Going to the Cheltenham Festival? Read our travel guide on what else to see and do in Cheltenham whilst you’re betting on the horses.
It’s one of the biggest days on the UK horse racing calendar – The Cheltenham Festival.
And while you’ll have your mind firmly on finding hints and tips on the Cheltenham Festival and placing bets like http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/events/champion-hurdle and dreaming of winning big, you should definitely make time to explore all the town of Cheltenham has to offer when races aren’t on.
Walk up Cleeve Hill
If you’re looking to stretch your legs, there’s no better walk than up Cleeve Hill. There is no doubt the Cotswolds is one of the prettiest places in the UK, and you can enjoy this view from the top of Cleeve Hill.
Photo by Daviddje
Commanding views over Cheltenham, you can actually see the racecourse from there, not to mention the River Severn and Wales – that is how clear the view really is.
Stroll around Hidcote Gardens
If walking up a hill doesn’t sound appealing but you still want to stretch your legs and give your eyes something pretty to look at, Hidcote gardens is a great alternative.
Photo by Dave Catchpole
Part of the National Trust, Hidcote Gardens is a gardener’s haven. It’s also a great place to have a spot of tea. Better yet, take home a bottle of apple juice, made on site from the apples in the garden.
Catch a show at the Everyman Theatre in the evening
Always a great evening out, the Everyman Theatre hosts a wide variety of shows from plays to magic shows.
During the Cheltenham Festival, you can see We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, an adaptation of the award winning book. As the title suggests, follow the cast as they go on a bear quest!
Also showing is A Room For One, the unbelievable true story where The Queen is forced to hide her identity in a pub after being stranded in the snow!
Gloucester Cathedral
The architecture of Gloucester Cathedral is nothing short of stunning. Hard to believe the cathedral was built almost 1,500 years ago.
Photo by garyullah
The cathedral offers a number of great tours and workshops. Guided tours are a great way of finding out more about the cathedral or you could go underground with the Crypt tour. And if you can climb 269 steps, you should definitely try the tower tour which offers panoramic views over the town.
Book a session at Chapel Spa
If the highs and lows of the racecourse have you feeling tired and mentally drained, book some time in at Chapel Spa.
Feel your aches and stresses wash away with seven treatment rooms including reflexology, facials and manicures.
Enter a calm state in the candle-lit relaxation area or enjoy the hydrotherapy pool. Still thinking about that horse which was just beaten by the post? Don’t sweat it. Or do, in the steam room. Or if you just need to let off steam in other ways (perhaps you had a really bad day at the racecourse), Chapel Spa offers a gym too.
