Cheltenham is in many ways the unofficial capital of the Cotswolds and it’s the starting point for lots of routes to the wider region. If you’re new to the Cotswolds and want to explore, then here are three destinations you can get to within an hour to help you to get to know your new home.
Winchcombe
Just eight miles – 20 minutes in the car – from Cheltenham, this pretty little market town has a lot to offer visitors. There’s a marketplace, independent shops and very strollable streets, as well as coffee shops and timbered pubs to enjoy a drink in.
The countryside around Winchcombe features Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you can also walk along the River Isbourne. If you like walking and biking there’s a few Gateway Towns routes and these will allow you to find some great views and see some wildlife.
For history fans, Winchcombe has the 1,000-year-old Sudeley Castle, once home to Henry VIII’s final wife Katherine Parr, and now home to a huge adventure playground and lots of ducks.
Guiting Power
This village is 13 miles – 30 minutes in the car – from Cheltenham and has two welcoming pubs and a cafe waiting for visitors.
Guiting Power’s name is thought to come from the Anglo-Saxon getinge, or rushing, which may refer to the nearby Windrush River and Power is from Le Poher, a medieval lord of the manor.
The village has several great walking routes into Guiting Wood and over nearby hills. You can see Guiting Power’s history in its church, with its Anglo-Saxon foundations, as well as the Bronze Age round barrow just outside the village.
More modern attractions for visitors include the nearby Cotswold Farm Park and the golf course at Naunton a couple of miles away.
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury – nine miles from Cheltenham – has a unique character within the Cotswolds and is one of only a few places where you’ll find half-timbered buildings.
This market town is home to more than 400 listed buildings, which is a big draw for visitors, in addition to the heritage centre and the 12th century Tewkesbury Abbey which overlooks the town.
Tewkesbury is well-known for its Medieval Fair in July, which features a reenactment of a decisive Wars of the Roses battle, as well as for its more modern-day bistros and pubs.
