Cheltenham’s parks are full of beauty and regency charm. Each one offers something different but we’ll be breaking down the top 5 parks in Cheltenham for you so that you know which to add to your visiting list first.

Montpellier Gardens

Montpellier Gardens is one of the most prolific parks here in Cheltenham, due to its central location. It the home of the Cheltenham festivals, including the popular Literature Festival and Jazz Festival which attract tens of thousands of visitors annually.

A tree-lined path surrounds the space with vast green space stretching to one side, and tennis courts, the cafe, skate park, gazebo, and art gallery to the other. There are plenty of activities on offer to fill the day and the surrounding area of Montpellier is full of coffee houses, shops, and bars should you venture further afield. The Al Fresco dining culture of the surrounding area celebrates the slow-moving, opulent lifestyle the area exudes and is a great alternative to the classic picnic. 

A couple of our properties are situated surrounding Montpellier Gardens and enjoy its picturesque views should you fall in love with the area! These include 20 Montpellier Flat 2, Glensanda and 33 Montpellier Town House.

Imperial Gardens

The Imperial Gardens lie a short walk down the promenade, just a couple of minutes away from Montpellier Gardens. 

The beautiful flower displays have won multiple awards  is one of the prettiest parks in Cheltenham, with a beautiful floral display of around 25,000 flowers planted to create this stunning display.

The park isn’t just pretty though – it’s a social area too. It’s common for people to enjoy a chilled drink on the grass during summer months to enjoy the views whilst soaking up the sun. The gardens also have a bar with a dedicated indoor and outdoor seating area which means that you can make use of it in both the summer and winter.

This park is also home to seasonal pop-ups. Not just festivals, such as the Science Festival, but a Ferris wheel in February and an ice rink around Christmas time. The Ferris wheel pops up at the same time as the Light Up Cheltenham event, whereby central Cheltenham buildings are lit up, giving some spectacularness to the view.

Imperial Gardens are also connected to Cheltenham Town Hall, a lovely regency building with regular events and public toilets if you end up needing them. You can explore the Town Hall’s upcoming events on the Cheltenham Town Hall website. The gardens are also next to a newly redesigned building – the Quadrangle, which is home to some restaurants, a bakery, and a rooftop bar – The Nook on Five. Also incredibly close by is Cheltenham’s promenade with shops, bars, and restaurants.

If you’d like to stay close to Imperial Gardens, Queens’ Circus overlooks it.

Pittville Park

Pittville Park is the largest ornamental park in Cheltenham and showcases the town’s regency history with the famous Pittville Pump Rooms. 

The history of the park can be seen also through it’s established wildlife. The ancient redwood trees tower over the west side, introduced to the UK in the 19th century, the redwood family includes the largest and tallest trees in the world. The two lakes bustle with wildlife and are home to the beloved swan family and annually a brood of cygnets.

Coffee shops such as the Heritage Cafe, The Boathouse and Central Cross Cafe all serve barista coffee and light snacks in different quarters of the park. While indoor seating is available

There is plenty to keep you busy all day across Pittville. The eastern side features a large children’s playground recently updated with a flying fox, sandpits and climbing frames suitable for all age groups. The aviaries and hutches are home to a variety of beautiful bird species and rabbits.

The western side offers a golf course, fishing spots, a skate park, tennis courts, play trails, and a smaller play area. Hire a row boat from the Boat House for an afternoon on the water during the summer.

If you fall in love with Pittville Park as we have, take a look at apartments 32 Evesham Road and Pump Room

Sandford Park

Sandford Park is a hidden gem of Cheltenham, tucked away at the top of the high street. 

The park can be accessed from the end of the high street. Similar to Pittville Park, this park is divided by a road but most people will likely stick to one side of the park. 

There are a few areas to explore in this park. The park opens onto a purple wisteria draped pillared pathway made magical by an ornatmental fountain and kept flowerbeds. The courtyard benches make for a lovely spot for lunch.

A charming little bridge leads to the river banks and park centre featuring a fountain, flowerbed and waterfall, the sounds of the water gift a certain tranquility to this space.

Across the road, the park opens onto a large open field, often used for ball games, and a children’s playground. 

The adjoining Sandford Park Lido has been an asset to Cheltenham for nearly 100 years. During the warmer months the grade II listed pool opens to the public as a favourite spot to cool down and lounge on long sunny days. 

 17 Rodney Road apartment is just a 5-minute walk away from this beautiful park and all of its facilities.

Hatherley Park and The Park Campus

These two parks in the Tivoli and Bath Road areas offer a peaceful spot to feed the ducks and sit by the lake. Bring the kids along to get closer to nature and get active on the playareas and football pitches on offer.

Our apartments on offer in this area include 10 and 14 Tivoli, and Wolcote House.

Also in Cheltenham

In addition to these parks, there is a nearby National Trust site, Crickley Hill, for you to enjoy, and another lovely walk in nature – Leckhampton Hill.