Shops in Cheltenham: The Independent Shopping Guide
Cheltenham's best independent shops, area by area: jewellers and books in Montpellier, boutiques on Suffolk Parade, records in the town centre lanes and hats in Charlton Kings.
In short: Cheltenham's independent shops cluster in four places: Montpellier and Andover Road for jewellers, books, wine and menswear; the Suffolks and Bath Road for boutiques, stationery and gifts; the town centre lanes around St George's Place and Cambray Place for records, books and comics; and London Road in Charlton Kings for hats and gifts. The Promenade and Regent Arcade have most of the national chains.
Our pick of the independent shops in Cheltenham, area by area, from the 104 shops in our Cheltenham shops directory. Every shop here is independent and has a shop you can walk into.
Where are the best independent shops in Cheltenham?
| Area | Best for | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Montpellier and Andover Road | Jewellery, books, wine, menswear, lingerie | Bicks of Montpellier, Rossiter Books |
| The Suffolks and Bath Road | Womenswear, stationery, gifts, flowers | Bodega, Wildflower Illustration Co. |
| St George's Place, Cambray Place, Regent Street | Records, second-hand books, comics, cheese, tweed | Badlands, Moss Books, Vinyl Vault |
| Charlton Kings and Leckhampton | Hats, gifts, womenswear | The Hat Shop, Latchfords |
Montpellier and Andover Road
The smartest shopping in town, with family jewellers, a bookshop and menswear on Montpellier Walk and the streets around it, and wine and gifts a few minutes south on Andover Road.
Rossiter Books
An independent bookshop with signed and indie-exclusive hardbacks, puzzle books and jigsaws, and a free Christmas catalogue in the shop.
- 📚 New and signed books
- 🎟️ Book tokens
- 📍 Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier
Bicks of Montpellier
An independent jeweller for engagement rings, fine jewellery and bespoke commissions made by appointment.
- 💍 Fine and bespoke jewellery
- 🕰️ Since 1895
- 📍 Montpellier Walk
James of Montpellier
European menswear from Eton, Gran Sasso and Stenstroms, with free alterations and tailoring on everything it sells.
- 👔 Suits, knitwear, shirts
- 🕰️ Since 1985
- 📍 The Courtyard, Montpellier
Sandra Dee
A lingerie boutique founded more than 45 years ago, with European labels such as Lise Charmel, PrimaDonna and Aubade for all sizes, plus nightwear and swimwear.
- 👙 Lingerie, nightwear, swimwear
- 📍 Montpellier Walk
Also here: Tivoli Wines and The Department of Hope, Joy & Wonder on Andover Road, and Leaf and Blossom, which says it is the oldest flower shop in Cheltenham.
The Suffolks and Bath Road
Suffolk Parade is the town's best short street for independents, and Bath Road carries on with gifts, groceries and charity shops.
Bodega
A womenswear boutique selling affordable labels you won't find on the high street, with styling advice from the team.
- 👗 YAYA, Soya Concept, Gustav
- 🕰️ Since 2010
- 📍 Suffolk Parade, The Suffolks
Wildflower Illustration Co.
A husband-and-wife stationery shop that prints its own illustrated cards, writing paper and Cheltenham prints in the studio at the back.
- ✏️ Cards, prints, stationery
- 🕰️ Opened 2023
- 📍 Suffolk Parade
Emporium
A family-run gift shop with more than a thousand card designs, Jellycat, Cotswold Lavender and candles made in Cheltenham.
- 🎁 Cards, toys, candles
- 🕰️ On Bath Road since 2013
- 📍 Bath Road
Roots & Fruits
A family-run greengrocer and florist with local fruit and veg, bread from a local baker every day and bouquets made in the shop.
- 🥕 Greengrocer and florist
- 📍 Bath Road
Also here: Bloomers of Cheltenham on Great Norwood Street for flowers, and the Emmaus charity shop on Bath Road for pre-loved furniture and homeware.
The town centre lanes: St George's Place, Cambray Place and Regent Street
Step off the Promenade and the chains give way to record shops, second-hand books and old family businesses.
Badlands
Cheltenham's record shop since 1986, strongest on classic and indie rock, Springsteen and Dylan, with Rega turntables too.
- 💿 Vinyl, CDs, turntables
- 🕰️ Since 1986
- 📍 St George's Place, Town Centre
Moss Books
A second-hand bookshop with deep specialist shelves, from railways and motoring to history and travel, and fiction from A to Z.
- 📚 Second-hand books
- 🕰️ Since 1992
- 📍 St George's Place
Vinyl Vault
A second-hand record shop strongest on prog rock and folk, with original 1950s and 1960s pressings and new arrivals in the racks each week.
- 💿 Second-hand vinyl
- 🕰️ Since 1993
- 📍 Cambray Place
Horace Barton & Son
A family outfitter now in its fourth generation at the same address, with tweed, country coats, R.M. Williams boots and ski wear.
- 🧥 Town and country clothing
- 🕰️ Since 1901
- 📍 Regent Street
The Cheeseworks
A family-run cheese shop with British and European cheeses, hampers and gift boxes, and a wine bar upstairs.
- 🧀 Cheese, hampers
- 📍 Regent Street
Also here: Proud Lion Comics and Games on St George's Place, Browsers second-hand shop on Cambray Place, Cheltenham Rare Books on Imperial Square, The Kiwi Fruit is Cute for fabric and yarn on the High Street, and family jewellers Frederick Allen on Winchcombe Street and Strand Jewellers on Grosvenor Terrace.
Charlton Kings and Leckhampton
A short bus or car ride out of the centre, London Road in Charlton Kings has two of the town's best small shops side by side, and Leckhampton has a women's boutique.
The Hat Shop
A family-run showroom over two floors with more than 2,000 hats and fascinators, every one to hire or buy, plus bespoke millinery.
- 🎩 Hats and fascinators to hire or buy
- 📍 London Road, Charlton Kings
Latchfords
A mother-and-daughter gift and homeware shop for jewellery, tote bags, candles and soft furnishings, from a family in Cheltenham retail since 1985.
- 🎁 Gifts and homeware
- 📍 London Road, Charlton Kings
Allure Lifestyle
A women's clothing shop for easy-to-wear dresses, knitwear and coats at affordable prices, with gift cards for when you don't know the size.
- 👗 Womenswear
- 📍 Mead Road, Leckhampton
Also here: the Mercy In Action charity shop on London Road, and Waghorne's Butchers on Prestbury High Street for a family butcher and deli.
What shops are in Cheltenham town centre?
The Promenade has most of the national fashion, jewellery and beauty names, with Regent Arcade and Regent Street just off it, and the High Street has delis, a running shop and more chains. For clothes, see our guide to clothes shops and boutiques in Cheltenham. For presents, see our Christmas shopping guide to Cheltenham's independent gift shops.
Independent shopping in Cheltenham: questions
Where are the best independent shops in Cheltenham?
Montpellier and Andover Road, Suffolk Parade and Bath Road, the lanes around St George's Place and Cambray Place, and London Road in Charlton Kings.
Where can I buy second-hand books and records in Cheltenham?
Moss Books and Badlands on St George's Place, and Vinyl Vault on Cambray Place, all within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Which day is best for independent shopping in Cheltenham?
Saturday. Several independents, including Badlands, Proud Lion and Cheltenham Rare Books, close on Mondays, and some on Tuesdays too.
Where are the independent clothes shops in Cheltenham?
Bodega on Suffolk Parade and Allure Lifestyle in Leckhampton for womenswear, Sandra Dee on Montpellier Walk for lingerie, and James of Montpellier and Horace Barton & Son for menswear.