GLOUCESTERSHIRE – World Travel

Cheltenham

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:59:57 +0000

Riddled with historic buildings and still exuding the gracious air of an 18th-century spa resort, Cheltenham is a cosmopolitan hub at the centre of the rustic Cotswolds. The town grew dramatically after its spa waters were discovered in 1716 and in its heyday rivalled Bath as the place for the sick, hypochondriac and merely moneyed to go.

Today its period charms and elegant architecture attract a well-heeled class of resident and the leafy crescents, beautifully proportioned terraces, wrought-iron balconies and expansive parks are kept in top-notch condition. But Cheltenham also has a reputation for partying on a grand scale, with festivals of national importance held throughout the year. There’s also a host of fine hotels, restaurants and expensive boutiques, making it a popular base for exploring the region.

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Forest Of Dean

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:59:57 +0000

The steep hills, winding tree-lined roads, lakes and unspoilt vistas of the Forest of Dean make for excellent touring by car, foot or bike. The area, England’s first National Forest Park, was formerly a royal hunting ground and a centre of iron and coal mining and its mysterious depths were supposedly the inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s setting for The Lord of the Rings. The forest covers a 42-sq-mile swathe between Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye and Chepstow and is dotted with trails for walkers and cyclists.

Coleford, the main population centre has good transport connections to Gloucester, making it a convenient base, but it’s hard to resist the charm of the magnificent youth hostel near Lydney.

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Gloucester

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:59:57 +0000

Despite its glorious Norman cathedral and glimmer of medieval character, workaday Gloucester (glos-ter) is forever destined to live in the shadow of its more glamorous neighbour. Yet unlike glitzy Cheltenham, it’s a refreshingly unpretentious place and between the modern architectural blunders and steak-and-kidney-pie cafés, the city is beginning to transform its fortunes, redeveloping its historic docks into trendy apartments and heaving itself out of financial decline.

Gloucester began life as a Roman settlement for retired soldiers, built its wealth on profits from river trade and its reputation during a period of medieval piety. For a while the good times rolled but as trade shifted to Bristol the city fell into serious decline. In modern times Gloucester prospered on the back of heavy industry and is only today beginning to heal the scars left from this time.

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Tewkesbury

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:59:57 +0000

Crooked half-timbered houses, buckled roof lines and narrow alleyways lined with medieval buildings give Tudor-heavy Tewkesbury a higgledy-piggledy charm. There’s also a lovely riverside area with ancient passageways leading up to Church St, where you’ll find the town’s most glorious building, the magnificent medieval abbey church.

The tourist office (295027; www.tewkesburybc.gov.uk; 64 Barton St; 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 10-4pm Sun) is housed in a 15th-century timber-framed house, which is also home to a small museum displaying finds from Roman and medieval times.

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