Serviced Apartments in Cheltenham

Discover the best activities and attractions Cheltenham has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Cheltenham Racecourse (Cheltenham Festival / Gold Cup)
Cheltenham Racecourse is famous for the annual Cheltenham Festival in March — highlighted by the Cheltenham Gold Cup — and year-round jump racing and events. It draws large national and international crowds, supporting local hotels, pubs, restaurants and transport, and creates significant seasonal employment. The racecourse is special for its atmosphere, long jump-racing tradition and social scene; it also hosts conferences and community events outside the festival, helping diversify local income and keeping Cheltenham on the sporting-tourism map.

Pittville Park and Pump Room
Pittville Park is Cheltenham’s largest Regency park centred on the restored Pittville Pump Room, an elegant example of the town’s spa heritage. Popular with families, dog walkers and festival-goers, it offers lakes, playgrounds, and historic architecture in a green, accessible setting. The park reinforces Cheltenham’s identity as a Regency spa town, attracts leisure visitors (supporting cafés and nearby businesses), and provides community wellbeing benefits through free outdoor recreation and events such as summer concerts and parkrun.

The Wilson (Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum)
The Wilson houses art, social history and archaeology collections that tell the story of Cheltenham and the wider Cotswolds, including temporary exhibitions, learning programmes and community displays. It’s popular for its mix of local heritage, accessible galleries and family-friendly activities, making culture available year-round. As a cultural hub it supports arts education, brings steady visitor footfall into town centre businesses, and helps promote Cheltenham’s creative reputation — important for tourism and local quality of life.

Montpellier Quarter & The Promenade (shopping and dining)
The Montpellier Quarter and The Promenade are Cheltenham’s chic shopping and dining districts, known for independent boutiques, upscale restaurants, cafés, galleries and Regency architecture. They’re popular for high‑quality retail, al fresco dining and a lively street atmosphere — Montpellier’s elegant streets and stylish terraces make it a destination for fashion, food and leisure. Economically, this area anchors local retail jobs, attracts day-trippers and weekend spending, and showcases local producers and hospitality, contributing strongly to the town’s commercial vibrancy.

Cheltenham Literature Festival
The Cheltenham Literature Festival, held each October, is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary festivals in the UK, bringing internationally renowned authors, journalists and thinkers to talks, debates and workshops. It’s special for its high-profile programme, intellectual buzz and opportunities for community engagement (schools programmes, open events and fringe activities). The festival generates significant visitor spending, raises Cheltenham’s cultural profile globally, supports creative industries locally, and fosters lifelong learning and civic pride among residents.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Cheltenham, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Cheltenham Spa railway station - The town’s main rail hub with frequent regional and intercity services linking Cheltenham to nearby cities and the national network; used by operators serving routes toward Gloucester/Bristol, Birmingham/the North, and London (service patterns vary by operator and time of day).
- Cheltenham Racecourse station (seasonal) - A small station used mainly for big events at the Racecourse (Cheltenham Festival and other race meetings), providing additional direct rail capacity on event days.
- Regional rail connections / operators - Services are provided by the main regional operators serving Gloucestershire (including long‑distance and regional trains), giving direct or one‑change connections to major centres across the Midlands, South West and London.
- Local bus network - A network of urban and rural bus routes links neighbourhoods, shopping/leisure areas and nearby towns; routes include frequent town services and less‑frequent rural/commuter links. Timetables and operators can change, so check current schedules for specific services.
- Park & Ride - Park & Ride facilities serve the town centre, reducing town‑centre congestion by providing regular shuttle buses from edge car parks (Arle Court is a principal site), particularly useful during large events and peak shopping periods.
- Coach services - National and regional coach operators call at or near Cheltenham for longer‑distance travel (bookable intercity coach services and private coaches for events/tours).
- Taxis and private‑hire - A mix of licensed taxis and private‑hire/app‑based services operate across Cheltenham for on‑demand local and airport transfers; accessibility and vehicle types vary by operator.

Major Highways
- M5 - Main motorway linking the area to the Midlands (north) and the South West (south), accessed via nearby junctions and the primary strategic route for longer car journeys.
- A40 - Key east–west trunk road providing routes toward Gloucester, the Cotswolds and onward toward Oxford/M40 corridor.
- A417 - Important arterial route heading south/east from the Cheltenham area toward Cirencester and connecting onward toward the M4 corridor.
- A435 - Important regional route running from Cheltenham toward Evesham and providing connections toward Worcestershire and the Midlands.
- A46 - Regional north–south link accessible from the Cheltenham area that provides connections to neighbouring towns and to wider national routes.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle lanes and routes - Cheltenham has a mixed cycling provision of on‑road cycle lanes in parts of town, traffic‑calmed residential streets, shared‑use paths through parks and along green corridors, and promoted local cycle routes; Gloucestershire County Council and Cheltenham Borough have active‑travel plans and quieter streets/wayfinding improvements to encourage cycling, while National Cycle Network routes and rural lanes provide longer‑distance connections in the surrounding countryside.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Station accessibility and passenger facilities upgrades - Recent years have seen targeted works at rail facilities to improve accessibility (e.g., step‑free access, better waiting areas and information), with further small‑scale enhancements planned or under review to improve passenger experience.
- Active travel and cycling investment - Local authority programmes have been funding improved cycle parking, upgraded on‑road/segregated cycle facilities and better walking routes as part of wider active‑travel strategies to reduce short car trips.
- Bus priority and service development - Ongoing efforts (policy measures and funding bids) aim to strengthen bus services, introduce timetable improvements and support greener bus fleets where funding allows, including measures to improve bus reliability into the town centre.
- Park & Ride enhancements - Incremental upgrades and service reviews at principal Park & Ride sites (notably Arle Court) to improve capacity, signage, accessibility and integration with town‑centre services, particularly for event periods.
- Highway safety and junction improvements - A series of local schemes (road safety, junction tweaks and resurfacing) have been completed or planned on key approaches and A‑roads around Cheltenham to improve traffic flow and safety; feasibility work continues on larger junction improvements where required.
- Events and seasonal capacity planning - Transport planning for major events (for example, race meetings and festivals) has led to improved temporary service patterns, additional trains/coaches on event days and better co‑ordination between operators and local authorities to manage peaks.
- Note on currency - Information reflects transport patterns and projects known up to mid‑2024; for the latest timetables, service changes and project progress check the relevant operators (rail/bus), Gloucestershire County Council and Cheltenham Borough Council sources.

In Cheltenham, finding the right furnished rental apartment for short term or long term rental can be challenging - especially with affordable rates all year round in Cheltenham. That is where we help companies find the right serviced apartment to stay when working away from home. Our accommodation offers you the perfect self-catering, furnished rental properties in central Cheltenham and easy-access locations nearby. Whether it be one week, one month or one year, we have flexible terms to suit you.