The Festival takes place in half term, which of course means that children will be off school. We understand that this is a popular time to be holidaying with your family, but there are ways to combine both a family holiday and festival attendance. The regency town of Cheltenham is a beautiful place to stay, either in hotels or local cottages available to rent.
Cheltenham town itself has many attractions. The centre is surrounded by areas considered to be of outstanding national importance. Cheltenham Spa is England's most complete Regency town, so is full of beautiful Georgian architecture that can be explored by its visitors. The best example of this is probably the Council building or the Queens Hotel. This development took place when waters from the natural spring were found in the 18th century. The water can still be tasted today by going to the Pittville Pump rooms, which are surrounded by the beautiful Pittville Gardens.
Tours: To fully explore the town and its outskirts, there are a few options. Bus and coach tours operate in and around the town, travelling to nearby villages such as Bourton-On-The-Water and Painswick, or as far afield as Westonbirt and Tewksbury to maximise your means of discovering the Cotswolds. These places are of course accessible by car, and for those who prefer to see the sights at their own pace car tours could be the preferred option. Why not try the 'Romantic Road'? With two suggested routes designed to last a day each, you can "trace the tales of the many artists, writers and craftspeople who have drawn inspiration from the Cotswold landscape."
More information about tours around Cheltenham can be found here.
Activities: The following list provides details of events or activities in the Cheltenham area that you and your family can enjoy on the days before and after the festival, or things that the rest of the family can do whilst you are attending the festival.
Cinema
If all the talk of screenwriting has given you an urge to see some films, Cheltenham has a Cineworld with 11 screens, so it's very likely they'll have something for adults, children or the whole family. If they aren't showing what you want to see, nearby Glocuester has another two cinemas.
Films scheduled to be released around the time of the October half term include:-
Theatre and Music
The three main theatres in Cheltenham are the Everyman, the Playhouse and the Bacon Theatre. The listings will be announced and updated nearer the time, but below is a list of what is currently billed.
Everyman: Showing Lazy Town (LIVE) Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of October and Entertaining Angels written by Richard Everett from the 26th to the 31st of October.
Bacon Theatre: Ga-Ga (a tribute to Queen) on 24th of October.
Also, The Town Hall and Pittville Pump Rooms hold a range of events including music and theatre. Access their website here.
Days out
In Cheltenham and the surrounding areas, there are many places of interest that can provide a wonderful day out for families. Here is a selection of places and events. Distances refer to distance from cheltenham town centre:-
-Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum
-National Waterways Museum
-Chedworth Roman Villla
-Sudeley Castle
-Cotswold Motoring and Toy Museum
-Bourton-On-The-Water Model Village
-Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
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Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum -Cheltenham Town Centre
Opening times: 10am - 5pm |
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National Waterways Museum - Gloucester Docks. 10 miles, 20 minutes
Opening Times: 11am-4pm Wednesday to Sunday |
Courtesy of NWM website |
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Chedworth Roman Villa - 12 miles, under 30 minutes.
Opening times: 10am-4pm From Tuesday the 27th of October there will be a Halloween Trail taking place on site. |
Courtesy of NTPL ©NTPL/David Levenson |
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- 10 miles, 22 mins |
Courtesy of Sudeley Castle |
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Bourton-on-the-water model village 16.6 miles, 30 minutes. |
 Courtesy of The Old New Inn |
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Gloucestershire Warwickshire railway - Station at the Racecourse
Opening times: See website for the timetable Saturday and Sunday, 24th and 25th October: Autumn Diesel Gala |
Courtesy of Cheltenham Borough Council |
-Birdland Park and Gardens
-Prinknash Bird and Deer Park
-Cotswold Farm Park
-Nature In Art
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Birdland Park and Gardens - 16 miles, 30 minutes
Opening times: 10am-4pm |
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Prinknash Bird and Deer Park - 7.9 miles, 20 minutes On entering the Park over 50 peacocks and waterfowl welcome you as you walk towards the Love Bird Aviary and the Golden Wood full of golden pheasants leading to the haunted 'Monks' Fish pond' teeming with large fish..."
Opening times: 10am-5pm |
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Cotswold Farm Park - 14.5 miles, 29 mins
The Cotswold Farm Park is the "home of rare breed conservation" set high up on the Cotswold hills in an area of outstanding beauty.
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Nature in Art - 8.8 miles, 20 minutes
20 - 25 Oct. Bryan Hanlon (Pastels etc) and Richard Smith (Painter) |
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ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN
All of the days out are suitable for children of most ages, but the following list gives options for days out that they may particularly enjoy.
-Sanford Parks Lido
-Ballyhoo
-Paint It Yourself Pottery Company
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Sanford Parks Lido - Cheltenham town Centre
"... a children's paradise with slides, a children's pool and a paddling pool. Our 50 metre pool is also an ideal place to train, two lanes are reserved most days.
Opening times: 11am-7:30pm (Main pool opens earlier on some days. See website for details) |
 Courtesy of Cheltenham Borough Council and Salford Parks Lido |
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Ballyhoo - 2.4 miles, 7 minutes
Ballyhoo is a Children’s Indoor Playbarn; we offer children 12 years and under the chance to laugh, play and make new friends in a colourful, safe and above all FUN environment! |
 Courtesy of Fun days Playbarn |
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Paint it yourself pottery company - Very near the Ladies' College Paint your own Pottery Shop and Mobile Studio based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Offers parties for children of all ages, including baby foot and handprints parties. Activities include making and decorationg pottery. Clay and plaster prints available. Also, the company offers adult parties - see website for details.
Opening times: Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm Sundays 11am-5pm |
 Courtesy of PIYP website. |
Links
For more information on entertainment in Cheltenham, see these websites for up to date listings: