Gloucestershire Daily
NEW

Cheltenham Named Second Best Large Town in the UK, Just Behind Blackpool

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 cheltenham gloucestershire uktowns culture history montpellier festivals arts heritage tourism

Cheltenham, a historic Gloucestershire town, has been ranked the second best large town in the UK by destination expert Chris Moss. The ranking, which evaluated the 25 most populous towns in England, saw Cheltenham achieve an impressive nine out of ten score, placing it just behind Blackpool, which secured the top spot with a 9.5 rating. The list was created as part of the government’s initiative to select the first UK Town of Culture in 2028, highlighting towns with standout cultural and historical credentials.