Discovering Cheltenham: The Party Capital of Regency Era England

Why did an obscure one-street town in Gloucestershire become the go-to party destination of Regency high society? On this walking tour, you’ll discover how the humble pigeon transformed Cheltenham into a leading resort town, with a Regency building boom that attracted royal patronage. The great and the good of the Regency era flocked to Cheltenham to enjoy the benefits of its mineral waters, to find marriage partners, and to party.

This walking tour traces the town’s modest origins as a royal Saxon estate, its growth into a one-street market-town and, along with the discovery of mineral waters, its evolution into the architectural gem and cultural destination that it is today. Along the way, you’ll see sweeping Regency terraces, magnificent parks, grand promenades, historical spa buildings, and chic shopping arcades. You’ll also hear about famous Cheltenham residents like Dr Edward Jenner, the inventor of the vaccine, Gustav Holst, composer of ‘The Planets’, Brian Jones, founder of the Rolling Stones, and John Hampton’s exploding hot-air balloon and subsequent death-defying parachute jump.

Join me as we follow in the footsteps of England’s high society.