The prestige of royal patronage made Cheltenham one of the places to see and be seen by the prosperous members of Georgian society, and Cheltenham was forever transformed. New wells were built, and fashionable pump rooms opened. A building boom ensued, with posh houses to accommodate the influx of visitors. Today, these houses are the chief reason for the popularity of Cheltenham as a tourist centre.
The town is resplendant in Regency terraces of cream-white houses and wrought-iron railings. Elegant garden squares ringed by charming architecture make Cheltenham a delightful period piece. Be aware, however, that Cheltenham is not a town lost in time. There are modern developments side by side with the older buildings, and the effect is not always pleasing.
The Promenade is the heart of Regency Cheltenham, a refined main street filled with beautiful architecture. In the summer months baskets of flowers are hung from the buildings that verge on The Promenade. Further out of the town centre is the Pittville Pump Room, perhaps the finest remnant of the Regency boom still intact in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham is home to the Cheltenham Race Course, which hosts the Gold Cup, one of the highlights of the British sporting season. Even if racing is not your cup of tea, you need to be aware of the Cheltenham races, particularly the National Hunt Meeting in March, because at that time it is VERY difficult to find places to stay in the area.
Nearby attractions include Leckhampton Hill, where an Iron Age hill fort tops the promontory. Also at Leckhampton is the Devil's Chimney, a 50 ft. high column of limestone. Local legend says that it rises staright from Hell, but the shaft is actually caused by centuries of quarrying for building stone.
| 
