1. With care for environment. 5. Names to remember. 2. A favourable location. 6. Getting around the town.
3. Medicine from birds. 7. A historical building.
4. Annual events. 8. A green town.
A. Cheltenham started as a small market town that later became one of the most fashionable health resort in Britain. Once, in 1716 people noticed pigeons eating crystals in a meadow outside the town. These were crystals of salt which helped King George III and the royal family treat their illnesses. Since then, pigeons have been a symbol of Cheltenham Spa.
B. Cheltenham is a small ancient town in England situated to the north-west of Oxford. It lies below the highest point of the Cotswold Hills and above the level of the River Severn. The town is also called ‘The Western Gateway’. Thanks to its position it has become a popular tourist attraction.
C. The Pittville Pump Room is the largest of the spa constructions in Cheltenham. It is a magnificent old house of classical style made of white stone. The Pump Room was designed for balls and entertainments and, of course, for taking the medical waters. Today, it is still used as a concert hall at festival time and for weddings, and of course, visitors can still take the waters – if they wish so!
D. Tourism is highly developed in Cheltenham and the City Council has to reduce the negative impact of tourists on the town. A lot has been done. The town has developed walking, cycling and public transport routes as an alternative to cars. There is a pool of bicycles that tourists can use for short distance journeys. The local services try to recycle all the packaging, plastic bottles and batteries left by tourists.
E. Many famous people of the past have connections with Cheltenham. Gustav Holst, a well-known English composer of the XIX century, was born in the town. His house is now his birthplace museum. Visitors may learn a lot about Holst`s life, his music and his family. The famous Antarctic explorer Edward Wilson was also born in Cheltenham. Now a statue of him stands in the Long Gardens.
F. The beauty and wonderful sights of Cheltenham continue to attract visitors from countries all over the world. For many years people have enjoyed the beauty of Cheltenham`s parks, open spaces and the greenery of the town. Cheltenham has been described as ‘a town within a park’. Montpellier place, which is famous for its wonderful flowers, lies in the centre of the town.
G. Thousands of visitors come to Cheltenham to take part in the festivals which are held in the town every year. The town organizes literature, music, jazz and science festivals, attracting names with a national and international reputation from each field. Besides all this, for a week in March the town becomes the centre of the National Gold Cup in horse racing.