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You are here: Explore
Explore
** Cheltenham, along with the rest of England, is currently in lockdown. The government has ordered everyone to stay at home except for legally permitted reasons. Find out everything you need to know about lockdown in Cheltenham including restaurants offering a takeaway service; essential shops which are open and non-essential shops offering a click and collect service here - A Guide to Cheltenham During Lockdown. **
Quintessential England & Cool Britannia
Cheltenham offers an unrivalled blend of Regency history and cosmpolitan spirit in an easily accessible location. Dubbed the cultural capital of The Cotswolds, Cheltenham can be accessed via junctions 10, 11 and 11a of the M5 motorway and the A40 passes through Cheltenham between Oxford and Wales. Please note Junction 10 has restricted access and only southbound traffic can exit the motorway here. Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton, just under 4 miles away from Cheltenham, offer flights to the Isle of Man, Jersey, Belfast, Glasgow and Newcastle and also offer private aircraft charter. Find out more about travel & parking...
Reasons to visit include an enviable Festival calendar, unmatched independent and boutique shopping, an exceptional gastronomic scene that would take weeks to cover it all, and of course, our ideal location for accessing the wider Cotswolds, and many of the quintessential Cotswold towns & villages. Use our 'What's on' calendar to find events happening while you are here, or use our 'Things to do' guide to help plan your activities. Don't forget, we have a handy itinerary planner tool on the site; simply click the pink hearts or 'add to favourites' buttons to use when you come back to the page.
Of course, if you use Cheltenham as a base for the wider Cotswolds, you can also discover (and take part in) the many quirky events that happen including the Cotswold Olimpicks. There is a wealth of local attractions, with something to suit every interest. If you want to explore the area more by foot, try walking along The Cotswold Way or one of the many other footpaths within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. See our highlights 'Beyond Cheltenham', or find out more about The Cotswolds.
Don't forget, Cheltenham is also a stone’s throw of Shakespeare Country, including his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon (45 mins) and a convenient bus ride to the dreaming spires of the university city of Oxford (45 mins).
