Your Visit to The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
It’s time to start planning your Festival adventure… 🍂
Make the most of your Cheltenham Literature Festival experience with our handy guide — packed with everything you need to know, from venue locations and local transport to car parking options and accessibility info. A little planning goes a long way, and this is your key to a smooth, story-filled Festival visit.
For even more inspiration, explore Visit Cheltenham for the best places to stay, eat and drink (hello, indie pubs and cosy cafés!), plus local attractions and Regency gems waiting to be discovered.
And if you’re looking to fill your weekend with even more, SoGlos.com has you covered with the latest events, activities and insider tips from across Gloucestershire.
Getting Here
By Car
The easiest and simplest places to park are the two Park & Ride centres at Arle Court (GL51 6SY), just off Junction 11 of the M5 motorway, and a second at Cheltenham Racecourse (GL50 4SH).
The nearest large car parks to the Festival hub in Montpellier Gardens are The Regent Arcade (GL50 1JZ) and Cheltenham Walk (GL50 3PR). There are smaller car parks also in the vicinity including Rodney Road (GL50 1HX) and St George’s Road (GL50 3DT) although parking here is limited.
For people with limited mobility we recommend parking in Regent’s Arcade car park. For more information about parking in Cheltenham visit the Cheltenham Borough Council website.
By Bus
Cheltenham is well connected by local buses. Services 94, 94X, 97 and 10 all stop directly across from Montpellier Gardens. For up-to-date timetables and routes, visit the Stagecoach website.
By Train
Cheltenham Spa Railway station is located just a 20 minute walk from the Festival Village. Please check the trainline website for any ongoing disruptions to your travel. There is a taxi rank located at the station.
By Bike
Prefer to pedal in? There are bike racks available throughout Montpellier Gardens — a quick, easy and eco-friendly way to travel.
Food and Drink
At the heart of the Festival, enjoy a selection of hot and cold food, pastries, cakes and more in the Feast Cafe and Festival Bar in Montpellier Gardens.
Download the official Cheltenham Festivals app to view the full list of vendors.
Contact Us
If you need any help during the Festival, our Festival volunteers will be onsite to answer your questions. In their pink t-shirts, they're easy to spot.
During the Festival, our social media is the best place to contact us. Alternatively, you can email the Box Office team and they will get back to you as soon as they can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay to get into the Festival?
It is completely free to enter the Festival Village in Montpellier Gardens. Tickets are needed for each indiviudal event. Please contact our Box Office team if you have any questions
How accessible is the Festival Village?
We believe in a world where everyone can explore and create culture and as part of this we're working hard to make sure the Festival site is accessible. You can find out more about specific venues here.
Where can I find information on your venues?
Please visit our venue information page for access information and how to get to each of our venues.
Are there toilet facilities in the Festival Village?
There are a number of toilet facilities on site in Montpellier Gardens and these are clearly signposted on our Festival map and on site.
Do you have an in person Box Office on the Festival site?
Yes, there is an onsite Box Office in Montpellier Gardens. The opening times are published online shortly before the Festival starts as well as at the Box Office itself. Our phone lines are closed during the Festival but you can still email us.
