Nestled on the edge of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham blends heritage and culture and is home to vibrant annual events including Cheltenham Festival at the racecourse.
Groups can see a varied collection of artwork, see the birthplace of a renowned composer and enjoy a wide variety of culinary options. Group-friendly accommodation options are available, giving groups plenty of time to experience the best Cheltenham and the surrounding area has to offer.
Morning
10:30am: The Wilson Art Gallery & Museum
Cheltenham’s art gallery and museum houses an internationally significant collection including changing displays of Designated Arts and Crafts Movement work, fine art collections, and The Paper Store, which is home to fascinating archives relating to Antarctic explorer Edward A. Wilson, Cheltenham’s history and the Emery Walker Library.
Groups can book a guided tour of The Wilson to discover its history and collections. Alternatively, Arts and Crafts Movements tours explore the Arts and Crafts Movement collection, with a 45-minute tour led by experienced guide and speaker Dave Walton.
12pm: Tour of Holst Victorian House
Enjoy a tour of the birthplace of composer Gustav Holst and see the piano he used to compose The Planets. Discover how he developed into a world-class composer by listening to original manuscripts written when he was a schoolboy. Experience his modest middle-class family life through Victorian rooms and learn about Regency Cheltenham. Group bookings are available for up to 25 people.
Alternatively, head to nearby Pittville Park and enjoy a walk around the largest ornamental park in Cheltenham to see the Grade I Pittville Pump Room and lakes before regrouping for lunch.
Lunch
A choice of restaurants are available for lunch, all welcoming groups to enjoy varied cuisine.
Located close to The Wilson Art Gallery & Museum, Nagomi is an authentic Japanese, Korean BBQ and hot pot restaurant. Each table is equipped with a smokeless grill to cook cuts on, offering a interactive dining experience. You can also have your own Hot Pot cooked at the table, with the choice of two options: Japanese Shabu Shabu which has a refined flavour and Korean Budae Jjigae with punchy flavours of Kimchi and Chilli.
Bistro Du Vin at Hotel du Vin has a menu inspired by home-style cooking with slow-cooked foods and French and British favourites. During warmer months groups can enjoy an al fresco lunch on the terrace.
Southern Italian-style cuisine is available at Settebello in Belgrave House. The à la carte menu includes homemade fresh pastas and the private dining room, The Imperiale, can comfortably seat up to 20 guests.
Getting to Cheltenham
Groups can get to Cheltenham via coach and during quieter periods coaches can stay in bays one to four at Royal Wells bus station on a free, first come first served basis. On weekends, coaches can drop off in the bays and park at Kingsville Road.
Afternoon
2pm: Sudeley Castle & Gardens
Open from March to late November, Sudeley Castle & Gardens is home to 1,000 years of English royalty, romance, ruin and revival. Groups can explore exhibitions, gardens, castle rooms and the final resting place of Tudor Queen, Katherine Parr, the sixth and surviving wife of Henry VIII.
Group benefits include discounted rates, one-to-one service from a dedicated group bookings coordinator, a free place for the tour leader, free coach parking and group dining options. Guided tours cover the history of Sudeley as well as its historic grounds.
4:30pm: Tour with The Cheltenham Promenaders
Make your way back to the city for a guided tour with Philip dressed as the 18th century Manx sea captain Henry Skillicorne. Hear anecdotes and stories about the many famous people who lived or visited the area including Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, the Duke of Wellington, and Gustav Holst.
Evening
6pm: Dinner at The Beefy Boys
Owned by four friends from Herefordshire, the laid-back restaurant serves up award-winning burgers made with 21-day-age Herefordshire Beef. A variety of burgers are available, served up with indulgent sides including poutine and chicken tenders. Groups should get in touch in advance to book a table and a deposit is required for group reservations.
7pm onwards: Time for a show
The Everyman Theatre hosts a wide variety of performances year-round, from ballet and opera to comedy and live music.
The Victorian venue welcomes touring regional productions, including Mean Girls, The Choir of Man and Annie, and groups of ten or more can enjoy discounted tickets, theatre tours and talks.
Extend your stay…
Cheltenham is home to a number of group-friendly accommodation options, allowing visitors to stay overnight and make the most of their time.
- Sudeley Castle & Gardens Holiday Cottages - 17 properties ranging from restored ancient buildings to new cottages built in Cotswold stone.
- The Queens Hotel, Cheltenham - built in 1838 on the original site of Cheltenham’s Sherborne Spa, the hotel has 84 rooms.
- Leonardo Hotel, Cheltenham - conveniently located for M5 access with 122 bedrooms, a heated indoor swimming pool and sauna.
Day two
Before heading home from a packed itinerary in Cheltenham, head to Cheltenham Racecourse station, which has ample coach parking, and board the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway for a relaxing journey through Cotswold countryside in restored heritage carriages.
Along the route enjoy a number of heritage touches, including the discovery coach and model railway displays at Winchcombe and a behind-the-scenes look at locomotives and carriages undergoing restoration at Toddington.
Discounted rates are available for pre-booked groups, along with reserved seating to allow groups to sit together. Refreshments can be enjoyed at the tea rooms situated at Winchcombe, Broadway and Toddington Stations, or on the move from the buffet car.
For more ideas and inspiration in Cheltenham, go to www.visitcheltenham.com.
