Self-guided walks

Each taking about 90 minutes, these walks are available from the Cheltenham Local History Society website. You will be able to take a tour at any time, at your own pace, and find other self-guided walks of Cheltenham. Please use the ‘contact’ tab to make enquiries.

The Upper Bath Road – 200 Years of Trading History

This walk explores the Upper Bath Road, the main southern urban business district of Regency and Victorian Cheltenham. Here the rapidly developing town overtook earlier industrial enterprise to the south, also absorbing the fields, streams and country byways.

Beginning at the junction of Great Norwood Street and Andover Road (the ‘Norwood triangle’) the route takes us to The Norwood Arms, before turning into the Upper Bath Road shopping district, finishing at Thirlestaine House.

A Walk on the South Side – from Cheltenham to The Suffolks

This walk explores The Suffolks, one of the early southern suburbs of Regency Cheltenham. Built around a handsome square, the area takes its name from the Earl of Suffolk, who owned much of the land until the 1820s.  Beginning at the Suffolk House flats, the circular route includes landmark buildings and touches upon their history.