A Tourist Eye view of Cheltenham

Sat in the beautiful surroundings of the Cotswolds, the town is a great cultural centre and attracts a number of tourists each year as well as locals travelling from their nearby areas. Whether they come for the striking Georgian architecture and boutique shopping, for the famous race course and its packed calendar of events or for one of the many festivals, there is something for everyone in this town and activities run throughout the year. The Cheltenham tourist industry is booming and the town is taking steps to enhance the experience for all. The neighbouring town of Gloucester has embraced the use of technology in its bid to attract more visitors and to enable them to move around the town with more ease. Digital Signage Solutions are utilised for this purpose, to be able to show tourists how to manoeuvre themselves around the town and as an advertising platform for local attractions, restaurants and other businesses that want to appealing to the incoming visitors.

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The Great Outdoors

One thing that this area is very well known for is its horse racing. Prestbury Park, home to the Gold Cup, the most desirable and prestigious award in National Hunt Racing, is undergoing a £45 million redevelopment of its facilities to better serve the huge number of visitors attending each year. Each March, the entirety of the horse racing world seems to appear in the town, watching to see if their chosen horse will cross the line first and bring home the title. It’s not just horse racing, though: there’s also the annual Cricket Festival and an annual marathon, whilst other local sporting events run throughout the year.

A more sedate enjoyment of the outdoors can be had in one of the many parks. Montpellier Gardens, Pittville Park and Imperial Square have excellent reputations as examples of natural beauty, perfect for leisurely walks in the afternoon sunshine or for relaxing with a book. Alternatively, the Cotswold area itself is full of glorious walking opportunities, such as Leckhampton Hill and Cleeve Hill, which offer spectacular views over the rolling countryside.

Culture and Style

There are a wide range of festivals held in the town, from jazz to science, literature to ballroom and Latin dancing. An eclectic mix, there is a reputation for creativity and as such there are also many more unusual events on offer, like the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain and the Midsummer Fiesta. Over at the well-established festival of Wychwood, a popular music event, new acts are being regularly announced into the line-up.

As for food and drink, there is a fantastic selection in town. From the high end, world renowned restaurant Le Champignon Sauvage through to independent eateries plus popular chain restaurants like Carluccio’s and Turtle Bay, there are options at every price point and in a world of cuisines too. Local and independent boutique eateries specialise in using local and fresh ingredients, making the most of the excellent countryside location and wealth of specialist growers producing fine quality natural foods. There are also a number of al fresco and outdoor dining opportunities, combining the best of the area’s fine architectural beauty and clear skies with the great restaurant dishes on offer. The second and last Friday of each month is host to the popular Farmer’s Market, whilst elsewhere there are whisky and wine tastings available. The gastronomically minded will always find something to suit them here.

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