Cosmopolitan and cultured Cheltenham is an exciting place to visit and perfect for a weekend break

Walking through each part of Cheltenham is much like reading good chapters in a book; you never quite know what you will find but there is always something interesting that you come across and you never want to reach the end.

If you are visiting Cheltenham for shopping then you have an overwhelming choice. The bustling Promenade, beating twenty four contestants to become Britain's favourite High Street is a wonderful stretch of spending opportunity with Whitestuff, Waterstones and Gap nestled in amongst a broad range of shops to include of course the 1800's frontage of Cavendish House which quite rightly takes pride of place.

The world famous Cheltenham College showing the Chapel and cricket pitch. The Eagle Tower is in the background of the picture.

Then we have the cosmopolitan, vibrant Montpellier with its' specialist shops and boutiques. There is a strong continental flavour in Montpellier and the two storied Courtyard Piazza added in 1985 does much to add to this. If you are looking for something a little different for your home then go no further then The Suffolks. You will experience a feeling like no other as you wander through the antiques, vintage and fabric shops interspersed with bistros and cafes.

The main High Street runs through the town and offers you such names as Next, Marks and Spencer and Boots. The Regent Arcade gives you Monsoon, Faith, Sole Trader, British Home Stores amongst others and the newer Beechwood Shopping Centre where Cargo and Debenhams share a home with other household names also sit here. The Lower High Street still holds a market each Thursday and takes you to the newest shopping area, The Brewery. Opened in 2006 as a leisure and shopping centre it provides a gym and cinema alongside big names such as Dwell.

Montpellier is great for browsing boutique and independent shops. This picture shows The Courtyard in Montpellier Street.

When it is time to give your feet a rest you will have a variety of eateries to choose from. With the High Street offering you Hogs Head and Bentleys alongside stylish cafes to more formal restaurants; Montpellier having the Montpellier Wine Bar and O'Neils, specialist bistros, coffee shops and the stylish Armagnac restaurant serving traditional French cuisine; The Brewery can offer you Nandos and Frankie & Benny's and The Promenade leaves you spoilt for choice, whatever your taste may be with Italian restaurants, cafe's and tea shops.

When thinking of Cheltenham, most people summon up an image of racehorses and this is of course an extremely popular festival in March which sees Prestbury receiving long lines of people heading its' way. For Festival lovers though the list is endless and include the Folk Festival, The Jazz Festival, The Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts, The Science Festival, Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival, The Cheltenham Festival of Literature and The International Screenwriters Festival, The Cricket Festival and The Cheltenham Music Festival. When we say Cheltenham has something to suit everyone though we speak the truth and the list continues to include the Open Air Theatre Festival, Open Air Art exhibitions and the relatively new 2000 Trees Festival. If you still havent found something to suit you then do not worry. We have not finished yet! We also have Paws in the Park, the Greenbelt Festival and Wychwood Festival.

Pittville Pump Rooms stands in beautiful Pittville Park. You can walk around the park, visit the small zoo area and even take a boat out on the lake.

The venues used for our Festivals include The Everyman Theatre opened in 1891, The Playhouse Theatre formerly a Spa bath, The Town Hall, The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse and The Daffodil at The Suffolks, formerly a Cinema and now a spendid restaurant. All the buildings that house the festivals are worth a visit in their own right, even the modern Centaur. Do not forget though to take in The Pump Rooms, the original house of the Spa waters giving Cheltenham it's name and playing a part in what it is today; Cheltenham College; what is now Lloyds Bank at Montpellier but formerly The Rotunda, the modern Eagle Tower and look out for the 'caryatids' - the heads which separate each building along Montpellier. There is much to see as well as to do in Cheltenham.

One of Cheltenham's claim to fame in days gone by was the birth of Gustav Holst in 1874 and his house is now home of The Holst Museum where you can see his very own piano and music sheets whilst listening to The Planets and other of his creations. Our newest claim to fame is of course the fact that Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall, rugby player for both England and Gloucester Rugby Club, have chosen to make their home here. You may even spot them shopping at Montpellier or lunching at Armagnac!

Surrounded by a stunning display of bedding plants is the Irwins Fountain in Sandford Park.

Whatever your reason for visiting Cheltenham, do not forget our open spaces. We can offer Pittville Park, home of The Pump Rooms and on which you can row a boat; Sandford Park with it's playful squirrels; The Long Gardens which run alongside The Promenade and which is overlooked by Neptune Fountain, modelled on The Trevi Fountain in Rome; Imperial Gardens behind The Town Hall and on which marquees are based during The Jazz Festival to provide free musical entertainment and the surrounding Cotswold countryside.

Hopefully, we have tempted you to visit Cheltenham and spend some time exploring everything this Regency town has to offer. For quality bed and breakfast accommodation in Cheltenham, please contact Gill Rowe on Cheltenham 01242 820213 or Mobile 07786 437235. You can email your enquiry to rowefarms@farmline.com