The Cheltenham district of Montpellier is a small area located to the south-west of the town centre.

The area was originally a separate village, which grew up around the Rotunda pump room and spa in the 19th century.

Today the spa building is now home to Lloyds Bank, so if you pop in you can take a look at the superb interior for free.

It is an excellent area to head for when you first arrive in Cheltenham, for it is home to some of the nicest streets in Cheltenham, with some splendid Regency buildings and a beautiful park.

In particular head for Montpellier Walk, where Caryatids (pictured above) modelled on the statues of Athens appear between the shops. These Greek Goddesses have become so well known that they are now the symbol of the district.

Today Montpellier is a delightful shopping district with a distinctly continental flavour with lots of speciality shops and boutiques housed in some of the town’s finest Regency buildings.