Is Cheltenham a Good Place to Live?

From humble beginnings as a small market town, Cheltenham has grown over the years to become one of the most popular places to live in the country. Known for its most fashionable English spas and Regency-style homes, this city remains one of the most exciting places to work and live in Britain. So, if you think of moving to the UK, then this is one place you should live in.

Is Cheltenham a good place to live? Cheltenham is an affluent town conveniently located on the edge of the Cotswolds and only a few miles from London. It remains one of the most beautiful cities in the country with its trees lined avenue flanked by a wide range of restaurants, stylish shops, and cafes.

It has been recognised as one of the best towns to raise a family and one of the safest places for students to attend college. Cheltenham provides a high-quality life, outstanding employment rates, and the crime rate in this area is way below the national average.

Whether you have landed a new job opportunity in Cheltenham or you are just considering moving to the UK and looking for possible locations where you will settle, you are here because you want to find valuable information that will inform your decision.

How many schools are in Cheltenham?
Are there any tourist attractions in this town?
How about the crime rate?
Are there any neighbourhoods in Cheltenham that you should avoid?

Read on to find out everything that you need to know about Cheltenham.

In this article you will find out:

If you are looking for a family-friendly town that offers a wide range of exciting amenities, then Cheltenham is the place to be. Conveniently located a few miles away from the capital, this town is packed with affordable Regency-style homes characterised by unique balconies and painted stucco fades.

This town is considered to be one of the safest places to live in the UK with an average crime rate of 19.33 is way below the national average crime rate.

Travelling in and out of Cheltenham is fast and affordable. For instance, trains from Cheltenham to Bristol take approximately 45 minutes, and you can also opt to travel by road with the M5 motorway connecting the town to Birmingham and Bristol.

If you are driving to the capital, you can use the A436 straight out of Cheltenham to Oxford where you will meet the M40 and drive straight to London. Locally, this town is easily accessible by either foot or bicycle. In terms of public transport, Cheltenham and its outskirts are well-served by various trains and bus routes.

Cheltenham is also recognised as the centre for quality education in Gloucestershire. The town has approximately 14 of “Outstanding” rated schools within its three miles radius. Some of the Outstanding secondary schools in Cheltenham are Balcarra School, Pate’s Grammar School, and Belmont School that also has a primary wing.

Some of the best colleges in England are also found here. Cheltenham College, Dean Close College, and Cheltenham Ladies Colleges are among some of the well-established and respected colleges in the area.

The beautiful Regency-style buildings make the town a delightful place to stay and shop. The wide range of stylish boutique shops and high street stores that are spread across the town centre attract both locals and foreigners making Cheltenham an excellent place to live.

You will also find this town interesting if you love sports. The Premiership rugby, Cheltenham race course, and professional football teams such as Cheltenham Town and Bristol City FC throw the town into life. No matter what you like, you won’t experience a shortage of top action to engage in every weekend. Musicians and comedians are also increasingly bringing their talents to Cheltenham.

Cheltenham is by far a retail shopping haven with a unique blend of independent shops and modern retailers. The Regent Shopping Centre that is located on High Street hosts over 60 big-name retail stores. There are lots of other independent boutiques and shopping malls spread across the rest of the town.

Is Cheltenham a Good Place to Work?

Cheltenham is mostly a commuter town and not a place where you would expect to be working in a company located a few metres away from your home. Most residents in this beautiful town work elsewhere in the larger Gloucestershire County.

Having said that it is good to note that Cheltenham enjoys a high employment rate. There are a few excellent employers within the town that offer exciting job opportunities to residents. Most people who work in the city are engaged by the financial services sector particularly the insurance construction and service industry also provides job opportunities to residents.

Spirax-Sarco, one of the leading British-based manufacturers of peristaltic pumps and steam management systems is headquartered in Cheltenham. The company is listed on the London Stock exchange, and it is also a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Cotswolds Brewing Company is also based in Cheltenham. The other companies in this town include Eagle Star Insurance, Endsleigh Insurance, Portman Dental Care and Kohler Mira.

Salaries offered by these companies are quite good compared to the national average with £27,000 being the average salary for an individual working in Cheltenham.

The good news is that there are plenty of job opportunities for anyone who is starting his/her career with lots of good-paying entry-level jobs. There are over 100 companies in the larger Gloucestershire County that offer young professionals incredible opportunities to build their careers.

The unemployment rate in Cheltenham is below three per cent which is remarkably low compared to the national average. Most people who live here can easily find full-time within the town, county, or in the capital city.

Is Cheltenham a Good Place to Buy a House?

The leafy Cheltenham was named as the best place to buy a house in the UK in 2018. Figures indicate that this town has been the UK’s biggest house price winner over the past three years. However, this means that the average cost of a home in Cheltenham is significantly higher than the national average. The New York Times Once praised the town as a “sophisticated and fast-growing mini metropolis dotted with beautiful and cosy stone houses”.

The house prices in this town increased at nearly four times the average UK rate in 2018, at 13% compared with 2.9% nationally.

The current average asking price for a two-bedroom house stands at £360,905. One-bedroom houses will cost slightly below £300,000 while three-bedroom homes will cost slightly above £400,000.

If you are looking to rent an apartment in Cheltenham, then you will need to budget for at least £947 per month for a two-bedroom apartment or £1,532 for a three-bedroom flat.

If you are thinking of moving to Cheltenham wondering where you can start your home search, you can consider Pitville which is an affluent neighbourhood full of different Regency-style homes. Swindon Village and Prestbury provide an incredible chance to purchase old properties that have stood the test of time and are still good-looking. Tivoli is a small part of Cheltenham located between Andover Road and the park that has a wide range of period terrace houses.

Is Cheltenham a Good Place to Retire?

If you are looking for an excellent place to retire that offers a serene environment and a wide range of exciting amenities, look no further than Cheltenham. This town has some of the most desirable neighborhoods and a well-connected transport system that links to London and other surrounding areas. The healthcare system which is always a major concern for senior citizens provides high-quality services.

The neighbourhoods are cool and serene, and the availability of large retirement homes is an added incentive that you will enjoy. Cheltenham provides highly desirable properties that favour individuals who are over 60 years old with four bedroom houses topping this list. In fact, property sellers offer significant discounts to older homebuyers.

A standard single-bedroom house in one of Cheltenham’s retirement developments will cost approximately £210,000. A three-bedroomed house in the same neighbourhood will cost about £389,000.

Is Cheltenham a Good Place to Visit?

Cheltenham is a good place to visit if you are interested in the history of English spas and resorts. Visitors can spend time sampling the Spa Waters at the gorgeous Pitville Pump Room which is considered as one of the most magnificent thoroughfares in the UK.

Famous for its exciting festivals, people from all over the world flock to this town for international music festivals, literature, and science. Prestbury is also known for thrilling horse racing with the main event for the steeplechasing being the famous Gold Cup National Hunt Festival every March. Cheltenham is also known for beautiful parks that attract both young and old people who enjoy the green, well-maintained lawns and award-winning blooms.

There is no shortage of things to do with your young ones in Cheltenham. From the Henson Pig Trail to the Tall Ships Festival, the fun doesn’t stop for your children. And you can’t forget about the Gloucester Cathedral located a few miles away that served as the filming location for Hogwarts.

The sprawling Cotswolds are also famous for their stunning beauty and unmatched tranquillity. Walks in the fresh air, bike rides, and quiet villages unblemished by modern life- this is something that you can look forward to if you are thinking of moving to Cheltenham.

Is Cheltenham a Good Place to Live?﻿