Cheltenham (England) > Reviews > What Cheltenham has for the young and the old.

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around

Advantages:	Beautiful scenery, not bad nightlife
Disadvantages:	Terrible traffic around race week

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

....please don't take offence with the title - You're as old or young as you feel!

Anyway, I have lived in a village outside Cheltenham for about 11 years. Bishops Cleeve is a lovely place to live, located just at the bottom of Cleeve Hill. From the top of Cleeve Hill you can see all the way across to Wales! I’m from Yorkshire, moved to London & now live in Cheltenham & I can tell you there is no place I’d rather be (well, apart from somewhere with sun, sand, seas & sangria!)

**Some background stuff about Cheltenham**

Cheltenham became a spa town in 1716 – According to legend this a flock of pigeons discovered a spring on the site & were thriving, locals tried this for themselves & found that it eased many of the disorders the 18th century afflicted on them. One of the most famous early visitors was George III in 1788, others included Handel & Samuel Johnson.

Cheltenham is the most complete Regency Town in England. Most of the town center lies within a conservation area of outstanding importance. The town was patronised by nobel & royal visitors including the Duke of Wellington & Princess (later Queen) Victoria.

**Some of the places to visit are**

The Holst Birthplace Museum: This details the life of the famous musician and is on the Clarence Road. You can even see his piano in this restored Regency house.

Pittville Pump Room: This was completed in 1830. The centre piece for the estate built for Joseph Pitt. The Pump Room still offers visitors a sample of the spa waters.

Cheltenham’s Art Gallery and Museum: Clarence Street, The Edward Wilson gallery shows the life chronicles of Antarctic explorer who perished with Scott on his expedition on to the South Pole in 1912.

Berkeley Castle: England’s oldest inhabited castle and most historic home

Sudeley Castle: Once the home to Katherine Parr – Henry VIII’s wife.

**Star Attraction**

The main attraction of the whole year that really pulls the tourists in is of course the Gold Cup, as this was cancelled last year I feel this years event will be bigger than ever! More Irish betting and all beginning on 12th & finishing on the 14th March. This is terrible for the locals as Bishops Cleeve is a village a mile out past the racecourse – I have learnt not to bother going to work!! Or at least finish early, the traffic is horrendous!

**Most important – Bars, clubs & pubs**

There are many bars; pubs & clubs for the evening & all have a decent atmosphere, try the new bars Toad, Bar med and Springbok. For food try Ask, Daffodil (if you would like more info I have written an op about that great restaurant, plug, plug!!) or even petit bBlanc owned by Raymond Blanc the very famous chef (daf is still my favourite though)

Clubs include
Time – Not too bad
The Fez club – Terrible! Very cheesy! & Full of little girls in very short skirts (some may go for this?!)
The Office - For the older, single, sad ones (my bf used to frequent this joint before we met!)
Enigma – for the students
Equal – Gay club
Niche – New & very techno, dancey and open till 3am
Embassy – Another cheesy club
Po Na Na’s – Great for those into Dance etc
Sub tone – Not bad club, good atmosphere.
The Prom Club – usually for the more mature, always good for a laugh though

There are the usual pubs.

Wetherspoons
Yate's Wine Lodge
Hos Head
Bar Med....
Springbok - great sports bar
Bentleys - great before a night in a club
Toad - lovely pub in the day & night
& too many others to mention!

Shopping is also great, shops for all walks of life, we have the standard New Look, Top Shop, River Island, Debenhams, BHS & then going up to Cavendish House & many other designer shops located on the very exclusive promenade!.

If I didn’t live in Cheltenham I must say that I would certainly visit it. Beautiful scenery & fun to be had by all (especially those with a betting nature!)

They have plenty of hotels, ranging from a Travel lodge up to the De la bere hotel, this is a lovely hotel.. quite large and meant to be haunted!

If you fancy a weekend away & don’t fancy the same old, same old – you know, Blackpool, Skeggie, Cornwall etc. Come to Cheltenham & experience all it’s delights!!

Cheers for reading!