The northern reaches of the now internationally revered Cotswolds region of England has Cheltenham as a cornerstone. Known for its annual horse racing and quaint market town setup, Cheltenham has continued to offer a base for breweries and coffee shops. Its backdoor also offers plenty of options for cyclists and runners, with a central lido recently renovated.

Boutique property Hotel du Vin Cheltenham is a luxurious hotel situated in the heart of Cheltenham’s stylish Montpellier district. The hotel presents a quintessential English experience, blending elegant accommodations with a refined culinary scene. Rooms renovated in October 2023 refreshed the property, now with 49 unique bedrooms and suites. Expect deep baths, powerful showers and quality Egyptian linen.

Bistro du Vin is the hotel’s on site restaurant. Also make a note of Indian street food restaurant Mowgli’s who have a venue in town – a Liverpool success story. For coffee, Scandinavian Coffee Pod and Botanical Coffee and Kitchen represent specialty well. Note DEYA Brewing who are in the small warehouse district near Cheltenham Spa train station – their inside taproom is open year-round.

Training Notes

Hotel du Vin, Cheltenham has a fitness room to maintain basic cardio and strength. Beyond the property, seek out the Honeybourne Line – a smooth tarmac footpath / cycle path that leads from the Prince of Wales stadium, to Cheltenham Spa Railway station. Great for intervals or for getting to Prince of Wales stadium which is the location of Cheltenham’s athletics track.

For the best roads, cyclists can either head due south in the direction of Colesbourne, or else north-east via Southam. You’ll be able to get a good graze of the Cotswolds, before pointing your wheel back to town along undulating country lanes.

The town’s main pool is at Cheltenham Leisure – a 33m tub, sometimes split to 25m. Alternatively, try out the spectacular 50m Sandford Park Lido – heated and 50m in length.

For more information, visit hotelduvin.com