Cheltenham has been welcoming visitors for almost 300 years,  ever since the discovery of the first natural spring led to the development of  the elegant spa town of today.

A unique and historic town with a population of 106,543 (mid  2000 estimate), Cheltenham is also a cultural centre hosting an impressive  calendar of international festivals and special events.

Cheltenham lies some five kilometres to the east of the M5  motorway mid-way between Bristol and Birmingham on the edge of the Cotswold  Hills.

The borough is based on the town of Cheltenham and is mainly  urban with some areas of surrounding countryside. It covers an area of  approximately 4,680 hectares of which 17 percent is designated as green belt and  22 percent as an area of outstanding natural beauty.