Did You Know?

Cheltenham is a town in Gloucestershire, home to the renowned Cheltenham Festival, 4 days of horse jump racing culminating in the Gold Cup, held annually in March at the Racecourse.

History shows that by 1850 it had become the largest town in the county of Gloucestershire. Among the early visitors to Cheltenham were Samuel Johnson, the Duke of Wellington and the novelist Jane Austen.

Cheltenham owed its existence as a spa town to pigeons? It is said that in 1715 someone noticed a particularly healthy looking flock of the birds pecking at a field on the edge of the settlement. When the ground was investigated a mineral spring was discovered, the water’s salts the attraction for the birds as they would thereafter be for visitors. The town crest includes three pigeons to honour this debt.

Cheltenham stands on the small River Chelt, which rises nearby at Dowdeswell and runs through the town on its way to the Severn. It was first recorded in 803, as Celtan hom.

Though little remains of its pre-spa history, Cheltenham has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. Captain Henry Skillicorne, is credited with being the first entrepreneur to recognise the opportunity to exploit the mineral springs.

Sandford Parks Lido isn’t just one of our favourite unusual places to visit, it’s also one of the largest outdoor pools in England. The main pool is 164ft and sits alongside a children’s pool and paddling pool. Set among beautifully landscaped gardens, there’s also a cafe to pick yourself up a treat after a cold water swimming session.

Sandford Parks Lido isn’t just one of our favourite unusual places to visit in Cheltenham, it’s also one of the largest outdoor pools in England. The main pool is 164ft and sits alongside a children’s pool and paddling pool. Set among beautifully landscaped gardens, there’s also a cafe to pick yourself up a treat after a cold water swimming session.

There have been many famous faces born in here. A couple of our favourites include Richard O’Brien, writer of the Rocky Horror Show and former presenter of the Crystal Maze. As well as the famed Olympic ski-jumper, Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards who was played by Taron Egerton in the biographical movie  Eddie the Eagle was also born in the town.