Free Things to Do in Cheltenham: 15 Ideas for Every Season
Fifteen free things to do in Cheltenham, from The Wilson, Pittville Park and Leckhampton Hill to free classes, kids' activities and Christmas 2026 events.
In short: the best free things to do in Cheltenham are The Wilson, the town's art gallery and museum, which reopens its collections galleries on 24 October 2026; Pittville Park, for its aviaries, lakes and play areas; and Leckhampton Hill, for the Devil's Chimney and views over the Severn Vale. The Wilson is closed on Mondays, so save rainy days for Tuesday to Sunday.
Fifteen free things to do in Cheltenham, for rainy days, children and Christmas, checked on the venues' and organisers' own sites on 19 October 2026.
What are the best free things to do in Cheltenham?
| Free thing | Good for | When | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Wilson | Rainy days | Tue to Sun | Suggested £5 donation |
| OrangeYoga | Yoga | Weekly | Book online first |
| Make & Mingle | Crafters | Tue and Sun | Bring your own project |
| Pittville Park | Families | Every day | Boat hire costs extra |
| Pittville Pump Room | Regency interior | Café hours | Shut for private events |
| Montpellier Gardens | Play, picnics | Every day | None |
| Imperial Gardens | Holst statue | Every day | No toilets |
| Sandford Park | Cascade pools | Every day | Toilets in summer only |
| Leckhampton Hill | Views | Every day | Cattle graze the hill |
| Cleeve Hill | Big walks | Every day | £2 at two car parks |
| Family trail | Children | Mon to Sat | None |
| Holst Victorian House | Under 16s | Tue to Sun | Adults pay £10 |
| LEGO Club | Children | Saturdays | Book a space |
| Lights and festive film | Evening strolls | From 21 Nov | None |
| Christmas Market | Browsing | 10 to 23 Dec | Stalls sell, entry free |
What can you do for free in Cheltenham on a rainy day?
Go to The Wilson, then join a free yoga class or a craft drop-in.
The Wilson
The town's art gallery and museum reopens its collections galleries, closed for renovation since 2020, on 24 October 2026. Children get a free Play Café with a LEGO wall and book boats; the Arts and Crafts gallery is closed for refurbishment.
- 🎟️ Free, suggested £5 donation
- ⏰ Tue to Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 4pm
- 📍 Clarence Street, Town Centre
OrangeYoga
A volunteer-run, not-for-profit studio whose regular community classes are free, with, in its own words, "no up-sell". Book online before you go.
- 🧘 Free community classes
- 💷 Other classes £12
- 📍 St George's Place, Town Centre
The Kiwi Fruit is Cute
This upstairs craft shop runs Make & Mingle, a free drop-in: bring whatever you are making and sit with other crafters. No ticket needed.
- 🧶 Free drop-in
- ⏰ Tue and Sun, 1pm to 4pm
- 📍 High Street, Town Centre
Which parks in Cheltenham are free?
All of the council's parks and gardens are free to enter; these five are worth crossing town for.
Pittville Park
Split in two by Evesham Road: the eastern half has the main play area and the aviaries of birds and bunnies, the western half a bigger lake, woodland and a skate park.
- 🦜 Aviaries and play areas
- 🚻 Toilets, Changing Places
- 🏆 Green Flag park
- 📍 Evesham Road, Pittville
Pittville Pump Room
The last and largest of Cheltenham's spa buildings, opened in 1830 above the park; its pop-up café is the easy way to see inside. The spa well was shut in 2003, so there is no water to taste.
- ☕ Café 9.30am to 4.30pm
- ✨ Free lights switch-on, Sat 28 Nov
- 📍 East Approach Drive, Pittville
Montpellier Gardens
Regency gardens with a play area, skate ramps and toilets in the southern half and a small arboretum in the north-west corner.
- 🛝 Play area
- ☕ Garden Cafe
- 📍 Montpellier Walk, Montpellier
Imperial Gardens
Formal gardens in a Regency square behind the Town Hall, centred on a bronze statue of Gustav Holst in a fountain.
- 🎼 Holst statue
- 🚫 No toilets
- 📍 Imperial Square, Montpellier
Sandford Park
Italian Gardens and cascade pools on the River Chelt on one side; a large play area, table tennis and boules by the lido on the other.
- 🛝 Large play area
- 🚻 Toilets in summer
- 📍 College Road, off the High Street
Where can you walk for free near Cheltenham?
On the two hills above town, both open to walkers at no charge.
Leckhampton Hill and the Devil's Chimney
Council-owned and made a National Nature Reserve on 4 June 2026, the hill rises to 293 metres with views across the Severn Vale to the Welsh hills. Look for the Devil's Chimney, a limestone pillar probably left standing by quarry workers.
- 🥾 3km path suitable for wheelchairs
- 🐄 Cattle graze: keep dogs close
- 🅿️ Daisy Bank Road or Hartley Lane
- 📍 Leckhampton
Cleeve Hill and Cleeve Common
About 4 miles north-east of town, Cleeve Common is the highest point in the Cotswolds at 330 metres, crossed by the Cotswold Way. Sheep graze it this season, so keep dogs on short leads near them.
- 🅿️ £2 at the quarry and golf club car parks
- 🚌 Stagecoach W bus from Cheltenham
- 🚻 Toilets only at the golf club
What can kids do for free in Cheltenham?
Plenty, from the aviaries to a town trail. For paid ideas too, see things to do in Cheltenham with kids.
Cheltenham Town Hall
The volunteer-run Tourist Information Centre in the lobby hands out a free family trail, a quiz around town-centre landmarks with a small prize at the end. Adults can follow the free public art trail instead.
- 🗺️ Free trail, small prize
- ⏰ Desk Mon to Sat, 10am to 4pm
- 📍 Imperial Square, Town Centre
Holst Victorian House
The composer's birthplace, set out as an 1870s family home with a working Victorian kitchen, toys in the nursery and a family trail. Under 16s go free with a paying adult.
- 👶 Under 16s free
- 💷 Adults £10
- ⏰ Tue to Sat 10am to 4pm, Sun 12pm to 4pm
- 📍 Clarence Road, Pittville
LEGO Club at Cheltenham Children's Library
A free Saturday-morning building session: the library provides the bricks, children come with an adult, and you book a space for each child.
- 🧱 Free
- ⏰ Saturdays, 10.30am to 12.30pm
- 📍 Chester Walk, Town Centre
What free events are on in Cheltenham this autumn and Christmas?
The Wilson's reopening comes first, then the Christmas lights go on from Saturday 21 November. All of these are free.
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct, 5pm to 7pm | Reopening party (free ticket) | The Wilson |
| Sat 24 and Sun 25 Oct | Reopening weekend: tours, workshops, a new film | The Wilson |
| Sat 21 Nov | Christmas lights switched on | Town centre |
| Sat 28 Nov, 1pm to 7pm | Lights switch-on party, lights at 5pm | Pittville Pump Room |
| Thu 3 to Wed 16 Dec | Festive film on the Municipal Offices, nightly from dusk | The Promenade |
| Thu 10 to Wed 23 Dec | Christmas Market, 40 stalls | The Promenade |
Good to know: The Wilson's Halloween trail (£5) is paid, and there is no ice rink this year. Every festive date is in our Christmas in Cheltenham guide.
Free things to do in Cheltenham: questions
Is The Wilson in Cheltenham free?
Yes, with a suggested £5 donation, though some exhibitions and events charge. It is closed on Mondays.
What free things can you do in Cheltenham with kids?
Pittville Park's aviaries and play areas, The Wilson's Play Café, the Saturday LEGO Club at the children's library and the family trail from the Town Hall.
What can you do for free in Cheltenham when it rains?
Visit The Wilson, join a free community class at OrangeYoga, or bring a craft project to Make & Mingle at The Kiwi Fruit is Cute.
When are the Cheltenham Christmas lights switched on in 2026?
From Saturday 21 November 2026 in the town centre. Pittville Pump Room holds a free switch-on party on Saturday 28 November, with the lights on at 5pm.
Is Leckhampton Hill free to visit?
Yes. Park at Daisy Bank Road or Hartley Lane and follow the paths to the Devil's Chimney.