Once a typical Cotswld stone village, Cheltenham’s fortune was made when it became a spa town in 1716 after healthy pigeons were observed pecking salty deposits from around the towns’ mineral spring. Soon after this discovery the first pump room was built and in 1788 the spa was founded. As the towns popularity grew, so too did the number of its wealthy residents who stayed in Regency houses, elegant squares and terraces, which despite war damage have largely remained in tact. In celebration of the mineral spa, a pigeon has been incorporated into the town crest.

Although the town has a vast number of heritage attractions including the Holst Birthplace Museum and Pitsville Pump Room where you can taste the spa waters, it is a lively and modern community with annual festivals, nightclubs and theatres, and if you fancy a day at the races, an enjoyable day out can be spent at the Cheltenham Racecourse, where, The Gold Cup, one of the main features of English racing is held every year.

It’s mix of historic buildings and open spaces, excellent viewpoints and walks has made it one of the most attractive and popular spa towns in Europe, whose famous visitors include, Jane Austen, Queen Victoria, The Duke of Wellington and Charles Dickens who wrote, “rarely have I seen such a place that so attracted my fancy.”