Leisure Breaks at
Hotel De La Bere, Cheltenham
The Hotel De La Bere offers a superb location for a weekend break. Situated at the foot of the majestic Cleeve Hill, overlooking Cheltenham Racecourse, it offers a gateway to exploring the Spa town of Cheltenham, as well as the surrounding Cotswolds region.
Nearby attractions include Gloucester Docks, Sudely castle, the Pitville Pump Rooms and further afield the Cotswold towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water.
Attractions of Cheltenham include:
Cheltenham Racecourse
The Cheltenham Racecourse - Hall of Fame charts steeplechasing history from 1819, telling the story of Gold Cup winners and losers, the Irish invasion, the Royal connection, and showcasing the sport's riders and trainers
Pittville Pump Room
The jewel of Cheltenham's Regency architecture, the Pump Room is the grandest survival of the town's many spa buildings. Overlooking the sweeping lawns and ornamental lakes of Pittville Park it is the perfect place to step back in time: imagine the swirling dancers in the ballroom, hear the music playing in the bandstand and remember, when you taste the waters, that this was the reason for it all - an unpleasant tasting liquid that supposedly had the power to cure all ills!
Cheltenham in Bloom
The tree-lined Promenade with its colourful Long Gardens is one of the finest boulevards in the country and, in summer, the floral displays in the parks and gardens, together with colourful hanging baskets along many of the historic terraces, create a lively, continental atmosphere. Montpelier Gardens were originally developed as the pleasure grounds for one of Cheltenham's spas: the Montpellier Spa whose Rotunda building still stands on the opposite side of the road. The shops in Montpellier Walk, all part of this early 19th century development, are distinguished by the use of statues as supporting pillars. The gardens feature a tree-lined broadwalk and are framed by majestic lime trees with annual displays. The tiny River Chelt, which takes its name from the town, flows through Sandford Park, is characterised by ornamental water features and fountains. Annual bedding displays are set around the Unwins Fountain, and clipped topiary features guard the entrances.
Holst Birthplace Museum
The home of the famous musician and composer of The Planets provides an opportunity to explore a terraced period house. There is a restored Victorian kitchen and much musical memorabilia, including the composer's piano and music scores. A good selection of Holst CDs and Victorian-style children's toys can be purchased.
Attractions nearby include:
Sudeley Castle
Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England's past. Sudeley Castle was once a favourite country retreat of Tudor and Stuart monarchs. Sudeley Castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr, following her marriage to Sir Thomas Seymour, and Lady Jane Grey. Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth I all visited Sudeley. King Charles I stayed here and his nephew, Prince Rupert, established his headquarters at the Castle, during the Civil War.
Gloucester Docks
Glocuester is one of England's famous inland ports with origins dating back to Roman times. Fourteen Victorian warehouses, built to cater for the corn trade, are still standing. Visit The Regimental and National Waterways museums, the Antiques Centre and the bustling shopping centre.
Cotswold Villages
Stow-on-the-Wold is a delightful market town and along with Moreton in Marsh, perhaps the best known of the small Cotswolds towns. At the height of the Cotswold wool industry the town was famous for it's huge annual fairs where as many as 20,000 sheep were sold at one time. Stow is an important shopping centre and has many fine Antique shops, Art galleries, Gifts and Crafts and is a centre for Walking the Cotswolds countryside.Tewkesbury is an ancient settlement at the meeting of the Rivers Severn & Avon with one of the best medieval townscapes in England with its fine half-timbered buildings, overhanging upperstoreys and narrow alleyways. The Norman Abbey, built in the early 12th Century, dominates the town and in 1471 the fields to the south saw the penultimate and decisive battle in the War of the Roses leading the house of York to power. Set amidst the picturesque Cotswold countryside is the ancient small Cotswold wool town of Winchcombe. A walled city in Saxon times, this town became prosperous as a result of the wool trade, and this wealth grew in the 17th Century when tobacco was grown in the area.
