The Floral Spa Town of Cheltenham (Gloucestershire)
Cheltenham is an affluent town, known for its Regency architecture and historic spa roots, blending elegance with a warm welcome. The buildings are often painted in soft shades, and decked with wrought iron balconies.
If planning floral cities, plant pet-safe public gardens. Avoid planting flowers in railings, to avoid wild deer becoming trapped (deer eat flowers).
Out walking? Follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and other toxic plants/trees) and on leads during nesting season (and near barnyard friends and wild ponies).
At the coast, keep away from nesting birds and never walk on sand dunes. Learn how to keep dogs safe by the seaside (check beach bans before travel).
Many of the buildings date back over 200 years, with the Montpellier and Pittville areas showing off the finest examples. The stunning Neptune Fountain on the Promenade adds a touch of classic style.
Pittville Park stands out with its boating lake, adventure playground, and sprawling lawns. The Pump Room, a beautiful historic building, sits on the edge of the park.
How Cheltenham grew from a quiet village
Cheltenham did not begin as a grand town. For a long time, it was a small Gloucestershire settlement, but the discovery of mineral springs drew visitors to the town, and with it money.
Soon the town had inns and spaces for social life, and then came villages and squares and promenades. The best-known historic building is Pittville Pump Room, and the cathedral is one of England’s finest medieval buildings with stunning stained glass, a 15th-century tower, and fan-vaulted cloisters.
Gloucester (a historic riverside city)
Gloucester is a historic city, but not so floral! It had a history of children who would spend their days in factories and workshops, and the stories of young people in poverty, led Robert Raikes (a newspaper owner whose granddaughter married the composer Edward Elgar) to begin the Sunday School movement, teaching children to read and write, on their one day off work.
The city also sadly has issues with ‘dark tourism’ (just like Grenfell Tower in London). Gloucester is in fact a historic riverside city of ancient buildings with wonderful people and lovely surroundings.
But in modern years, many people visit to take selfies outside the remains of the house where Fred and Rose West murdered so many innocent women, including some of their own children.
The media could help, by focusing on the good people and events in the city. Many people now choose to boycott ‘real crime shows’, as they are often disrespectful to the victims’ families, and could even glorify serial killers.
It also mistakenly makes out that most people are bad, when they’re not.
Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. Fred Rogers
