Attractions Nearby Cheltenham, Day Trips and Excursions

(Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK)

There are all kinds of attractions within reach of Cheltenham, being connected by rail or road. These attractions range from small Cotswold villages and towns on the outskirts of Cheltenham, such as Bilbury and Bourton-on-the-Water, to major UK cities less than two-hours away, including Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford, Stroud and Swindon.

Particularly close to Cheltenham is Gloucester and its vibrant set of waterfront attractions, while just a short distance to the south-west of Gloucester is the Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Those with an interest in animals may also like to take a day trip to the ever-popular Cotswold Wildlife Park, which is just a 40-minute drive away and ideal for families.

Bath

The grandeur of the Georgian city of Bath is no secret and its crowning glory is certainly the spectacular 18th-century Royal Crescent - a residential curving road of elegant houses, overlooking Victoria Park and the Royal Avenue. Tourists will no doubt enjoy exploring the central attractions, such as the Roman Baths, the Jane Austen Centre, the Victoria Art Gallery, the Holborne Museum and the Bath Abbey. Shoppers will also favour Bath's extensive selection of shops, many of which are housed in attractive period buildings and tucked away down charming back streets. From Cheltenham, Bath can be reached in just over an hour and lies some 88 km / 55 miles to the south-west.

Birmingham

Located some 96 km / 60 miles to the north of Cheltenham, Birmingham is a huge metropolis and the second-largest city in the whole of England. Many modern developments are spread around Birmingham, including its glittery Bullring shopping complex, while areas of the city centre remain firmly in the past, such as its charming Town Hall and its imposing statue of Queen Victoria, next to Chamberlain Square. Attractions are plentiful in the city and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is one of the best, while the towering spire of St. Philip's Cathedral dominates the area surrounding Colmore Row. Birmingham's extensive network of trams make sightseeing both easy and inexpensive, with day passes being available.

Bristol

The vibrancy of Bristol is almost unrivalled in south-westerly England and this city has bags to offer in the way of quality tourist attractions, being around 69 km / 43 miles to the south-west of Cheltenham. Next to its famous Clifton Suspension Bridge (designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel), Bristol Zoo is one of the leading family attractions and is filled with exotic creatures, with its state-of-the-art penguin enclosure being particularly impressive. The waterfront of Bristol is also filled with exciting sights, with the restored Victorian-era SS Great Britain steamship being amongst the best. The shopping scene in Bristol is exceptional and includes both the recently opened Cabot Circus complex, and the out-of-town Cribbs Causeway mall.

Cirencester

Cirencester is a peaceful and very unpretentious town and stands just a mere 30 minutes south of Cheltenham. In Roman times, Cirencester was known as Corinium and was second only in terms of size and importance to London itself. These days, the attractions of Cirencester tend to be more low key, with the recently revamped Corinium Museum and its Roman artefacts being highly recommended, together with the Brewery Arts Centre.

Coventry

Although Coventry would never rank as the UK's most beautiful city, it is full of interesting attractions and is only a little more than an hour to the north-west of Cheltenham. Coventry's churches, cathedral remains and innumerable museums form the main places of interest and include the Holy Trinity Church, St. Michael's Cathedral, the Priory Visitor Centre, the Herbert Art Gallery, and the Museum of British Road Transport.

Frome

Although the market town of Frome is small, its historical interest is quite enormous. Frome dates back more than 1,300 years and is home to a surprisingly high concentration of periods buildings and structures, such as those along Cheap Street, where a small stream dissects the cobblestones. Rook Lane Chapel is a further attraction, as is the Frome Bridge, which was constructed in the mid-17th century and is lined with shops. Frome is just under 110 km / 69 miles from Cheltenham and warrants a day trip if you have the time.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Gloucester

Gloucester is the county capital and is only around 13 km / 8 miles to the south-west of Cheltenham, making it appear almost as a suburb. Day trips to Gloucester are therefore extremely popular, with tourists coming to see its wonderful Gothic cathedral and recently restored docks, which served as the biggest inland port in the whole of Britain during the 19th century. A number of Victorian warehouses line the waterfront, with the largest housing the National Waterways Museum.

Leicester

Situated a little under two hours to the north-east of Cheltenham, a day excursion to Leicester is quite possible if you are prepared for an early start. The tourism industry in Leicester is very much on the up, and the city is constantly trying to reinvent itself, promoting its rich industrial heritage and historical attractions, such as Belvoir Castle. The National Space Centre, Jewry Wall and the Newarke Houses Museum, which are all especially enticing.

London

England's proud and busy capital city, London is known throughout the world as a global city of commerce, finance and tourism, and is around a two-hour drive south of Cheltenham. Many of the city's attractions are particularly famous and iconic, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Tower Bridge. After a day's sightseeing, a cruise along the River Thames is a pleasant way to spend an evening, with a choice of boat trips available from outside of the Tower of London.

Malmesbury

Malmesbury is located in north-west Wiltshire and is only 50 minutes from Cheltenham, being directly to the south. This appealing hilltop town is a good place for a spot of souvenir shopping and features some interesting handicraft stores. Malmesbury Abbey is the main attraction here and started life as a monastery in the 7th century.

Nottingham

Famed for its tales of Robin Hood and the evil sheriff, Nottingham is a very popular tourist city and makes the most of its legend, being some 168 km / 105 miles north-east of Cheltenham. Sherwood Forest is still in existence, although lies on the outskirts of the city and is considerably smaller these days, while Nottingham Castle stands in the centre and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and views, but is more like a grand mansion than an actual fortress. The Caves of Nottingham are one of the city's most unusual attractions and date back to medieval times, while Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is actually amongst England's oldest public houses and its quirky interior is certainly sure to surprise visitors.

Oxford

Oxford is known the world over for its magnificent university complex and is within easy reach of Cheltenham, being just 66 km / 41 miles to the south-west and well connected by road. The attractions of Oxford really must be experienced first hand and visitors to this historical and friendly city will be able to find sights and shops spread all around the city centre, before heading to the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse and enjoying an afternoon punt along the interconnecting canals and rivers.

Stratford upon Avon

The birthplace of legendary bard William Shakespeare, Stratford upon Avon is not even an hour from Cheltenham and has rich pickings for tourists. Stratford upon Avon certainly promotes its Shakespeare attractions, which include the house where he was born and nearby Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where he also once lived. And of course, Stratford's very own Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is always on hand performing plays at the Courtyard Theatre, with David Tennant recently starring here as Hamlet himself. However, be warned, tickets can be hard to come by and may need to be booked well in advance of your visit.

Stroud

One of the definite highlights within the southern Cotswolds, Stroud is approximately 22 km / 14 miles to the south-west of Cheltenham and once enjoyed worldwide fame for its historic wool industry. Today, Stroud has a number of interesting sights worth searching out - namely its Tudor town hall, hilly streets and regular Shambles Market, which is held each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Stroud Museum is home to the town's main artefacts.

Swindon

Swindon is a large town and can be found 48 km / 30 miles to the south-east of Cheltenham, part-way between Reading and Bristol. The main attractions in this town tend to be its shops and discount stores, although the Swindon Museum and the Swindon Art Gallery are worthy of merit. Train enthusiasts will likely come to Swindon to pay a visit to its Great Western Railway Museum, which resides on Kemble Drive.

Tewkesbury

Rich in Tudor architecture and heritage, Tewkesbury is a quaint town, with old timbered buildings appearing to almost buckle under the weight. The streets and lanes of Tewkesbury are particularly winding and add much character to the town, being amongst England's most impressive. The medieval abbey church is the town's premier attraction and Tewkesbury Abbey has Benedictine origins. Nearby, the John Moore Countryside Museum on Church Street adds further interest. Tewkesbury is only 16 km / 10 miles from Cheltenham and by car the journey will rarely take more than 20 minutes.

Weston Super Mare

Lying alongside the Bristol Channel, Weston Super Mare is to be found on the outskirts of Bristol and next to Clevedon, some 96 km / 60 miles south-west of Cheltenham. The attractions of Weston Super Mare tend to relate to its expansive beachfront and in the summer, the sands are thronging with tourists, who come here to sunbathe, ride donkeys and visit the Sea Life Aquarium. Weston Super Mare's pier recently made the headlines after it suffered considerable fire damage, although its new and sleek design is all set to take this beach resort well into the 21st century.