Quality of Life
There has never been a better time to call Cheltenham home. Described by the New York Times as undergoing a cultural renaissance and dubbed the Cultural Capital of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is regularly voted amongst the best places to live in the UK – most recently by The Sunday Times, which considered it to be the best place to live in the South West of England. The town has a distinctly continental feel, with its cafe culture, independent restaurants and tree lined parks.
Renowned for its shopping, theatre and festivals, Cheltenham is truly a year-round destination, with something for all interests and tastes. With fantastic events and festivals taking place throughout the year – including the Times & Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, plus the world famous Cheltenham Festival – the highlight of the horseracing calendar and one of the top five sporting events in the country, it’s no surprise that Cheltenham is rightly known at ‘The Festival Town’.
Moving to Cheltenham
Cheltenham has all the attractions of a metropolitan city with easy access to some of the most stunning countryside in the country. Cheltenham has one of the strongest housing markets in the region, with plans for a further 3000+ new homes in the next few years.
Quaint cottages, modernised Regency townhouses and a wide choice of family homes make Cheltenham a place of choice when looking for a home. Whether it’s your head or your heart that rules when it comes to choosing a place to live, Cheltenham wins on both fronts.
A town within a park
As part of the Cotswolds, we’re known for our beautiful surrounding countryside. However, Cheltenham has plenty of greenery within the town – an abundance of parks and gardens providing glorious open space which is ideal for both relaxation and recreation.
At different points in the year our parks also act as flexible venues for the many outdoor events that take place in the town, such as the Literature, Jazz and Science Festivals as well as Cheltenham Food Festival and the Midsummer Fiesta.
Cultural Capital
Cheltenham plays host to some of the world’s most famous festivals. There’s the world’s longest-running literary festival, The Cheltenham Literature Festival, along with festivals of science, music and jazz; as well as the fourth largest sporting event in the UK – The Festival, home of horse racing’s legendary Gold Cup.
The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum displays a host of permanent collections as well as an exceptional calendar of international and national touring exhibits across four floors of exhibition space. Cheltenham is also the birthplace of composer Gustav Holst and the story of his life and time in Cheltenham is told at the Holst Victorian House.
There’s an incredible variety of event spaces in Cheltenham too including the Town Hall and Everyman, Playhouse and Bacon Theatres, all offering entertainment from West End performances to musical and comedy acts.
Leisure & Nightlife
Cheltenham has a myriad of bars and restaurants, with new ones seemingly popping up every week. From trendy independent cocktail bars to more traditional pubs and from Masterchef finalists to Michelin stars, it’s no surprise that Cheltenham’s foodie scene is held in such high regard.
If you want to make a night of it there are plenty of late night bars and nightclubs to dance the night away. Cheltenham is also a Purple Flag town, meaning that it has been recognised nationally as being amongst the safest nights out.
Head for Montpellier, The Suffolks, Regent Street or Bath Road for a more independent vibe – or the The Brewery Quarter, where old meets new with branded eateries, bars, cinema, indoor golf and bowling alley.
Making Cheltenham your home
If you have children, you’ll find top-class education here, with high achieving secondary and primary state schools. We also have some of the finest private establishments including Cheltenham Ladies College, Cheltenham College and Dean Close which see both national and international students choose Cheltenham for its academic opportunities.
The town hosts lots of free events for kids throughout the year, whether it be part of one of the festivals or in one of the many parks and open spaces, from sport to arts and crafts. The Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) also runs a varied and rich programme of events for residents and visitors alike.