In its hey-day, Cheltenham was one of the most elegant and fashionable spa towns in the country. And today the town's former glory is still very much in evidence, with some of the country's most beautiful streets, picturesque parks, and best preserved Regency architecture. But Cheltenham has more to offer than buildings and parklands. It is also home to some excellent museums and a vibrant cultural scene. And throughout the year it hosts a wide variety of internationally acclaimed festivals, perhaps the most famous of which is the National Hunt Festival. Cheltenham is a delight to visit for elegant streets are interspersed with beautifully laid out parks and gardens. And best of all, the town is small enough to get around by foot. In addition, it is often less busy than more popular Regency towns such as Bath and Brighton which can become very crowded during the summer months. A good place to start any visit to Cheltenham is Montpellier, located to the south-west of the town. This is a lovely district to head for, with lots of arcades filled with specialist shops, cafes and bistros. At the south-western end of Montpellier is Lansdown Crescent, an elegant crescent of beautiful Regency architecture. This is a particularly unusual street for it is the only convex crescent to be found in the whole country. Close by, to the east of Lansdown Crescent is Suffolk Square. The area surrounding this square is filled with antique shops and markets - the place for any avid antique lovers to head for. If you head to the north from Montpellier, you will come to the Promenade - Cheltenham's main thoroughfare, described by many as one of the most beautiful Regency streets in England. And just off the Promenade you can visit the beautifully laid out Imperial Gardens, which is where half the town can be found whiling away a hot, sunny day in the summer! At the northern end of the Promenade is Cheltenham High Street, near to which is the town's excellent Museum and Art Gallery and Cheltenham's only remaining medieval building St Mary's Church. Beyond the High Street you will find the Gustav Holst Birthplace Museum and Pittville Park, the site of one of Cheltenham's best-known tourist attractions - Pittville Pump Room. Also at the northern end of the town is the Cheltenham Racecourse, which attracts thousands of visitors to the town each year.
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