Christmas in Cheltenham
Christmas in Cheltenham promises to be a magical affair. From the spectacular Cheltenham Ice Rink to Christmas race meets and an enchanted light trail at Cotswold Farm Park, sure to delight your little ones, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
But with so many festive things to see and do in and around the town this December, how do you do it all? To help you make the most of your time in town, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite events taking place in Cheltenham this Christmas.
Cheltenham Ice Rink
Cheltenham’s magical ice rink, located in the stunning Imperial Gardens, is the perfect place to make lasting festive memories. Located indoors, there’s no need to worry about wet weather or windy conditions spoiling your fun. What’s more, the ice is reconditioned regularly to ensure you get a great skating experience whenever you visit.
Cheltenham Ice Rink is fully accessible and welcomes skaters as young as three, so it is ideal for all family members to spend time together. There are even special sessions for students, adults, schools, and pre-schoolers, as well as relaxed sensory sessions, so everyone can make the most of the experience.
Once you’ve finished on the ice rink, you can grab something warm to eat or drink amongst charming festive scenery in the Imperial Gardens.
The Cheltenham Ice Rink opens from 29th November to 5th January this year. Tickets range from £15 at peak times for adults for an hour’s session to £12 for children up to 14, although family tickets are available, which offer savings. There are also discounted rates available for seniors, Blue Light card holders and Veteran ID card holders and spectators can visit for free.
The ice rink is just a five-minute drive from the hotel or can be easily reached by public transport.
Santa’s Tea Party – John Lewis Cheltenham
Santa’s Tea Party at John Lewis is an enchanting Christmas experience for little ones. Hosted in the Place to Eat café in John Lewis, you and your child can enjoy a special Christmas story before tucking into snacks, hot cocoa and a special gift from Father Christmas.
The tea party runs from the 15th to the 17th of December, and places are limited you must book in advance to avoid disappointment. Tickets cost £17.50 per child and £6 per adult. John Lewis is less than a 15-minute walk from the hotel, so there’s really no excuse not to go.
Enchanted Light Trail – Cotswold Farm Park
Just half an hour’s drive from Cotswold Grange Hotel, Cotswold Farm Park is a must-visit destination any time of the year, but even more so at Christmas when it gets transformed into a spectacular winter wonderland.
Top of our to-do list is their stunning enchanted light trail, which showcases marvellous creations, installations and illuminations created by local artists, lighting designers and craftspeople.
The trail takes around an hour to an hour and a half to complete if you get involved in all the experiences along the way, including feeding the animals in the lit-up barn and meeting performers along the way. The trail is fully accessible to all visitors and, for the first time, is now dog-friendly so the whole family can get involved.
The enchanted light trail runs from late November until 31st December. Tickets for the light trail only range from £15.95 for children to £19.95 for adults (for non-farm park members), or you can book the full experience, which includes a special one-to-one visit with Father Christmas.
The Christmas Race Meet – Cheltenham Racecourse
No visit to Cheltenham is complete without a visit to the town’s famous racecourse, and the Christmas race meet held on 13th and 14th December is the perfect excuse to get your racing fix.
A real highlight of the racing calendar, this two-day meeting kick-starts the festive sporting season. The Tattersalls Cheltenham sales take place on Friday, offering a select group of winning and placed point-to-pointers for sale after the racing. Saturday promises to be a real Christmas extravaganza with family-themed fun, including a Christmas pony ride to see Father Christmas in his Grotto and great racing action.
At Cotswold Grange, we’re ideally located for racegoers, being just a four-minute drive from the track. Our friendly staff can even help organise transport for you so that you can enjoy a festive tipple or two on the day.
Enjoy a festive getaway
Experience a festive getaway in Cheltenham at The Cotswold Grange Hotel and explore everything the town has to offer, including the incredible Cheltenham Ice Rink, Enchanted light trail, Santa’s Tea Party and the Race Meet! Our comfortable and peaceful boutique hotel is the perfect place to relax and experience the magic of the Cotswolds at Christmas.
Book your stay today and experience the beauty of the Cheltenham at Christmas for yourself.