Cheltenham,A Spa Town
An Anglo-Saxon settlement, Cheltenham - possibly from Celtenhomme, 'the town under the hill' - lies in the southwest of England and was the site of a monastery as early as 803. Alfred the Great wrote admiringly of the peace of the settlement on the banks of the River Chelt, and by the 13th century Cheltenham was noted for its fairs and markets. In 1716 the town's sudden rise from obscurity began when - according to legend - a flock of pigeons discovered a spring on the site of what is now the Ladies College. The locals, noticing that the pigeons seemed to thrive, tried the waters for themselves and found that they eased many of the disorders that afflicted 18th century man. Local entrepreneurs soon realised that there was money to be made from this gift of nature and started to develop the town in order to attract the wealthy and famous. Amongst the early visitors to take the spa waters were distinguished people like Handel and Samuel Johnson. The event which ensured the success of Cheltenham as a Spa town was the visit of George III in 1788. 'Farmer George' as he was popularly known lodged with his entourage at Bayshill and after 'taking the waters' strolled around the town with his family, meeting the populace. Although Cheltenham's popularity as a Spa town waned, the town itself continued to prosper but this was due more to the efforts of a growing band of fine craftsmen than the 'fashionable set'.This tradition of craftsmanship continues today thanks to the presence of many high-tech companies such as Dowty and Smiths Industries.

After the Second World War, the town's fortunes picked up again with the establishment of the Government Communications Headquarters (G.C.H.Q) which has become one of the West's most important secret surveillance cent res (while maintaining the fiction that it was just part of the Foreign Office). Cheltenham is a now a thriving commercial centre as well as being a popular destination for tourists. Many large organisations are based here including Gulf Oil, Eagle Star, U.C.C.A.S. and the Countryside Commission to name but a few.

Cheltenham, Centre for the Cotswolds
Cheltenham makes an ideal base for anyone wishing to explore the Cotswolds, one of England's most beautiful areas with its rolling hills, green valleys and charming villages. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds is distinctive for its honey-coloured limestone rock which has been used in the construction of the many cottages and other buildings which make the villages of the Cotswolds so enchanting. The Cotswolds has something to please everybody. One of the best ways to see the Cotswolds is to walk the Cotswold Way which wends its 100 mile way through scenic countryside and idyllic villages offering superb views of the surrounding area. One of the places of special interest on this route is the Devil's Chimney just outside Cheltenham which offers spectacular views of the town and the Severn valley over to the Malvern Hills. The following list of villages is just the tip of the iceberg, the adventurous traveller who wanders off the main roads will find countless hamlets and small villages every bit as charming as these here.

Chipping Camden, with many buildings dating from the reign of James I is a fine example of a Cotswold market town. Nearby you will find Hidcote Manor Gardens, Batsford Arboretum and Broadway Tower Country Park.

Stow-on-the-Wold at 800 feet is the highest town in the Cotswolds and its market square was once home to annual sheep fairs. Nowadays Stow is more famous for antique shops, but a horse fair is still held here twice a year. Bibury is, some would say, the archetypal Cotswold village with its clear, trout filled river, traditional stone buildings and the famous Arlington Row cottages.

Bourton-on-the-Water is probably the best known of all Cotswold villages. Attractions here include a Model Village, a Motor Museum and a Model Railway. Many of the houses in Winchcombe date back to the 17th and 18th centuries when it was a centre of the wool and tobacco trades. Nearby Sudeley Castle was the home of Katherine Parr (one of Henry VIII's wives). Cirencester (Corinium in Roman times) has in its museum a fine collection of Roman antiquities and Cirencester Park is well worth a visit. Snowshill near Broadway is home to Snowshill Manor, now owned and operated by the National Trust. This delightful house contains a vast collection of hand-made articles collected from all over the world by the late owner.

Cheltenham, Full of Special Events
Shopping in Cheltenham is a pleasure thanks to the wide variety of quality shops and the abundance of cafes, restaurants and tea shops will give you the chance to relax and regain your strength! Of special interest are the Regent Arcade with its fascinating Wishing Fishing Clock and Beechwood Place, Cheltenham's latest shopping mall. Cheltenham's International Festival of Music is held each July and has become one of the best regarded music festivals in the world. Performances and talks are given at various venues in the town and in recent years a well supported Fringe Festival has added lively variety to the main event. No year would be complete without the Cheltenham County Cricket Festival when Gloucestershire play host to other first class and often international teams. This festival which has been held since 1872 is hosted by Cheltenham College and the splendid College buildings make for an unusual but pleasing setting for county cricket. A relatively new event is the Cheltenham Festival of Literature supported by The Independent. During the ten days of this festival, visitors are treated to readings by famous authors and celebrities as well as topical discussions. All year round, the beautifully restored Everyman Theatre hosts productions by renowned theatre groups while the Playhouse Theatre is the base for Cheltenham's many amateur companies. The Town Hall hosts many concerts and exhibitions including the popular Ideal Home Exhibition. Every March, Cheltenham is gripped by Gold Cup fever. The National Hunt festival held at Cheltenham Racecourse just to the north of the town is the premier event in the National Hunt racing calendar and attracts visitors from all over the world. The course itself is set in a natural bowl with the Cotswold Hills making a spectacular backdrop. Apart from the regular race meetings, the racecourse is home to many events throughout the year.