4 Best Sights in Cheltenham, Bath and the Cotswolds

In the center of Gloucester, magnificent Gloucester Cathedral, with its soaring, elegant exterior, was originally a Norman abbey church, consecrated in 1100. Reflecting different periods, the cathedral mirrors perfectly the slow growth of ecclesiastical taste and the development of the Perpendicular Gothic style. The interior has largely been spared the sterilizing attentions of modern architects and is almost completely Norman, with the massive pillars of the nave left untouched since their completion. The fan-vaulted roof of the 14th-century cloisters is the finest in Europe, and the cloisters enclose a peaceful garden (used in the filming of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). Don't miss the Whispering Gallery, which has a permanent exhibition devoted to the splendid, 14th-century stained glass of the Great East Window. Tours of the tower (269 steps up; £12) are available, as are general (£8) and themed guided tours. Gloucester is 13 miles southwest of Cheltenham and reachable from there on frequent buses and trains.

From the 1880s onward, Cheltenham was at the forefront of the Arts and Crafts movement, and this is still demonstrated by the fine displays of William Morris textiles, furniture by Charles Voysey, and wood and metal pieces by Ernest Gimson at this eclectic museum and art gallery. Decorative arts, such as Chinese ceramics, are also well represented, and British artists, including Stanley Spencer, Vanessa Bell, and Jake and Dinos Chapman, make their mark. The Summerfield Galleries demonstrate life through the ages, and there's a children's gallery called World of Wonders. Exhibits on Cheltenham's history complete the picture; one is devoted to Edward Wilson, who traveled with Robert Scott to the Antarctic on Scott's ill-fated 1912 expedition. The on-site Wilson Kitchen is open for lunch, coffee, and cake.

The birthplace of the English composer Gustav Holst (1874–1934), who was born in Cheltenham, is the only Victorian house open to the public in the town. The period interiors are well preserved, and the collection includes many of the Holst family's own possessions, including the Collard & Collard piano on which Holst wrote The Planets, a famous orchestral suite.

The grandest of Cheltenham's remaining spa buildings, the pump room is set amid parkland, a 20-minute walk from the town center. The classic Regency structure, built in the late 1820s, now serves mainly as a concert hall and a theatrical venue. It's wise to check before visiting as there's often a private function taking place. There's also a café.