United Kingdom, Cheltenham

Cheltenham  is a spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, near Gloucester and Cirencester. The town has a population of 110,013 (2001 census) and the people of the town are known as "Cheltonians". The town motto is: Salubritas et Eruditio ("Health and Education").

The town is located on the edge of the Cotswolds and has an image nationally of being 'respectable' and wealthy. Cheltenham has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716.

Education
In accordance with the "Eruditio" part of its motto, Cheltenham is a centre for education, including Cheltenham Ladies' College, Pate's Grammar School, St. Edward's School, Dean Close School, Cheltenham College, and the main campuses of the University of Gloucestershire.

Festivals
Cheltenham holds music, jazz, folk, literary and science festivals every year, most significantly the Cheltenham Music Festival, founded in 1945 and now in its sixth decade.

Shopping and nightlife
Cheltenham is a popular regional shopping centre, home to several department stores, including Cavendish House, part of the House of Fraser chain, and arcades including the Regent Arcade and the Beechwood Arcade.

The town also serves as a regional nightlife centre, attracting up to 30,000 people at the weekends (council figures). When the new licensing laws were introduced, The Times ran an article that stated Cheltenham had more late licensed venues per capita, than anywhere else in the country.

Major employers
Cheltenham, looking north west from Leckhampton HillCheltenham has a number of light industries, including food processing, aerospace, electronics and tourism. The British government's electronic surveillance operation GCHQ, renowned for its "doughnut-shape" building, is located in Cheltenham.

Railway
The Town Hall, erected in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen AlexandraCheltenham Spa railway station is located on the main Bristol-Birmingham line, giving connections to Gloucester, Bristol, Swindon, London Paddington, Plymouth and the South West, Birmingham, Derby, the North West, the North East and Scotland.