltenham and Gloucester, Beechurst House is an ideal location.
Angie and Steve own the apartments, which they converted from their Victorian farmhouse into five serviced apartments: each named after notable figures within Cheltenham’s history. We stayed in Wilson, named after explorer Edward Wilson. Our apartment really was the ideal home base for our city break. The beauty of a serviced apartment is that it offers everything you need for your stay. It’s also ideal for long-term stays, with a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering.
We loved this aspect as it meant we had the option of cooking for ourselves to save money. The spacious apartment slept two in a double bedroom with an open-plan living area. The living area had plenty of space to cook, relax and watch TV.
Angie and Steve were also really lovely and helpful. Angie gave us a lovely tour of the other apartments (every one each as stunning as the last), whereas Steve helped kit us out on our bikes for the Regency Cycle Trail. They shared lovely recommendations too.
Side note: as someone who loves The Cotswolds, I really think Beechurst Serviced Apartments are a great pick for somewhere to stay when exploring that area of the UK. Cheltenham is located right on the edge of The Cotswolds, with Bourton on the Water, Stow on the Wold and Cirencester all just around a half-hour drive away. If you want to break up your Cotswolds trip with a city stay, Cheltenham is a great choice!
Places to Eat In Cheltenham
We had a long list of potential places to eat in Cheltenham. Unfortunately, we only had time to visit two during our short weekend there! Upon arrival, we caught up with a tasty brunch at The Cosy Club, which offered really luxurious and funky decor with tasty food.
For dinner, we visited Whittle Taps as a midway point during our bike ride (we needed the energy!). Though busy, it had a really lively vibe and we shared a bunch of small tapas plates between us. The food was cheap but absolutely delicious – especially paired with some summer cocktails.
We also stopped for some delicious ice cream at The Boathouse in Pitville Park. This sweet little cafe overlooked the lake and even served ice cream and treats for dogs! You can also hire rowing boats here.
Other places we had on our list included:
- The Enchanted Window (for Instagrammable hot chocolate)
- The Beefy Boys
- Cantina Del Barrio
All in all, Cheltenham is the perfect pick for a city break – particularly if you’re exploring the surrounding Cotswolds too. Ideal for a girls’ weekend or a romantic weekend away with your other half, the city has plenty to see and do. I’d also definitely recommend Beechurst Serviced Apartments!
Have you ever stayed in a serviced apartment before? Would you consider Cheltenham for your next city break? Let me know!
I was kindly invited on this press trip by Sam. All my opinions are entirely honest and based on my own experiences.
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