Thinking about moving to the beautiful spa town of Cheltenham? You’re not alone!
Cheltenham has long been a popular place to live and work, with people being attracted to the schools, transport links, and easy access to lush, green space. It’s so popular that it was voted “The Best Place to Live in the South West 2020” by The Sunday Times.
Read on for the lowdown on why Cheltenham is such a fantastic place to live.
Property Centre Guide on Living In Cheltenham, A Beautiful Spa Town
Also known as Cheltenham Spa, this attractive Regency town has been a popular health and holiday spa town resort since the 18th century, following the discovery of mineral spring water here. Today, it’s known as the Culture Centre of the Cotswolds.
Although Cheltenham is one of the biggest towns in Gloucestershire, it was formed by combining a series of smaller villages, such as Swindon Village, Pittville and Leckhampton and each village historically had its own school, pub and church, so Cheltenham still benefits from a wonderful community feel. The crime rates are also relatively low here.
However, this pretty place is far from a sleepy countryside hamlet. With 30 festivals a year, Cheltenham is a buzzing town that has plenty to offer including great schools, work opportunities, retail and culture - all of which makes Cheltenham a great place to live for families, students, and older people.
Cheltenham Transport
When you first arrive in Cheltenham, the sheer amount of green space will have you believing that you’re a million miles away from civilization, but nothing could be further from the truth!
Cheltenham is an ideal commuter town, with easy access to larger cities like London, Bristol, and Birmingham. With close proximity to the M5, Cheltenham commuters will find a straightforward drive to the Midlands or Wales, as well as being able to connect with most major roads such as the A40 to access Oxford and beyond.
Five minutes from the centre of Cheltenham, you’ll find Cheltenham Railway Station, which is part of the Plymouth to Edinburgh line. It’s a convenient commute to places like Bristol, London, and Cardiff.
Cheltenham is also well-served by buses and coaches. Stagecoach Southwest operates direct bus services between Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Oxford.
Wherever you choose to live in Cheltenham, you can be confident that you’ll be well-connected to the rest of the country.
Job And Career Opportunities
Cheltenham is bursting with great job and career opportunities. The town is home to several large employers, which provide plenty of employment opportunities right on your doorstep. A few well-known employers include GCHQ, Spirax Sarco, Endsleigh / A-Plan, and Superdry. You’ll also find a huge number of fast-growing SMEs.
The town also has a thriving retail sector, with the Regent Arcade Shopping Centre home to over 50 top-name High Street and independent retailers. The planned Cyber Central business park is expected to create an additional 12,000 jobs and should attract even more tech-oriented businesses.
Not only are there plenty of job opportunities in Cheltenham, but the town’s businesses are also often cited as being great places to work. In the 2022 Great Place to Work survey, Cheltenham-based architecture and design firm, Pentadel Project Management, was recognised as one of the country’s best places to work – for the second time!
There’s no doubt that Cheltenham offers a great work-life balance.
Leisure In Cheltenham
Situated on the edge of the Cotswolds and surrounded by beautiful countryside, Cheltenham has lots to offer when it comes to leisure activities. From family-friendly parks and cycle paths to tennis, horse-riding, golf and outdoor bowling, there is something to suit all ages and interests.
One of the most attractive reasons to live in Cheltenham is the abundance of green spaces. Within the town, there are several parks - from picturesque Pittville Park with its fantastic children’s play area, boating lake and pitch and putt course, or Montpellier Gardens, with its playground, skate ramps and climbing frames to peaceful Hatherley Park with its lake and quiet seating spots or more lively Sandford Park, located adjacent to the beautiful art deco Sandford Parks Lido.
Surrounding the town are Leckhampton Hill and Cleeve Hill, both of which afford amazing views of Cheltenham and the area beyond and which are loved by walkers and horse-riders alike. You’ll also find easy access to the surrounding Cotswolds countryside and Malvern Hills.
The town hosts a huge number of festivals a year, including the world-famous horse racing Cheltenham Festival at Prestbury Park, the UK home of jump racing. Other notable festivals include the Jazz Festival in April/May, attracting world-renowned performers, the Science and Music festivals during the summer months and arguably the UK’s leading Literature Festival in October, ensuring there are plenty of experiences for everyone to enjoy.
Situated in the centre of town, The Brewery complex is host to many leisure places – Hollywood Bowl, Flight Club, Escape Hunt, Mr Mulligan’s Golf and Cineworld can all be found there, alongside several chain restaurants and bars. Cheltenham also has an abundance of lovely independent restaurants, cafes and bars throughout the town to suit every taste, including some great vegan options.
Picture: Roger May
If shopping’s your thing, then Cheltenham’s the place to be. There’s a wide selection of shopping districts within the town. The Regent Arcade Shopping Centre links the High Street to the beautiful tree-lined Promenade and the areas of Montpellier and The Suffolks offer high-end fashion, jewellery and homeware. All the usual brands can be found in the town, alongside some great independent boutiques and the Promenade also plays host to Cheltenham’s Farmer’s Market (open from 9.00 am to 2 pm. on the second and last Friday of every month) where you can buy an incredible range of local tasty produce.
Arts and culture lovers are equally well-catered for – Cheltenham is home to the Wilson, formerly known as the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, which houses an excellent collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics, and jewellery. Meanwhile, theatre-goers can enjoy trips to the Everyman Theatre, which was opened as the Opera House in 1891 and was designed by Frank Matcham, who also designed the London Palladium.
Education Choices
Cheltenham boasts a huge variety of excellent schools and education opportunities, from early years nurseries to the University of Gloucestershire.
The Gloucestershire region operates a grammar school system, with the entrance exam taking place in September each year for entry into 7 highly sought-after Grammar Schools. Additionally, not only do you have your pick of great state schools at both primary and secondary levels, but Cheltenham is also home to a number of prestigious independent schools, including Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cheltenham College and Dean Close School.
Discovering Cheltenham With The Property Centre
Whether you’ve lived in Cheltenham all your life or are completely new to the area, you’ll need an experienced and knowledgeable estate agent to help you find your ideal home. Our award-winning team of estate agents in Cheltenham are passionate about everything this beautiful place has to offer and go above and beyond when it comes to helping people buy, sell, rent or let a property in Cheltenham.
The Property Centre team is situated in the heart of Cheltenham town centre. It has an in-depth knowledge of the local area, which will support you every step of the way to secure your dream property and provide professional property valuations. Get in touch today and let us help you find your ideal home in Cheltenham.
