Visiting the Cotswolds during Cheltenham Festival?
The Cotswold gateway town of Cheltenham Spa is renowned for its vibrant festival scene, hosting world-class events like the Jazz, Science, Music, and Literature festivals. However, the biggest and most iconic of them all is the Cheltenham Festival of Racing—an annual spectacle that draws thousands of visitors. If you’re considering a trip to the Cotswolds, timing it with the Cheltenham Festival could be an unforgettable experience!
Held over four thrilling days each March, the Cheltenham Festival is a major event for the region, bringing an electric atmosphere and plenty of excitement. This year the festival is on from 11th-14th March 2025.
Planning to visit during festival week this year? Here are our top 5 tips to make the very most of your trip!
5 things to remember if visiting the Cotswolds during Cheltenham Festival
1. Book your accommodation early
Some accommodation providers in Cheltenham can be booked up years in advance. Repeat customers and corporate groups often secure the best spots.
If you want to stay in Cheltenham during Cheltenham Festival week and haven’t booked well ahead… umm… good luck! You might have more luck with smaller guest houses, airbnb’s or holiday cottages, but you also might find that prices are much higher during Cheltenham week.
Most people travel into Cheltenham from the Cotswolds, or one of the larger surrounding towns like Gloucester, Worcester or Stratford-upon-Avon. Be warned: don’t leave it too late! Even at an hour’s drive or more away from the racecourse, accommodation options can be limited.
2. Book your transport early
If you plan to travel into Cheltenham for the races, think about how you’re going to get there and back again. Public transport can be tricky, taxis can be very expensive, and parking at the racecourse is limited. Just about everyone will end up stuck in traffic at some point!
If you’re in a large group, you might want to hire a minibus or coach. Again, think about this well before your trip. There are only a handful of minibus and coach operators around, and demand for passenger vehicles is extremely high at this time of year.
3. Embrace the crowds in the Cotswolds during Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham is an average-sized town with a resident population of around 115,000 people. Most of the year, it’s pretty quiet. But during Cheltenham Week, the population swells to three or four times that number – so don’t expect it to be quiet then!
But busy isn’t always bad. There is a really special energy and vibrancy to Cheltenham and the Cotswolds during the Festival week.
Embrace it and join in the fun!
4. Try other local races
The Cheltenham Festival is a world-class event that attracts international attention, making tickets highly sought after—especially for Gold Cup Day, the thrilling climax of the festival week.
If you’re unable to secure tickets, don’t worry! There are plenty of other fantastic horse racing venues nearby. Consider catching the action at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick and Worcester – racecourses—all just a short distance from Cheltenham and the Cotswolds, offering an exciting day at the races with a vibrant atmosphere.
5. Explore the Cotswolds during Cheltenham Festival week
Cheltenham is a beautiful town with a rich history and vibrant foodie scene. It’s definitely worth a visit! But, with its Regency period architecture, Cheltenham isn’t ‘typical’ of the Cotswolds at all. In fact, it actually lies just outside of the Cotswolds National Landscape (Previously called the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.)
To explore picture-perfect villages and quaint Cotswold stone cottages, you’re going to want to get out of Cheltenham and into the Cotswolds ‘proper’. And that’s where Go Cotswolds can help!
Join one of our guided tours of the Cotswolds! Or, if you’re in a larger group, you can charter one of our 16-passenger seat minibuses for a private tour, right from your door.
Book now for 2025 and beyond
Choose from our classic ‘Cotswolds in a Day‘ tour or our active ‘Cotswolds Walks & Villages‘ tours. If you want to see the hidden side of the Cotswolds join us on a Secret Cotswolds tour, or see the best of Bath and the Southern Cotswolds with our NEW tour for 2025. Stay tuned as we’re planning more routes in the future too!
If you’re planning to take one of our tours of the Cotswolds during Cheltenham Festival week in 2025, don’t leave it too late! Book today!
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