A good jumping off point for day trips and excursions is Cheltenham. An easy drive form Cooks Green Cottage, day trips from Cheltenham are organised by reputable coach companies or if you want to go it alone, the railways will take you to all points of the compass.
From the blissful haven of your holiday cottage, you will be able to plan some lovely day trips from Cheltenham including visits to Wales, Weston-super-Mare a fabulous seas side resort, Oxford, Stratford–upon-Avon birthplace of William Shakespeare and Alton Towers, the UK’s premier theme park. For a really fun afternoon, you can book a mystery tour on a coach and see where you end up. Usually it will involve a stop for afternoon tea to round off a visit to the mystery destination.
Here we look at some of the day trips from Cheltenham that will appeal to everyone.
Stratford-upon-Avon
Famous as the home of William Shakespeare this beautiful well-preserved town is just shy of one hour from Cheltenham. The home place of Shakespeare can be seen along with the cottage of Anne Hathaway where he also lived. The Royal Shakespeare Company has its base in Stratford where plays are put on regularly at the Courtyard Theatre. If you wish to buy a ticket for a play, it is wise to book well in advance. The market town of Stratford-upon-Avon has more than 800 years of history with sights that would have been familiar to William Shakespeare too. The town is a treasure trove of little shops, museums with attractive riverside venues. A tourist office that also sells some exquisite souvenirs is a great place to find your bearings.
Weston-Super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a typical English seaside resort with many traditional attractions associated with the English seaside including a grand pier and donkey rides along the beach. Weston Bay is famous for its miles of sandy, clean beaches and a promenade where you can stroll for miles. There are some super views over the Bristol Channel with lovely countryside and coastal walks to be enjoyed. There are designated beach areas for all kinds of water sports and do not miss a boat ride around the bay.
There is a wonderful aquarium that children and adults alike will love, the world’s biggest museum devoted to helicopters, seasonal seaside variety shows and theatre plays and plenty of restaurants and entertainment venues.
Bodnant Gardens, Wales
If you fancy a day trip to another country within the United Kingdom, Wales is close enough for some super trips. Bodnant Gardens is a National Trust property. Bodnant Hall within the gardens is the home of Lord Aberconway. The house is not open to the public but may be seen. It was built in 1792. The magnificent gardens have fantastic views over the Snowdonia Mountains and comprise of woodlands, formal gardens, ponds, and streams. There is an amazing laburnum arch some 55metres long and flowers in May to early June if you want to see it at its best. Within the 80 acres, you will come across many lovely features and buildings such as the old family mausoleum, statues and everything you would expect of a stately English garden. National Trust gift shops are perfect for picking up English mementos and souvenirs or you may like a recipe book, English biscuits, jam, or marmalade.
Alton Towers
Children of all ages will enjoy Alton Towers, which, can be visited on day trips from Cheltenham. Alton Towers is a family favourite with great attractions such as white-knuckle ride roller coasters, special events and loads more. Alton Towers for which the theme park is named date back to the 8th century! The theme park and rides are just a bit more modern! A monorail train will take you around the park and you can see the famous water rides and roller coasters from a safe distance before you join in the fun.
These are just some of the wonderful day trips from Cheltenham you can avail of while staying at Cooks Green Cottage.