Weekend in Cheltenham / Gloucester and teenagers

[familybfive]

We are away this weekend staying in between cheltenham and Gloucester , any suggestions of fun / christmassy things to do with older teenagers much appreciated :)

The Cheltenham Christmas Market is on at the moment. Loads of stalls, gifts, food and drink etc. it's right in the centre and the Christmas lights are lovely. there's usually something on in Gloucester Quays as well and it's worth checking out anyway.

There's an ice rink in Cheltenham, behind the town hall atm, and you can get a discount code by eating with certain restaurants. I don't know all of them, but one of my faves, Bar 288 is in the scheme

I would highly recommend Kibou restaurant in Cheltenham if you like Japanese food but it’s always booked up so do pre book. There is also ice skating at Gloucester Quays.

@Quornflakegirl

I would highly recommend Kibou restaurant in Cheltenham if you like Japanese food but it’s always booked up so do pre book. There is also ice skating at Gloucester Quays.

Ooh yes, Kibou is my favourite restaurant, 288 Bar and Wok in the High Street in Cheltenham is also excellent, very friendly and great value.

The Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle is lovely at the moment but pretty booked up but you might get lucky. Early to mid evening.

There is indoor crazy golf in Cheltenham which is quite fun.

A few hours at Cheltenham races?

Kibou is delicious but on the pricey side. My teens also love Wagamama's

If you head Gloucester way, there is the Ninja Warriors, or the ski slope if you want to pretend you’re on the alpes.

Alternatively, head to one of the lovely villages such as Broadway and enjoy the decorations and lovely shops. Stop for lunch and a mulled wine.

Hooker & Eight pizza in Glos and the Cathedral. I stayed in a place called Hucclecote just out of Gloucester- there wasn't much on tbh and Cheltenham was only good for food.

There is an ice risk at Gloucester Quays, plus the Christmas street market is there at the weekends.
Would also recommend Ninja Warrior or there is a Go Karting place too.
Warehouse climbing centre is great and does beginner sessions for families.

Go and watch the rugby in Gloucester on Friday night. Great atmosphere.

Gloucester Quays is brilliant for shopping, food, markets. It also has an ice rink. Then there is the cathedral.

Thanks so much for your suggestions - pretty sure we can find some good stuff to keep the teenagers amused ;)

Gloucester is grim at the best of times, so don't go near the centre unless you like £ shops. The Cathedral is gorgeous, and there's a massive outlet centre with cinema and restaurants at the Quays but that's as good as it gets.

Cheltenham centre is better, there's the ice rink and street market on the Prom at the moment, and better choice of shops. The Brewery quarter has crazy golf, cinema and bars/restaurants. And there's a new Tivoli lounge for cinema in the Regents Arcade.

Yup. City centre is sadly grim. Cathedral lovely. Plenty going on at the Quays. If it’s still there, big cinema on the Bristol Road.

Ah okay - is there a better town to travel to with more going on near gloucester-cheltenham ,?

The Cheltenham ice rink is good and in a very pretty part of town, the Christmas market is just down the road. My ds and his mates are booked in for Saturday.

@familybfive

Ah okay - is there a better town to travel to with more going on near gloucester-cheltenham ,?

Well, it depends what you want 🤷‍♀️. Stow on the wold and moreton in marsh are nice for shopping and antiques etc. No other nearby towns with 'modern' centres. Cheltenham is def nicer than Glos, albeit you can spend a couple of hours mooching around glos quays with ice skating/market/shopping (some decent outlets)/eating etc

For those saying the centre of Gloucester is grim - it's not that bad. The range of shops isn't as good as Chelt, but minutes from the centre you have the cathedral & the quays, climbing warehouse & go karting.
The nearest places with things to do are Bristol or Birmingham.

Gloucester vegan Christmas fair is on Sunday.

Ice skating rink at Gloucester Quays should you have older teens into that.

Yes, agreed: Bristol and Birmingham are the nearest big cities. I’d forgotten about the climbing wall in Gloucester - probably as I’m no climber. 🤣. The amount of grim pound shops etc is a sad sight in the city centre in Gloucester, but it still has some nice bits.

If you want to go to the cinema, in Gloucester I'd go to the Sherborne Cinema - it's a small independent cinema and only takes cash and no card payments, or in Cheltenham try the Tivoli in the Regent Arcade. The Sherborne is a lot cheaper tbh!

www.sherbornecinema.co.uk/
www.tivolicinemas.com/venue/cheltenham

I'd say Cheltenham is better for shopping, but I often go to Bristol for shopping, either Cribbs Causeway or Cabot Circus.

If they are Harry Potter fans, they might like the Cathedral Cloisters. Enjoy your weekend OP!

Ooh there’s loads to do in Cheltenham! On Saturday I’d do breakfast and mooch around the independent shops on the Bath road/Suffolk’s area. I highly recommend The Curious Cafe or Baker and Graze for breakfast. Theres a Christmas fair on at the newly renovated St Philips and James Church on Great Norwood street, it’s a very cool church and they’ll be cool vendors, no tat.
I’d then walk down through Montpellier gardens down to the ice skating rink and then pop over to the Winter Wonderland at 131 over the road for a hot chocolate to warm up. Wander down The Promenade visiting the markets on the way down to The Brewery. There is golf, bowling, escape rooms and cinema there and loads of places to eat that will make Teens happy. Sunday I’d do the brunch at The Ivy, Woodkraft or the Tavern and then stroll through Pittvile park to the Christmas craft market at historical Pitville Pump Rooms and the new orangery bar with live music next door then drive over to visit Bourton-on-the-Water to see the beautiful Cotswold village whilst it’s not too busy. I’d visit the Penguins at Birdland and get coffee and cake from the Den. Fish and chips from The Chip Shed as dusk falls and the Christmas lights switch on… perfect.

Thank you @HappyMcFlappy for that info on Cheltenham - sounds fab!