The town is located on the edge of the Cotswolds and is generally regarded as respectable and wealthy. It has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716, although the local mineral water is no longer consumed, especially after the pipes connecting to the spring decayed in 2004. It is popular as a shopping centre, and is particularly known for its private schools, Cheltenham College and Ladies' College.
Internationally, Cheltenham is probably best known for its horse racing. Cheltenham Racecourse, located on the outskirts of the town in the suburb of Prestbury, is the home of National Hunt, or jumps, racing in the UK. Meetings are hosted during the winter months (when the ground is soft enough for the horses to safely negotiate the fences) from November to April. The highlight of the season is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is normally held in the middle of March. This happy co-incidence (with St Patrick's Day) ensures that the town swells with an influx of Irish horseracing devotees.
Cheltenham holds music, jazz, literary and science festivals every year.
The local football team is Cheltenham Town F.C., who have recently enjoyed success in the football league.
Cheltenham has a number of light industries, including: food processing, aerospace, electronics and tourism. The British government's electronic surveillance operation GCHQ, renowned for its 'doughnut-shape' building, is located in Cheltenham.
CheltenhamÂ’s status as a spa town had been under threat following the revelation that the old Victorian wells at the Pump Room, first sunk in 1825, were leaking and allowing ground water to dilute the natural mineral water so much, that it no longer qualified as spa water.
Cheltenham has been a spa town since the discovery of the waters in 1716, and attracted the attention of King George III, who visited the town in 1788.
The Spa is unique, as it is the only alkaline spa in the country, and its salty taste and high concentration of minerals gave it a reputation for healing stomach, liver and blood disorders.
Cheltenham (or CheltenhamSpa) is a spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, near Gloucester and Cirencester.
Cheltenham is well known for being the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horseracing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Cheltenham Ladies' College.
CheltenhamSpa railway station is located on the main Bristol-Birmingham line, giving connections to Gloucester, Bristol, Swindon, London Paddington, Plymouth and the South West, Birmingham, Derby, the North West, the North East and Scotland.
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