Your Cheltenham Commute: How To Get Around Easily
Cheltenham has an advantage most students only notice after they have lived somewhere larger. Distance rarely gets in the way here. Francis Close Hall, Park Campus and the town centre are close enough together that the question is never whether you can get there, only which way you would rather go. So, let’s explore how easy your Cheltenham commute can be.
Is The Bus the Best Option?
For many students, yes. A Stagecoach StudentRider pass gives you unlimited travel across Cheltenham and Gloucester, and the 94 and 94X handle the majority of the work, linking the town centre, Churchdown and Gloucester at regular intervals throughout the day. The A, C, D and E routes will take care of the rest, reaching residential areas, the railway station and the retail parks. For those nights on the town, night shuttles and later-running 94 services mean the evening does not have to end the moment the buses stop running.
Is Cycling Practical in Cheltenham?
Better than many may expect. Cheltenham is mostly flat, and the Honeybourne Line, a converted railway path, brings together Pittville, Francis Close Hall and the town centre on the way to Cheltenham Spa train station. Secure bike storage is available across university sites, so your bike stays as easy to live with as the ride itself. For those unable to bring their bike, rental e-scooters and e-bikes can fill the gap, with drop-off bays placed near the busier parts of town.
Can I Just Walk Around?
Not always, but for local journeys, certainly! Most of Cheltenham’s key locations sit within ten to twenty-five minutes of one another on foot. Walking from the town centre to the Park Campus takes around fifteen minutes, and Francis Close Hall lies close enough to the centre that most students find it a comfortable, unhurried walk. The main pedestrian routes stay well-lit after dark, which matters more once the nights draw in.
How About Travel Beyond Cheltenham?
Cheltenham Spa station is around fifteen to twenty minutes’ walk from the town centre and opens up the rest of the country for you. You can reach Gloucester in under ten minutes, then Bristol, Birmingham and London if you wish to explore further. A 16-25 Railcard cuts a third off off-peak fares, a small thing to arrange in freshers’ week that quietly saves you money every time you head home.
Is It Worth Having a Car?
Not really, especially if you are living somewhere without parking. On-campus parking permits are also tightly restricted for residents, and most town-centre street parking runs on permits or pay-and-display, so a car often creates more problems than it solves.
A few extra things worth knowing before term starts:
Get your StudentRider pass early, since it pays for itself fast once you are commuting daily. Walk your regular commute once by daylight and once after dark before deciding it works for you year-round. Sort your Railcard before your first trip home rather than paying full price, and check the e-scooter bays near your own campus, since availability varies more than people presume.
As town’s go, managing your Cheltenham commute shouldn’t be too challenging. The town is small enough to get around quickly and has good links to the wider region. Once you find your own way around, it all becomes one less thing to think about.
If you’re considering making Cheltenham home for the next academic year, you can browse our properties here.