Cheltenham Spa Train Station

Cheltenham is a market town located on the edge of the Cotswolds; an area of outstanding natural beauty, and halfway between Bristol and Birmingham.

The town’s earliest appearance in a written record is from 803, and it appeared again in the Domesday Book in 1086. In 1226, the town was granted a market charter. This distinguished the settlement from a village or city and allowed it to host regular markets.

Cheltenham was already known for its mineral springs in the early 18th century, but it was Captain Henry Skillicorne who exploited and developed this natural resource through the mid-1700s. He succeeded in attracting the rich and powerful to the town, culminating in a visit from King George III in 1788. Other notable visitors included Lewis Carroll, Samuel Johnson, and the German-British composer George Frideric Handel.

Opened in 1840, the railway station was originally named Cheltenham. In 1925, the station was renamed by the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway company to Cheltenham Spa; as a testament to its influence and heritage.

Today the station serves a variety of routes such as Birmingham to Cheltenham Spa, York to Cheltenham Spa and Plymouth to Cheltenham Spa. If you want, you can even take a day trip from Bath to Cheltenham Spa to compare the waters.

Things to do in Cheltenham

The first thing you will want to do in Cheltenham is find somewhere to stay. Of course, Cheltenham offers a range of well-known chain hotels, but you also have a selection of wonderful independent places to stay. There’s the Queens Hotel on the Promenade and The George Hotel in the centre of town, to name a couple.

If you’re visiting Cheltenham there’s a good chance you are here to experience one of the town’s beautiful spas. Ellenborough Park Hotel and Spa is only three miles from Cheltenham Spa station, while The Greenway Hotel and Spa is under four miles away.

Cheltenham is also a town of culture! It hosts several festivals each year, celebrating everything from sport to science. It was named one of the UK’s most musical cities with good reason; the town hosts the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain.

Other events on the cultural calendar include the Cheltenham Literature and Science Festival, the Cheltenham Folk Festival and the Cheltenham Paranormal Festival. Cheltenham has a festival for every occasion!

The town is home to the Cheltenham Racecourse and plays host to three football teams as well as several Rugby teams. Cheltenham is also home to England’s Croquet Association and one of the sport’s biggest clubs.

Other attractions unique to Cheltenham include the Holst Victorian House on Clarence Road and the Promenade; which was created during the Regency period as part of the development of the Cheltenham Spa.

If you’re looking for something to entertain the kids, there are plenty of options for them too. The Cheltenham Science Centre in Edinburgh Place will give them hands-on learning and fun. The Brewery Quarter is also home to The Play Farm which is suitable for children up to twelve years old. If you want to get competitive challenge them to a game of bowling at Hollywood Bowl.

From Michelin Star restaurant Le Champignon Sauvage to world-class street food, Cheltenham will have something delicious to offer you. Treat your taste buds at The Coconut Tree or Mowgli Street food for something away from the mainstream, or choose from a family-favourite chain. There’s a treat for every taste in Cheltenham.