Don’t forget that the Times Literature Festival is taking place in Cheltenham from 7 – 16 October 2011. There will be more that 500 exciting events, 600 speakers and lots of things to see and do for all of the family both young and old including some excellent activities that will be free. The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2011 is looking to be the best it has been ever offering much more for everyone.

This year will also include the unveiling of the new literary quarter on Montpellier Gardens which is only a two minute walk from the Festival’s tented village on Imperial Square in Cheltenham. The massive book retailer, Waterstone’s, will have a large book tent and this year the festival will also offer two new dining venues, Spiegeltent Bistro and the Feastfest Food Hall.

For more in depth information visit the Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2011 website. If you are looking for accommodation the Wyastone Hotel Cheltenham which is located in the Montpellier area perfectly located close to all of the Literature Festival action.

One of the highlights will be  the premiere of a new Joseph Phibbs percussion concerto with Evelyn Glennie. The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are among others musicians and the festival is sure to be one of the best events in the music calendar.

Tickets can be purchased from Festival Box office by calling  0844 576 8970 and there is more detailed information on the Cheltenham Festivals website.

If you are looking for Cheltenham Hotels check out our website at  http://www.wyastonehotel.co.uk.

Countryside Holidays In The Cotswolds

If you’ve already visited The Cotswolds it’s not hard to see why this is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK. The Cotswolds region is a perfect perception of true English living with its honey coloured stoned towns and villages, fabulous scenic countryside, rolling hills and steeping valleys. It was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966 and provides a perfect countryside retreat for all the family.

Accommodation in The Cotswolds

Finding accommodation is easy in the Cotswolds. There are a number of places to choose from. If you want that independent holiday without the ties of having to be up for breakfast before 10am then there are a range of self-catering cottages available in the area. If you really want to get immersed in rural life then why not stay on a farm bed and breakfast and soak up the countryside atmosphere with traditional English cooking. Alternatively, if you want to receive the service from a Cotswold hotel there are many country house hotels and luxury boutique hotels in the Cotswolds with spa and leisure facilities to keep you occupied during your Cotswolds break.

Attractions in The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is an area rich in history which is reflected by the number of historical sites dotted throughout the region. They provide brilliant attractions for all the family. Blenheim Place, situated near Woodstock, is a Designated World Heritage Site and is home to the Duke of Marlborough and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Berkeley Castle is situated at Wotton-under-Edge and was built to keep out the Welsh with its various traps such as trip steps, murder holes and enormous barred doors.

Other attractions which are perfect for families include the Cotswold Water Park which is great for children and adults of all ages. There are many outdoor activities to keep you occupied with its nature reserves, water sports, fishing, cycling, camping and a safe summer children’s bathing area. The Cotswolds Wild Life Park is located near Burford and features over 200 animal species in approximately 200 acres of parkland.

Walking in The Cotswolds

This unique countryside is a walkers’ paradise whether you decide to follow a published walking route, with your own map or with a guided walking leader. The Cotswold Way is a long distance walking trail that runs between the market town of Chipping Campden in the North of the Cotswolds and the city of Bath in the South. This walk offers the perfect chance see some true English countryside, passing through picturesque towns, villages, historic sites, churches and lakes.

All in all, the Cotswolds provides the perfect place for a long holiday, romantic getaway or an Easter break with the family. The Cotswolds stunning countryside, quaint market towns, array of family attractions, gardens, historical sites and wildlife parks are all waiting to be explored. Cotswolds accommodation is available in abundance with its self catering cottages, town guest houses, farm bed and breakfasts and country house Cotswolds hotel. For those who want to really experience the outdoor then camping in the country is the perfect way – there are many camp sites located across the Cotswolds in hidden valleys and ancient Cotswolds woodland.

Regency Cheltenham lies in the heart of the world famous Cotswolds. With beautiful surrounding countryside and traditional English villages, such as Stow-on the-Wold,  Bourton-on-the-Water and Chipping Campden nearby, Cheltenham is a magnet for tourists from all over the world, making it one of the most visited areas in England. Cirencester and the Stroud valley are also very nearby.

There are a number of events and permanent attractions throughout the year. Cheltenham has a range of world renowned festivals from April to October each year. The season starts with the Cheltenham Jazz Festival at the end of April. This is followed by the highly acclaimed Times Cheltenham Science Festival in June. In July it’s the Cheltenham Music Festival followed by possibly the most famous of all the Times Literature Festival. Along with the Jazz Festival comes the Jazz Fringe festival with the vast majority of artists coming from within a 50 mile radius of Cheltenham. This gives a fantastic diverse line-up with music in over 20 venues. In 2010 the music festival which now incorporates seventy events celebrated its sixty sixth year.

One of the key attractions is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.  In the  2010 gold cup festival over 7 million pounds was placed in bets in one day alone.  The race is the most prestigious National Hunt races.  It is a race  every jockey and trainer dreams of winning. Running over a distance of 3 miles and 2.5 furlongs (5,331 metres) , the race which takes place in March each year on the new course at Cheltenham and is open to horses aged five years or over. It is an immensily  important event for Cheltenham hotels, b&bs, bars and restaurants in Cheltenham, helping to boost the local economy of Regency Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Year round attractions include the Pittville pump room which dates back to when Cheltenham was famous as a spa town; and visitors came to take the water, believing in its healing and medicinal properties. Also the historic Cheltenham Everyman theatre, the Playhouse theatre and Bacon theatre provides year round entertainment from concerts to comedy.

Many people know of Cheltenham for the world famous Cheltenham Ladies College which is an independent school founded in 1853 and has an international reputation for excellent education. It is also a vibrant student town with over 2000 students based at the University of Gloucestershire campuses in Cheltenham.

Regency Cheltenham is a prime shopping town for the Cotswolds. Shops range from high quality privately owned shops to national and  international chain stores. A short walk from the centre of Cheltenham is Montepellier with its high quality individual clothes shops and bars. These include specialist cooking shops, babywear and hairdressers. There are also pavement cafes and bars which are extremely popular in the summer sunshine. As well as finding antique shops in Montpellier there is a monthly Antiques and Collectors fair at Cheltenham racecourse.

Cheltenham farmers market is held on the second and last Friday of each month held on the Promenade near the Cheltenham Tourist information office. With over thirty stalls there is a wide selection of high quality produce including meat, cheese and vegetables. There is also a Farmers market in nearby Stroud held every Saturday morning with a real feeling of Charm and culture.

Cheltenham Spa offers a fantastic range of eating out experiences to suit every taste and every budget. Cheltenham has a long tradition of high quality restaurants which in recent years has grown to suit everyone from residents to local students to visitors.

One of the most stylish Cheltenham restaurants is Brassiere Blanc owned by the renowned Raymond Blanc. The atmosphere is relaxed with high quality food and attentive service. It is an excellent place to relax and enjoy French cuisine without formality. The Curry Corner is also one of Cheltenham’s favourite restaurants. It is a multi award winning restaurant with awards including Taste of the West Gold 2009.

Nearby to Cheltenham there are historic places to visit for great days out such as Sudley Castle, near Winchcombe, which makes an excellent wedding venue with its historic backdrop. Snowshill Manor near Broadway is also another visitor favourite with Hidcote Manor near Chipping Campden.

The Cotswold Water Parks near Cirencester offer an unusual area of over 140 lakes where there is lakes for water skiing, sailing, cycling, Keynes country park for leisure activities, luxury hotel and Spa and an area ideal for relaxing county walks.

If you’re looking for property in Cheltenham there are around 40 estate agents in Cheltenham dealing with a wide and diverse range of properties fom manor houses to cottages and eco houses.

Whether you’re a resident or a visitor to Cheltenham and the Cotswolds the area offers great scenery in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The Cheltenham National Hunt Festival is the greatest jump race meeting in the world and is said to be the Olympic Games of National Hunt racing. In 2011 the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival includes St Patrick’s Day on the Thursday which will only add to the event’s ever increasing popularity. The Cheltenham Festival is expecting 55,000 to be attending the event every day.

Last year history was made by Imperial Commander as he destroyed the competition and claimed his first Cheltenham Gold Cup crown. The Festival was also memorable for some incredible performances by many of the other horses and jockeys.

Tickets can be purchased online via the Cheltenham Racecourse Website or by calling 0844 579 3003.

Wyastone Hotel in Cheltenham is a short walk from the Racecourse and would be an excellent choice for accommodation during the National Hunt Festival Cheltenham Gold Cup. Visit the Wyastone Hotel Cheltenham website for more information.

Many of the local shops will be open until late and traders will be in Traditional Victorian costume. Come and enjoy the festive celebrations  which will continue untill 7.30pm. There will be many great opportunities to enjoy something to eat and drink including mince pies!

There will be live music singing and dancing, food tasting, great Christmas shopping for all those gifts and much more to help you enjoy your Christmas evening in Bath Road Cheltenham.

If you’re visiting Cheltenham for Christmas Shopping or the Christmas Lights why not stay for a night or two with us at the Wyastone Hotel.

The Open Meeting has steadily grown in popularity and is now the second Cheltenham Festival. In 2009 a new race was introduced on the Sunday to further strengthen the weekend.  The Connaught Chase is a 2 mile level weight race and has attracted Queen Mother Champion Chase winner MasterMinded.  In 2009 the race was won by Well Chief.

Cheltenham Racecourse offers their steam train on the Friday and Saturday of the meeting which sets off from Toddington riding through the Cotswolds straight to the back of the Grandstand. They also offer hospitality in various locations to suit all budgets with a couple of Grandstand boxes available for those who can make their booking early.

If you are planning to attend the Open Meeting at Cheltenham and the Paddy Power Gold Cup tickets can be purchased by calling 0844 579 3003 or you can Book Online. If you are staying overnight in Cheltenham you can book your accommodation with the Wyastone Hotel In Cheltenham.

The re-worked version of Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare’s most popluar plays about two young lovers, has been choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple and skillfully combines the tragedy, drama and comedy.

Against a backdrop of ancient feuds and gang warfare, the ill-fated young couple falls instantly and hopelessly in love. But their families are bitter enemies, and in order to be together the two lovers must be prepared to risk everything. Don’t miss this innovative and exciting new production of Romeo & Juliet.

Tickets for Romeo and Juliet at the Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham are priced from £12 to £16 and available in advance by calling the Box Office on 01242 258002 or online from TicketWeb.

The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival will have more than 450 events throughout its 10 day duration and celebrations award-winning writers, world-renowned thinkers and international star names.

The Festival will be welcoming a selection of Guest Directors who have each programmed a great series of events. Will Hutton will be investigating finance, Kevin McCloud architecture and design, Mary Beard will be bringing ancient Greece and Rome to life, China Miéville will share the best of future fiction and Owen Sheers focus on poetry.

The opening weekend offers the Centaur Series with some of the most reknowned names in popular culture and current affairs including Peter Mandelson, Hollywood actor Michael Caine,  Armstrong & Miller, Stephen Hawking and Graham Norton.

With one of the focal points of the Literature Festival being the enjoyment of books and the pleasure and discussion created by the writers for the readers there will be some undoubted literary legends featured including Philip Pullman, Adrian Mole, A S Byatt, Jostein Gaarder, Sue Townsend and Salman Rushdie plus many others.

For those that enjoy spotting the odd celebrity there will be some familiar faces from the small screen heading to Cheltenham including  Harry Hill, Chris Evan, Dawn French, Kirstie (Location, Location, Location) Allsopp, Gok Wan, Dom Joly and Nigella Lawson.

The Times Literature Festival also offers Book It! which is the festival for younger readers with interesting and  fun events every day.

Tickets for the Times Literature Festival can be purchased online and are available from Tickets.com

If you are planning to stay in Cheltenham the Wyastone Hotel is only a short walk from the Everyman Theatre. For more information visit the Wyastone Hotel Cheltenham website.