Cheltenham Overview
Cheltenham is a town located just to the north of the Cotswolds which is a famous area of green land with picturesque hills and meadows alongside a mixture of small villages, grand residences and castles. The town holds many festivals every year with most of them having national recognition, one of the most famous festivals that are held here is the Cheltenham festival which is all about horse racing and is held every March. The Wilson is the towns museum & art gallery and is home to an internationally significant collection of quality art collections, there is a wide variety of art here as well as exciting exhibitions. Gustav Holst is a very famous composer, he was born in this town and his birthplace has now been turned into a museum that is all about his life and his music, there is only two composer birthplace museums in the country and Cheltenham has one.
Things to do in Cheltenham
There is a plethora of festivals that take place in the town; Cheltenham race festival, Jazz, Music and Science & Literature, these festivals attract people from all over the country as well as some from abroad. The festivals are extremely well done and if you live there you can apply to help out as well as potentially be a part of the festival. There is one main cinema in the town which boasts 11 screens and is always showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters and all the newest films. Just a stone throw from the cinema is Hollywood Bowl which is a bowling alley with 16 lanes meaning even at its busiest time you may still be able to bowl with your friends. One of the best ways to learn about the city you will be living in is to see it from above, if you climb to the top of Cleeve Hill you will be struck by beautiful views that stretch for miles. Shopping is a must when living in Cheltenham due to the extensive range of different shops ranging from large department stores to small independent boutiques. The main shopping centre is the Regent Arcade which is the towns only indoor shopping destination which means if the weather is rubbish then you are still able to shop until your hearts content.
Sport in Cheltenham
Cheltenham Race Course is a key part in the sport of this town, asides from that there is a professional football team named Cheltenham FC who play at Whaddon road. The stadium has a capacity of over 7000 which makes for a great atmosphere on matchday, the university also works close with the football club and occasionally offer students discounted tickets so keep an eye out for that! There is one main leisure centre in the town and it has a wide range of facilities for you to use, from swimming, gym, spa, indoor sports hall plus many more.
Escape Cheltenham
Just to the south of the town is the Cotswolds which is the perfect place if you wish to escape the stresses of university life. There are plenty of walking paths as well as cycle paths and off-road mountain bike areas for those who enjoy it a little more treacherous. Roughly an hour to the north is Birmingham which is a city with a bustling culture and lots to do, it is also known for having a great nightlife if you wish to travel that far.
Transport in Cheltenham
The M5 runs straight from the town and goes from Bristol to Birmingham which are both cities with great transport links to other major cities across the UK. National coach services run from these cities and direct trains run to Birmingham and Bristol.
