Our town has a diverse range of attractions all year round, however for many people we are most famous for the Cheltenham Festival – our very own annual horse racing celebration, which this year will take place from 11-14th March.

Some of the statistics from recent years suggest that around 65,000 people per day enjoy the pageantry and competition each year, which means (if we use some rough maths) that Cheltenham’s population booms by close to an additional 55% on these days – we are talking about startling numbers of visitors to our town!

The explosion of people is not without its challenges and criticisms

This explosion of people in and around the racecourse, town centre and surrounding areas is not without its challenges and criticisms. As a council, and with our partners at Gloucestershire Police and the race organisers, we try hard to make sure the event passes enjoyably, not just for the attendees but also for our residents and businesses, many of which will enjoy extra footfall and revenue during the race week.

While Cheltenham Festival officially lasts for four days, we know that many visitors to our town arrive days before and stay on after the final race is run, extending the boost to our economy beyond the official dates.

£274m is brought into our local economy during the festival

A University of Gloucestershire study found that an estimated £274m is brought into our local economy over the course of the festival, with attendees spending an average of almost £700 per guest. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, almost half of the total spend goes towards entertainment and ‘refreshments’, with a whopping 265,000 pints of Guinness alone drunk during 2024’s meet!

There are plenty of facts and figures used to describe the difference hosting the Festival makes to Cheltenham, but what we cannot count is how much this event boosts our town’s profile across the UK and around the world.
If you’re attending this year, have a great time.