Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
11
Going to the Races
Organized horse racing came to Chel-
tenham in 1815, with the location of
Cheltenham Racecourse
(
&
0844/
5793003;
www.cheltenham.co.uk), in
the nearby village of Prestbury (just a
few minutes from the town center),
dating from 1831. Since 1898 it's been
the home of National Hunt (steeple-
chase) horse racing in the U.K. Meet-
ings are hosted from October to April,
but the highlight of the season is the
Cheltenham Gold Cup,
which is nor-
mally held in the middle of March, dur-
ing what's dubbed the “Cheltenham
Festival.” The cheapest tickets (“Best
Mate Enclosure”) range from £12 to £15
(£35-£40 for the actual Gold Cup).
Race day buses link Cheltenham railway
station to the racecourse. See the web-
site for more details.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Tourist Information Centre,
77 Promenade
(
&
01242/522878;
www.visitcheltenham.com), is open Monday to Saturday from
9:30am to 5:15pm. On Wednesday mornings, it opens at 10am.
To explore on your own, you can also get info from the
Cheltenham Tourist
Information Centre,
77 The Promenade (
&
01242/522878;
www.visitcheltenham.
gov.uk).
Exploring the Town
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
MUSEUM This absorbing museum
chronicles the town's rise to fame in the Regency period; it also houses one of the
foremost collections of the Arts and Crafts Movement, notably the fine furniture of
William Morris and his followers. Another gallery is devoted to Edward Wilson, Chel-
tenham's native son, who died with Captain Scott in the Antarctic in 1912. Note that
some galleries will be closed while the museum undergoes an ambitious redesign in
2011 to 2012.
Clarence St.
&
01242/237431.
www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk. Free admission. Daily 10am-5pm
(Nov-Mar 4pm). Closed bank holidays.
Holst Birthplace Museum
MUSEUM This is a small but enlightening tribute to
Gustav Holst, composer of
The Planets,
who was born in this Regency house in 1874.
The rooms inside have been faithfully restored in Victorian and Edwardian style, with
displays and personal items, including his piano, telling the story of Holst and his
music.
4 Clarence Rd.
&
01242/524846.
www.holstmuseum.org.uk. Admission £4.50 adults, £4 seniors and
children 5-16, £10 family ticket. Feb-mid-Dec Tues-Sat 10am-4pm. Closed late Dec-Jan.
Pittville Pump Room
HISTORIC SITE Cheltenham spring water is the only
natural, consumable alkaline water in Great Britain and can still be drunk at one of
the town's finest Regency buildings, built in the 1820s. The Greek Revival Pittville
Pump Room is now used primarily as a concert and private-function venue, but you
can still sample the pungent spring water from the original pump (free).
East Approach Dr., Pittville Park (2 miles north of the center).
&
0844/521621.
www.cheltenhamtown
hall.org.uk. Free admission. Wed-Mon 10am-4pm. From the town center, take Portland St. and Eve-
sham Rd.
