Cheltenham

Cheltenham was transformed into Cheltenham Spa in 1738 when the ‘Old Well’ was discovered. King George III came to enjoy the waters in 1788 and stayed for 5 weeks and soon it became Britain’s most important spa. Cheltenham Spa is probably the most complete Regency town in England; the ‘town within a park’ offers beautiful parks and gardens, tree-lined avenues and colourful floral displays. Cheltenham’s most famous son, Gustav Holst (composer of ‘The Planets’), was born here in 1874 and his birthplace is now the Holst Museum.