Cheap train tickets to Cheltenham
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With a wonderful mix of the traditional and new, discover Cheltenham with the added benefits of split tickets for your journey.
Voted the best place to live in the South West by The Sunday Times, Cheltenham, close to the Cotswolds, is the perfect place to unwind. With unique festival vibes, independent and high street shops, along with its amazing dining experiences from street food to fine dining, this really is a must-see town.
Visiting this historic spa town by train is exciting at any time of year, with year-round events, a foodie scene, and buzzing nightlife; it is no wonder that Cheltenham is known as The Festival Town.
The town is serviced by Cross Country Trains, Great Western Railway, and Transport for Wales, making it easily accessible from all over the UK. The station is located in the southwest of the town, which can be reached by a short 15-minute walk along the Honeybourne Line path. Alternatively, add PlusBus to your train ticket for unlimited bus travel around Cheltenham. Cheltenham is the ideal place to visit for a day trip or a short break, and with Trainsplit's unique journey planner by your side, we can help you find the best train ticket deals for your journey.
Plan Your Journey: With the user-friendly Trainsplit website and mobile app, planning your half-term getaway is a breeze. Simply enter your departure station, destination, and travel dates to find the best train fares and schedules. Plus, we'll help you save on your tickets with our split-ticketing options. 🎫🚄
The Trainsplit app makes it easy to find cheaper alternative journeys through split ticketing.
Getting around Cheltenham
Cheltenham offers a unique blend of city living with a town environment. The combination of attractions, cuisine, and culture can all be explored within a 20-minute walk from the town center. Cheltenham is also a great base to visit the nearby Cotswolds and other destinations.
Cheltenham’s town center is readily accessible for all cycling abilities and enthusiasts. With your bike, you can easily cycle all over the town center using the cycle lanes in a day, stopping to enjoy the attractions at your leisure. If you want to take your bike on the train, then the Honeybourne Line connects the railway station to the center of town. This makes it attractive and easy due to its flat and picturesque surroundings.
In the center of the town, the majority of coach drop-offs will be at the Royal Well Bus Station, which is centrally located. A short walk will take you to the promenade, along Clarence Street, and to the High Street. From here, you can take the bus to and from the Railway Station, Cheltenham Racecourse, or you can take a bus a bit further out to explore the Cotswolds. If you are planning on using the bus service around Cheltenham, when searching for great savings for your train tickets on Trainsplit.com, why not add a Plusbus ticket, as this will provide you with unlimited travel around Cheltenham.
If you did want to take a taxi and explore Cheltenham, there are lots of different operators within the town, and you can quite often just hail one down in the street or just head to one of the taxi ranks at the Railway Station, Montpellier, or The Promenade.
To plan your journeys around Cheltenham and the surrounding area by bus, including real-time departures, download the Sojo app.
Some great things to do during your time in Cheltenham
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Known as The Festival Town, there are over 30 festivals each year. Enjoy everything from Jazz to the oldest literature festival in the world and not forgetting the world-famous Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse; there really is a festival for everyone.
Visit the Sibling Distillery. This family-run gin distillery launched in June 2014 and is one of the only distilleries in the country to make its own spirits from start to finish, with no neutral spirit or mass-produced base. The distillery tours will take you through every element of the business, from the history of the distillery and the industry. You can even have a tasting of their full range of Gins, buffet food, and even a gin pub quiz.
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Overlooking the lawns and lakes of Pittville Park, the Pittville Pump Room is a Grade I listed building. Throughout its colorful history, the pump room has been an entertainment venue and hosted royalty. It is now a leading venue for weddings, private hire events, and concerts. The popular Heritage Cafe is open daily for food and drinks with stunning views over the Pump Room and Pittsville Park itself.
Cheltenham has been home to many famous people in history, including Gustav Holst and Edward Wilson, who is a Naturalist and Explorer who died during Scott’s trip to the South Pole. Holst Victorian House is the house where Gustav Holst was born and raised, preserving the Regency Facade and decor of the building, as well as the pianoforte used to compose The Planets and many other artifacts too.
Take a trip on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. This volunteer-operated heritage railway offers a round trip of 28 miles, and you will pass through the stunning Cotswolds scenery, the Vale of Evesham, and the Malvern Hills. Special events are held throughout the year, so there is something for everyone.
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Places to eat in Cheltenham
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Fine Dining
Journey - 12 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7HA
Situated in the heart of Cheltenham, Journey is not just a fine dining destination; it is a journey of discovery. The tasting menu offers a gastronomic adventure inspired by the tradition and culinary practices from around the world in a fun and immersive way.
L’Artisan - 30 Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3NX
This French Bistro opened in May 2023 and is open for Lunch Tuesday to Saturday. It offers Morning Coffees, a lunch menu, and their highly regarded set menu ‘Tour de France’, where you can expect modern twists on classic French recipes from different regions of France.
Lumiere Restaurant - Clarence Parade, Cheltenham, GL50 3PA
This charming restaurant, behind an unassuming exterior, you will find an elegant and stylish restaurant. Lead by a husband and wife team, the restaurant has a focus on the best British produce gathered from a group of dedicated farmers and producers, along with their own family-run farm. The cooking is underpinned by a strong classical base, and the flavors are well judged and harmonious.
Mid-Range Dining
Suffolk Rock - 8 Suffolk Parade, Cheltenham, GL50 2AB
Suffolk Rock is one of Cheltenham's newer restaurants, built on many years of experience in the industry. A trip to Portugal is the inspiration behind the steak on the rock, which you can cook exactly to your liking at the table, making this a fun and exciting dining experience. Or pop in for an incredible Sunday Roast.
Chelsea Brasserie - 9 Montpellier Terrace, Cheltenham, GL50 1US
This restaurant offers modern British cuisine infused with European recipes and techniques, using locally sourced produce and seasonal ingredients that are central to the menu’s innovative dishes. There is also a bar serving a range of fine wines, beers, and cocktails, made using only the best and freshest ingredients.
Vegetus - 42 Winchcombe Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2ND
This 100% plant-based restaurant serves up an array of tasty dishes inspired by the owner's Spanish-Moroccan and Hungarian backgrounds. Offering a fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes along with some twists on the British and American.
Cheltenham Eateries that won’t break the bank
Nasprias - 95 Hewlett Road, Cheltenham, GL52 6AJ
This restaurant offers Pizza al taglio, bread, cakes, and much more. They use real Sardinian ingredients together with the freshest local ingredients from the Cotswolds. They make their dough in the restaurant where they welcome you with Sardinian hospitality.
The Coconut Tree - 59 St Pauls Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4JA
With their rapid-service menu of Tapas-style Sri Lankan delights, The Coconut Tree is a perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal with others. With a wide selection of small plates to choose from, 2 people dining together could create a shared meal for less than £25.
Kemble Brewery Inn - 27 Fairview Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2JF
Just off the high street, this hidden gem of a pub features a cosy interior and covered seating in a garden-style patio. This pub is the perfect place for a Sunday Roast or a quiet drink and also frequently hosts live music. So you can enjoy real ales and hearty British fare without the cost.
Sporting Scene
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If you like horse racing than visiting Cheltenham Racecourse is a must with racing events held throughout the year, so whether you’re here on a crisp October day or a sunny evening in May, you’ll feel the magic of Cheltenham.
For your football fix, heat to Whaddon Road to Cheltenham Town FC at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
With a large range of activities, there really is something for everyone at Leisure at Cheltenham from swimming to racket sports. They also offer exercise and dance classes, a gym, and a wellness suite and a cafe to relax after your activity.
Are you a Sports Fan? Trainsplit has partnered with Pledgeball, a grassroots charity that rallies fellow fans to take action to protect where we play, making changes that improve our air and our green spaces. It can be as simple as swapping to reusable water bottles or taking the train to a match instead of driving. Fans, players, clubs, grassroots teams – the impact we can have together is game-changing.
Looking to extend your stay? Click here to explore the variety of accommodations for an overnight break.
Easy ways for you to cut down on your travel costs
- Book Early The earlier you book your train tickets, the more money you can save. With advance tickets becoming available up to 12 weeks before, this can be a great way to get some great savings on your tickets.
- Use a railcard Why not consider getting a railcard? Teamed up with a railcard, you can get up to a third off the cost and save you money on your train tickets, and if you make a few train journeys, the railcard will pay for itself in no time.
- Split your tickets With Trainsplit’s unique journey planner, we search for the best-priced train tickets for your journey. You can easily discover the best split ticketing combinations that maximise the savings on your train tickets, and best of all, Trainsplit will do all of the work for you and doesn’t charge a booking fee.
- Avoid Peak times Don’t need to travel so early in the morning? Why not travel off-peak to save money on more expensive train tickets, and these trains can be a lot quieter too. These usually start from around 09:30 onwards.
- More than 2 people are traveling Take a look at Group Save train tickets; these are a great way to get discounted train tickets for groups of 3 - 9 people. Consider an alternative route If you are not traveling from London, why not consider traveling not via London. Using Trainsplit’s journey planner will search for the cheaper routes to Cheltenham Spa and can possibly save you money on your train tickets. The Journey may take a little longer, and you may have to change trains, but the savings could be worth it.
- Claim Delay Repay We know you don’t like to be delayed on your journey, but if you are delayed on your journey, you may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation on your train tickets.
By using these tips along with Trainsplits unique journey planner searching for the best train ticket deals, now is the time to explore new destinations and maximise the savings on your train journeys.
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