Living and working in a ‘festival town’, as I do in Cheltenham, is something of a privilege. Our city is a hotspot for sport, science and culture, hence its internationally renowned festival programme, offering everything from the acclaimed Jazz Festival and Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham Festival Races to the symphonic, choral, chamber and contemporary elements of the Cheltenham Music Festival.

As with other renowned cultural festival locations – Edinburgh, Hay-on-Wye, Aldeburgh, Petworth or Bath, for example – the events in Cheltenham attract visitors from far and wide and we have seen time and again how the enjoyment of a particular festival can grow into a love of the city itself, turning those visitors into buyers. Our office in Cheltenham overlooks Imperial Square, where the Literature Festival takes place. During the season, visitors frequently call in to enquire about prices and to find out more about property available in Cheltenham and its surrounds. 

Buying property in a festival town, whether as a main residence or second home, not only brings the pleasure of living in a vibrant location (and making you popular with friends looking for a place to stay during the festival), but also represents an investment for the future, as the festivals get bigger and better every year.

Here is a selection of the best property on the market either in a festival town itself or within a few minutes' drive.