Getting Around Cheltenham
Cheltenham is a compact spa town, and most of its central attractions sit within easy reach of one another. That said, the town's main railway station lies a little outside the central area, so a visitor's choice of transport often depends on whether they are arriving by train or already in the town centre. This guide covers the practical options: walking, buses, taxis, driving, and how to reach Cheltenham from the nearest airports.
Arriving by Train
Cheltenham Spa station sits on Queens Road, a short distance from the town centre. It has frequent rail links to London Paddington, Bristol and the south, and Birmingham and the north.
- The Golden Valley line connects London Paddington with Cheltenham Spa via Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon, Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse and Gloucester (where the train reverses before continuing to Cheltenham).
- The Cross Country Route runs from Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway through Cheltenham Spa and onward to Worcester Parkway, Birmingham New Street and stations toward the north.
From the station, a regular bus service (routes D or E) runs to the town centre. There is also an easy walk through Montpellier into the centre, taking roughly 15 to 20 minutes. An alternative off-road walking route, the Honeybourne Line, is available, though it has seen muggings at night, so it is best avoided after dark. If mobility is an issue, the station is too far to walk comfortably and a taxi is the better choice.
Getting Around by Bus
The main bus company in Cheltenham is Stagecoach, which operates a number of routes around the town, mainly using letters rather than numbers.
- The D bus runs from the railway station through the town centre to the racecourse and on to Bishop's Cleeve.
- The D and E services together link Hatherley, Warden Hill, the rail station, the town centre, the racecourse, Bishop's Cleeve and Woodmancote.
For visitors making several journeys, a Dayrider ticket covers all Stagecoach services within Cheltenham for the day. Single fares are also available for individual trips, such as from the town centre to the station.
Arriving by Coach
Many national long-distance buses stop at the Royal Well bus station, which sits behind The Promenade. Operators include National Express and the Stagecoach S2 service.
- The S2 travels from Oxford to Cheltenham several times a day, calling at places such as Witney, Burford, Northleach, Andoversford and Charlton Kings along the way. Single and day-return tickets are both available.
- National Express offers connections to London Heathrow and beyond. Tickets cannot be bought at the station outside of office hours, so it is best to buy online or by telephone in advance.
Within Gloucestershire, there are also buses from Cirencester, Stroud and other local villages to Cheltenham roughly once an hour. Several services run from Gloucester, the most direct and comfortable being the 94 (Stagecoach Gold), which operates around the clock except on Sundays. Less frequent services such as the 41 and 42 connect Cheltenham with Tewkesbury.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis in Cheltenham are generally reliable. There is an important pricing distinction to be aware of: if you flag a taxi down or pick one up from a taxi rank, you will be charged from the meter, whereas booking with a taxi company in advance usually costs considerably less. At night, taxis wait along The Promenade, which can get very busy at pub-closing times. Many locals rely on taxis at night for trips to surrounding villages, since night buses are few apart from a regular link to Gloucester. Uber "Local Cab" is also available in the town.
Walking and Cycling
The town centre is walkable, and the Honeybourne Line is a useful walking and cycling path for getting between the railway station and the centre without using main roads. It runs from Cheltenham railway station and Queens Road to Tommy Taylors Lane, Pittville Park and Wymans Brook, with a branch toward the town centre following the River Chelt. When heading into town on foot from the station, use the right-hand side tunnel to reach the town centre, or the left-hand side tunnel to head for the racecourse.
Driving and Parking
Cheltenham is relatively easy to get around by car. The M5 reaches the town from the north and south, and the A40 from Oxford is another useful link. Drivers should be aware of the one-way system in the town centre, which can sometimes be confusing, though there are plans that may alter it under the Cheltenham Transport Plan.
Parking is rarely a problem, and most town parking is paid and run by NCP or the town council. Two central options are:
- St George's Road car park (GL50 3DT), open Monday to Saturday 8AM–8PM including bank and public holidays, and Sunday 10AM–8PM.
- Portland Gate car park (GL50 4DW), open 24 hours.
If you would rather avoid town-centre parking, a Park and Ride facility is available, and there is a separate Racecourse Park and Ride for race days.
Getting There from the Airport
Cheltenham's nearest airport is Gloucestershire Airport at nearby Staverton, which has regular flights to Jersey as well as many private aircraft available for charter.
For a wider range of destinations inside and outside Europe, Birmingham Airport to the north and Bristol Airport to the south are each only a couple of hours' drive away. The London airports — Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted — can take several hours to reach by car. National Express coaches connect Cheltenham with London Heathrow and beyond, though tickets should be bought online or by telephone rather than at the station outside office hours.