Residents in Cheltenham say living here is “like being on holiday” after it was hailed as the UK’s second best large town.
The Gloucestershire town was only bettered by Blackpool in the list curated by destination expert Chris Moss which was published in the Telegraph.
Cheltenham locals were full of praise for the location following the announcement of the rankings.
“Really nice, I like the fact you can walk to lots of places – that’s the big appeal – but also you’re close to the countryside,” said Jane Morgan, 61, who has lived in Cheltenham for 27 years.
“It seems to have lots of facilities but it’s not too big. We quite like that it’s close to the motorway too, it’s accessible north and south.”
Art and culture were amongst the reasons given for the town’s lofty placement in the list.
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 begins on Tuesday, March 10 while the music, jazz and literature festivals are all noteworthy events taking place across the summer and into the autumn.
“You’ve got festivals nearly all through the summer season. Music, arts, science and literature, so there’s a lot going on,” said Trisha, 78, who moved to Cheltenham from Southport 16 years ago.
She also feels the Cheltenham Lido, which has been in use for 91 years, is also a big selling point for the area.
“It’s brilliant, it’s a lovely place to be, like being on holiday quite honestly,” she said.
“I go every day and it’s a real plus for me. I’ve lived by the sea all my life until I moved here. The second best thing, I’d rather live by the sea but if I can’t, the Lido will do.”
Some locals see the town as a place with potential for plenty of improvement.
“I can see why it’s voted a popular place,” said David Lloyd, 73. “I think it’s in a good location for opportunities for people to go and work, and it’s got a good motorway network.”
“The actual town centre, like every town at the moment, needs to be reinvented and people need to be thinking ‘how can we make the town look good?’.”
“If we can have a little bit more of an attitude of ‘let’s spend our money and time looking after our local community’, I think it could even be better.”
Blackpool was the only large town which received a higher score than Cheltenham, awarded a nine-and-a-half score out of 10, whilst Cheltenham was rated nine out of 10.
“Blackpool’s a nice day out by the sea. You’ve got the amusement park, the tower, Strictly (Come Dancing),” said Dianne Lloyd, 73.
Cheltenham, which has a population of 118,836, was noted for its strong cultural history by Moss.
“The poshest of our 25 towns, Cheltenham is brim-full of fetching assets, from the refined residences of the Suffolks and Tivoli area to the gracious Montpellier district,” he said.
“In the 19th century, Montpellier Spa was one of a handful of places where the well-heeled gathered to take the town’s mineral waters.
“Montpellier Gardens and neighbouring Imperial Gardens provide green spaces and are used as festival sites.”
“Jazz, science, music and literature have their own dedicated quality showcases.
“The Promenade, an avenue built in the 1820s, is grand and airy. Cafes, bistros, delis and restaurants abound.
“The museum, The Wilson, is known for its Arts and Crafts collection but is also strong on Flemish art.”
