For much of its existence Cheltenham has led the quiet life. There is an Iron Age camp on Leckhampton Hill overlooking the town, but it was the Saxons who first established significant settlements in the area - there was a monastery here by 803. At the time of the Domesday Book the area was in the possession of Reinbald, a priest who was chancellor to Edward the Confessor. The property remained in the hands of the church until the dissolution. The original town consisted solely of the High Street and practically no medieval buildings have survived. During the Civil War John Dutton of Sherbourne was Lord of the Manor, a Royalist who eventually developed a friendship with Cromwell, ensuring Cheltenham suffered little in the conflict. The modern history of Cheltenham begins in 1716 with the discovery of a spring possessing purgative properties; this became the Royal Old Well. The Spa became a hotbed of property speculation for those gambling on the over-indulgence of the Georgian upper-classes. King George III and his family came for a five week holiday in 1788 and their visit made Cheltenham a fashionable summer resort. The population increased dramatically from 3000 in 1801 to 20000 in 1826, and by 1850 it had reached 35000. The architectural style in vogue was Greek Revival, well suited to the cream-coloured ashlar dug out of Leckhampton Hill. Some of the architects of Cheltenham were: John Papworth who worked here between 1824-30 and designed the layout of Lansdown and Montpellier, the Rotunda, Lansdown Place & Crescent and the original Rosehill, besides the prototypes for many small villas; John Forbes who designed the Pittville Pump Room (1825-30) and St Paul`s Church (1827-31); G.A. Underwood who designed Holy Trinity Church (1820-23) and the Masonic Hall, both in Portland Street; the Jearrod brothers, responsible for Lansdown Terrace, the Queen`s Hotel (1838) and Christ Church (1838-40); Samuel Onley, active between 1847 & 1862; and W.H. Knight, designer of Montpellier Walk in 1840 with terra-cotta caryatids by Rossi, and of the synagogue in St James’s Square in 1837-39. These and others have left Cheltenham as the most complete Regency town in Britain. In 1831 Cheltenham had the first regular passenger service using self-propelled road vehicles: designed by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, three steam-powered coaches travelled the nine miles between Cheltenham and Gloucester at an average of four miles per hour. In 1838 Cheltenham saw the first successful parachute jump by an Englishman when John Hampton leapt out of a balloon several thousand feet above Montpellier Gardens and landed safely after a descent of 13 minutes. By the mid-1800s when foreign travel became practicable people began going to continental spas, and the lodging houses of Cheltenham became permanent residences, often for retired civil servants and ex-Indian Army officers. At the same time Cheltenham became a centre for education with good schools for both boys and girls: the earliest was Cheltenham Propriety College for Boys in 1842 followed in 1854 by the Ladies College. Cheltenham is home to many world famous festivals: music; literature, and of course the National Hunt Festival featuring the Gold Cup. A good communications network - rail, air and road - has attracted many large firms to set up their headquarters in the town: Smith’s Aerospace, Dowty Aerospace, Chelsea Building Society, and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) are just a few of many organisations that call Cheltenham home.
Attraction
Belas Knap Long Barrow (English Heritage)
Birdland Park and Gardens
Chedworth Roman Villa
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection
Gloucestershire Craft Collection
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Holst Birthplace Museum
Kilkenny Viewpoint and Nature Reserve
Lodge Park
Miniature World
Notgrove Long Barrow
Pittville Pump Room (The)
Stanway Water Gardens
Budget
Big Sleep Hotel *book online*
Burlington House *book online*
Castle Studios *book online*
Central Hotel *book online*
Premier Inn Cheltenham Central *book online*
Premier Inn Cheltenham West *book online*
Travelodge Cheltenham *book online*
Camping
Cotswold Farm Park
Denfurlong Farm
Folly Farm Cotswold Camping
Hayles Fruit Farm
Caravan Park
Cheltenham Racecourse Caravan Club Site
Cotswold Farm Park
Care Home
Charity
Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust
Sue Ryder
Classes
Dance - Salsa Del Sol Uk
Salsa Del Sol
Yoga - Orange Yoga Ltd
Club
Chemistry
Essence Lounge Bar & Club
Niche Nightclub
The Hub
The Prom Club
Thirteen Degrees
Council
Dentist
Bath Street Dental Practice
Cambray Dental
Hewlett Road Dental Surgery
Hilltop Dental Practice
Illume
James Critchley Cosmetic Dentist
Jenkins & Miller Dental Practice
Leckhampton Dental Clinic
Pittville Lawn Dental Practice
Wentwood House Dental Practice
Doctor
Royal Well Surgery
St Catherines Surgery
St Georges Surgery
Westwood Surgery
Winchcombe Medical Centre
Estate Agent
Adams Estate Agents
Allen & Harris
Andrews Estate Agents
Bennett R A & Partners
CJ Hole
Clover Letting Agents Cheltenham
Hamptons
Horners Estate Agents
Jigsaw Estate Agents
Peter Ball & Co
Philip Pugh & Partners
Read Maurice
Taylors Estate Agents
Waithmans
Golf Club
Cotswold Hills
Lilley Brook
Shipton Golf Club
Health and Fitness Club
Cheltenham Recreation Centre
Curves
LA Fitness
Leisure @ Cheltenham
Reach Fitness
YMCA – Sports Centre
Inn
Market
Bath Road Market
Cheltenham Car Boot
Cheltenham Country Market
Cheltenham Farmers Market
Cheltenham Racecourse Market
Performing Arts
Blue Moon Harmony Choir
Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra
CoadyCrew
Everyman Theatre
The Bacon Theatre
Theatre Studio
Town Hall
Variations Academy Of Dance
Pub and Bar
Bass House
Beehive
Blush
Brown Jug
Cotswold Inn
Exmouth Arms
Fiery Angel
Golden Ball Inn
Greyhound Inn
Irish Oak
Jolly Brewmaster
Kings Arms
Montpellier Wine Bar & Restaurant
Moon Under Water
Olde Bank
Pickled Duke
Plough at Ford
Railway Inn
Royal Oak
Royal Oak Inn
Royal Union Inn
Royal Well Tavern
Shakespeare Inn
Sporstman
The Langton
Three Crowns
Victoria
Waterside Inn
Racecourse
Restaurant
288 Bar & Wok
Armagnac Restaurant
Benedictos
Bistrot Coco
Bottelino
Cowley Manor
Daffodil (The)
Everest Tandoori & Balti House
Hassans
Le Champignon Sauvage
Lumiere
Montpellier Wine Bar & Restaurant
Morans
Pane Vino Restaurant and Wine Bar
Pie and Mash
Rowans (The)
Royal Oak Inn
Royal Well Tavern
Ruby Cantonese
Spice Lodge
Storyteller
The Langton
School
Berkhampstead School
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College Junior School
Dean Close Preparatory School
Dean Close School
St Edward’s Junior School
St Edward’s School
The Cheltenham Ladies' College
The Richard Pate School
Theatre Studio
Variations Academy Of Dance
Self-Catering
Always Positive ApartmentsBliss Montpellier
Carter Road Short Stay
Central Serviced Apartments
Central Serviced Apartments
Cheltenham Apartments
Clarence Square Apartment
Deep Street
Emperor Court Apartment
Harwards Apartments
Imperial Apartments
Imperial Gate Luxury Penthouse
Lansdown Serviced Apartments
Middle Stanley
No 17 Serviced 2 Bedroom Townhouse
No 71 serviced 3 bed house
Osborne Lodge
Strozzi Palace Luxury Boutique Suites
The Palisades
Solicitor
Billingham David & PartnersChristopher Davidson Solicitors LLP
Cowle Smart
Harrison Clarke
Mcwalter & Co
Rickerbys LLP
Wells & Co
Whitemans
Taxi
727 Car Co Ltd
AA Starline Taxis
Ace Cars
B J Private Hire
Cheltenham Minibus
Cheltenham Minibus Hire
Churchfield Cars
Coach Hire Cheltenham
Cotswold Travel
Kaybee Drive
Theatre
Everyman Theatre
Playhouse Theatre
Town Hall
Vet
MacDonald Veterinary Clinic
Woodlands Veterinary Clinic
Sports Clubs
Chedworth CC (Cricket)
Cheltenham (Men's Hockey)
Cheltenham (Women's Hockey)
Cheltenham & County CC (Cycling)
Cheltenham CC (Cricket)
Cheltenham Civil Service (Women's Hockey)
Cheltenham Football Club (Football)
Cheltenham Tigers RFC (Rugby Union)
Cheltenham YMCA Judo Club (Martial Arts)
East Gloucestershire Club (Tennis)
Evesham & District Whls CC (Cycling)
Hatherley & Reddings CC (Cricket)
Hotshots Netball Team (Netball)
St Philips North CC (Cricket)
Shops
County Bookshops
3-D Sports Group
Bumblebeez
Cleeve Flowers
Boots
Courtyard Jam
Early Learning Centre
Robin Jenkins Family Butcher
Rymans
Bonsai World Cheltenham
Valley Rpundabout Nurseries
Badgeworth Nurseries
Ponderosa Bird & Pet Centre
Cheltenham Nutrition Centre
Cheltenham Nutrition Centre
The Natural Grocery Store
Slipstream Organics
The Fine Cheese Company
The Organic Shop
Whittard of Chelsea
High and Mighty
Prestbury Pharmacy
Norville Opticians
George Lewis
Adcock Shoes
Evans
Waterstones
J D Sports
Simon Lloyd Signs
Carphone Warehouse
Halfords
ButtonCute child photography
BodyShop
Blacks
Martins Gallery
Westend Pictures
John Davies Gallery
Talbot Court Galleries
Mave's Gallery
Thompson Gallery
The Loquens Gallery
Timothy Potter
Priory Gallery
Wotton studio
Compton Cassey Gallery
Syreford Gallery
Water Gallery
Peppercorn House Gallery
The Sykes Gallery
Manor House Gallery
Monpellier Gallery
Winds Of Change
Crown Gallery
The Entertainer
Majestic Wine
Robert Dyas
Thorntons
Holland and Barratt
Professional Cookware
Goodness Knows
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Organic Champagne
H Samuel
Wallis
Ernest Jones
JoJo Maman Bebe
Primrose Vale Farm Shop & PYO
All Saints
Bare-faced Medical Aesthetics
B&Q
Goldsmiths
Dreams
Homebase
Rowlands Pharmacy
Viyella
T K Maxx
Wye Pine
Crabtree and Evelyn
White Stuff
Phase Eight
House of Fraser
Lush
Pets At Home
Paint It Yourself Pottery
Banners n Balloons
Signature Barbers
Costantinous
Exposure Tanning
Joot Hair & Beauty
Love The Salon
Beauty Beyond
Absolute Beauty
Hush Interiors
New Blinds
Wedding Days
Carpet Emporium
Academy Studios
Blooming Photography
Two Front Teeth
Heather Gunn Photography
Karate World
Swop 2 Shop
Chedworth Farm Shop
The Cats Whiskers
Shurdington Nurseries
Hutchinsons Hi Fi & Vision
Sandra Dee
The Famous of Cheltenham
Keith Holland & Associates
Mark Elliott Furniture
Winnen Furnishing Company
Tigerlilly Jewellery
River Island
Topshop
Ideal Sports
Antiques
World of Mechanical Music
Montpellier Clocks
Art & Antiques
Activities
Hot Air Ballooning(Airsports)
Deer Park Archers(Archery)
Balloon Flights(Aviation Sports)
Virgin Balloon Flights(Aviation Sports)
Compass Holidays(Cycling)
Ullenwood Court Riding Centre(Riding)
Woodlands Riding & Livery(Riding)
Albion Leisure Services(Walking)
Compass Holidays(Walking)
Cotswold Walking Holidays Limited(Walking)
Places to Stay near Cheltenham
Imperial Apartments (0.06 miles)
This Two Bedroom Apartment in the Centre of Cheltenham provides an ideal base for both long and short visits. The Apartment boasts two Double Bedrooms, with Ensuite to the Master, ... More
Imperial Gate Luxury Penthouse (0.08 miles)
Situated just a few minutes' stroll from the Promenade this penthouse apartment could not be in a better location. Furnished and equipped to an extremely high standard the apartment has ... More
Queen's Hotel (0.14 miles)
George Cheltenham (0.16 miles)
Cheltenham Apartments (0.17 miles)
Each luxury self-catering apartment is an elegant, stylish and independent space within 3 Regency town houses in the fashionable Montpellier area.
Each town-centre apartment is spacious, homely and beautifully furnished, and has ... More
Big Sleep Hotel (0.18 miles)
A new 62 bedroom designer budget hotel in the heart of Cheltenham, offering value for money, great customer service, innovative design and an exciting experience away from home.
The hotel is fresh, simple and very modern, ... More
Hotel du Vin (0.19 miles)
Formerly the Carlton Hotel and located in the chic Montpellier district of this historic spa town. Hotel du Vin Cheltenham offers forty nine bedrooms and suites, all decorated in inimitable Hotel du Vin style. The ... More | visit website
The Bradley Guest House (0.22 miles)
Crossways Guest House (0.23 miles)
Crossways is a non-smoking fine regency house, listed as of "architectural and historical importance to the nation". In the very centre of Cheltenham - it is ideal for theatres, festivals, ... More
Abbey Hotel (0.27 miles)
Family-run town house bed & breakfast hotel in the heart of Cheltenham. Ideally situated in a quiet street with all town centre amenities just a brief walk away. We ... More
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