Location: Cheltenham
Top Things to do in Cheltenham
Top Restaurants in Cheltenham
What to do and see in Cheltenham, England: The Best Nature & Parks
Cheltenham was just your average, sleepy town until the discovery of a spring in 1716, after which it became Britain's most popular spa town. (Like Palm Springs without the casinos.) Local Cheltonians have a reputation for being wealthy and respectable, and a walk along the Promenade will give you a first-class view of their wonderful houses, shops and gardens. After taking in the waters at the Pittville Pump Room (great name for a spa), check out the Art Gallery and Museum to learn about the social history of Cheltenham.
Restaurants in Cheltenham
1. Walks With Hawks
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 321 reviews
We offer a range of packages giving you a rare opportunity to handle and fly a variety of Birds Of Prey here in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire the heart of The Cotswolds. Groups are intentionally kept small, this ensures everyone will get plenty of hands on time with the birds. Max 6 participants, although larger groups catered for on request. Therefore our experiences should not be compared to those found on the discount sites, where groups tend to be very large. Our sessions are designed to give you a more personal experience whether you choose our Hawk Walk, Owl encounter or one of our other packages our aim is to give you some very special memories to cherish.
Reviewed By Extraordinary706245
Today was all about making treasured memories..... Thanks to Clare from Walks with hawks I was able to give my parents an experience I never thought possible. My mother is physically disabled with limited mobility and severe ataxia (uncontrollable shakes) Clare was so patient and kind to my mum and involved her completely and made her feel confident to fully participate. With mum's physical challenges this was truly magical to see. I was amazed to see mum completely at ease to hold all the birds, and have them fly to her, including the magnificent Hope, the blue Chilean Eagle. Dad was in awe and blown away by spectacular birds. The whole experience was fabulous from start to finish, Clare's knowledge and passion for her beautiful birds is infectious. Clare proved to be the most attentive guide with us all and adapted the experience so that we all could enjoy it to the full. 5 star service with memories that we will treasure forever
2. Pittville Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 837 reviews
Reviewed By E5743MRcarolinef
Brilliant couple of hours for kids under 10! Large climbing frames, bouncing mats and zip wire. Nice little sand play area too with water feature. Bring some food along and feed the ducks/swans too and have a picnic in the park. Wonderful cafe with great choice of snacks for kids and adults and range of sandwiches too at great prices. Toilets on site too !
3. Colesbourne Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By 564MarkB - Wareham, United Kingdom
This is a great snowdrop garden and such a wonderful place to visit on a sunny day. Children under 16 do not pay to enter which is nice. The gardens are set in parkland with a mix of woodland, grass area and a large lake. Snowdrops and other spring flowers are everywhere and so many varieties of snowdrop - which are all identified with small signs which helps. The children enjoyed the park as there was plenty of space to run around. Highly recommended place to visit to enjoy snowdrops.
4. Imperial Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By SoigneDestinations - London, United Kingdom
Lovely park and gardens in the center of town. They have a garden cafe and bar in the warmer months and a gorgeous Ferris Wheel with views over Cheltenham.
5. The Honeybourne Line
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Mithos7 - Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Okay, Okay so it's not as prestigious as the New York High Line or Paris' Coulée Verte René-Dumont, but the Honeybourne Line is a wonderful design idea that connects large parts of Cheltenham together on a pleasant walk through nature. The area spans Cheltenham Railway station, all the way to the Prince of Wales stadium. Bloor Homes developed the land at the end of the line and cleverly incorporated it into their housing estate essentially extended / connecting the route. There is also another smart blending by Taylor Wimpey at the back of their estate and their fairly recent development on Gloucester Road. Well done to both. Throughout the walk there are multiple "exits" and "entrances", allowing people to join the line from different points, or exit whenever you need to. These connecting points will take you up to or down to the road. Some are fully accessible, others are quite steep so you might have to find an accessible one if you have mobility issues. One of the exits / entrances takes you to Winston Churchill Memorial Gardens, which is a lovely "stop off" point. Nice play-area for the kids and large space to have a picnic. There is also one near Waitrose if you want to grab some coffee (or need the toilet!) etc. The walk itself from end to end will likely take 40 to 60 minutes depending on your pace. Much longer if you stop and admire the "attractions" on the way. There are various play areas and gym type equipment dotted down the line, so plenty to keep kids entertained, or provide a pit stop for a rest or a snack. It's a very green space so expect to see wildlife going about their day, lots of birds and today we saw a Slow Worm basking in the sun. Large sections combine pure nature with trees and natural planting flanking the sides of the embankment. It's very quiet and hidden away, so it's very easy to forget you're only a stones throw away from a busy road during the entire walk. There are also occasional "modern" areas such as the bridges. The route is fully tarmacked and fairly flat throughout and provides good access for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes. The path is shared by runners and cyclists alike, so you do need to be wary of people overtaking / passing by especially when it's quite busy. There are a number of bridges which you pass under or go over. Each is different and gives character to the different styles of Cheltenham. Some are modern and architectural such as the connecting bridge by Waitrose. A number pass over busy roads which you can step up onto that gives you a large unrestricted view of Cheltenham from up high. This is also where most of the "art" is located, with some talented artists displaying some very eye catching work. The works are largely sophisticated and very child friendly. So not your run of the mill defacing / pointless graffiti. All of this creates a really varied and enjoyable walk. It's functional, providing quick and pleasant passage if you're traveling through to specific areas of the town. It also attracts tourists / sightseers as you will often see people snapping pictures of the art and admiring the views from the bridges. As it can be a very secluded space at times I do understand other peoples comments about choosing not to use the path at night. Personally we've only used the line during the day / early morning / evening. Never had any problems or seen anything worrying at these times.
6. Hesters Way Park
7. Montpellier Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By freddiedoncaster
Whilst visiting Cheltenham in March, I made a point of exploring Montpellier Gardens.A lovely tranquil spot in the heart of this wonderful spa town. Lots of seating to watch the world go by, with an abundance of greenery. I would definitely recommend a look!
8. The Play Farm
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 91 reviews
The Play Farm is Cheltenham's largest Soft Play, fully refurbished in January 2018 with extended Play Frames in Baby and Toddler areas while a sensory light area wows the littlest ones. We take great pride in our restaurant/Cafe offering adults and children's food that's a cut above the rest. We also offer children's themed birthday parties that have a great reputation for miles around.
Reviewed By kungpowkitten76 - Hanham, United Kingdom
Booked online and visited today after so many months of softplays being closed and was very happy to say I was totally confident with the social distance practices in place. Reduced capacity, hand sanitisers at various stations throughout and adults wearing masks when on the move. My son thoroughly enjoyed himself and I thoroughly enjoyed the amazing coffee, coffee and walnut cake and brioche fish finger sandwich!
9. Webbs Garden Centres
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 10 reviews
10. Art Playground
Interactive art projects for adults and children alike, Cheltenham, UK Art Playground, a new social enterprise, encourages creativity and curiosity in adults and children alike. We create interactive art projects and places. Check out our website for all of our upcoming events, workshops & opportunities.
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