Is there anyone in Cheltenham that would be able to tell me what the living experience is like? -I'm planning on transferring through my work, and Cheltenham and London are the only locations. Cheltenham of course looking much more affordable. I'd like to know: What's like the age range like, is it youthful, elderly, mixed, family? Is there a lot to do in your free time? Friendly area? Best places to live in? Music scene? I am 20 years old, will likely be 21 by the time I make it there, male musician type person.
I lived in Cheltenham for 3 years. It's very middle-class and conservative. A couple of good bars mostly frequented by the local students. If Daks, Barbour and 'jolly hockey sticks' is yer thing you'll love it Shayla x
Never been there myself, all I know about it is that GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters, a British intelligence agency) is based there, and it's very famous for its' horse racing festival. You're not getting a transfer from the CIA to GCHQ are you? But of course you wouldn't say it if you were
Had family there, and spent time in Tewksbury, ibeautifull places...but i wouldnt want to live there!
I did - 11 years in Tewkesbury, 9 years in Cheltenham. Eventually I managed to escape. Like all towns, its not one thing but a mixture. Cheltenham might seem upper middle class to the visitor, but the visitor usually doesn't visit areas like Whaddon, St Pauls or Hesters Way, which were shitholes (they may have improved since I knew them but somehow I doubt it). .
Lol, I'm originally from Gloucester and moved to Cheltenham mid 80's. I found it quite a friendly place, lots of pubs and clubs for all age groups, plenty to do, and surrounded with lovely countryside. I even lodged in Hesters Way without ever having any problems, but would agree that the areas you mentioned would probably be best avoided. I have lived in quite a few places in my time and Gloucestershire & Wiltshire are still my favourite areas of England.
I was born there, left in 1970, went back to visit in 2003. Dreadful place, and I don't mean it's full of people with their hair in dreads.
I was there for 4 years. Of all the towns I've lived in, it has the most glaringly obvious class divide. Occasionally you'll come across a street or area that is clearly "the rough end", then a few doors down you'll be back to wealth and fountains. The crescents may look very pretty, but are mostly divided into flats. Still, the town centre itself and a lot of the surrounding areas are very decent, and the parks and tree-lined streets can be really pretty. My favourite was Pittville park with its lake full of fish and mini menagerie including chipmunks and rabbits. Just be careful on your walk home - some of those streets aren't the best! In the town centre you mostly have either swanky wine bars or crappy pubs like Yates. There were a couple of clubs when I was there. Revolution was apparently the place to be. I went once, paid a ridiculous amount for a cocktail and left again. Near the GCHQ is the college with direct bus routes to town. Just don't go to Gloucester unless you have to.
They haven't improved, although to be honest, compared to the "rough parts" of most towns and cities they were perfectly bearable. Having said that, never, ever go to Manser Street...
Well thanks for the responses everyone, doesn't particularly sound like a good experience for how much it would cost. What are some of the best places in England? I'm not particularly interested in London/commercialism. And as foreigner, I don't particularly know what Manchester or Liverpool is actually like I do like the idea of the countryside, but I also feel a bit stir crazy without some city life
I suggest Yorkshire, a good combination of cities and countryside, and it's roughly in the middle of the country, so you'd be halfway to anywhere else you want to visit
