About
'Curry & Colonels' Guided Tour Experience
Discover the little-known colonial past of Cheltenham in the company of re-enactor guide Phil Collins, appropriately dressed as Captain Henry Skillicorne – the man who developed the town’s first spa!
Once known as an ‘Anglo-Indian Paradise’ and the ‘Calcutta of the Cotswolds’, the town was home to the most Anglo-Indian residents outside London – and their influence has shaped the Cheltenham we know today.
Attracted by the pleasant climate and health-giving benefits of the waters, many military officers and British Raj administrators came to the town with their families in the nineteenth century to rest, recuperate or retire.
Many of the town’s finest villas and clubs were built for the new residents, with artisan dwellings built to house those who served them, giving Cheltenham the unique atmosphere we still enjoy today.
Captain Henry Skillicorne will lead you on a leisurely promenade through the town, stopping to admire the beautiful buildings, glorious gardens and sites of many of its spas, while regaling you with stories about the people who visited and lived in the town – King George III, The Duke of Wellington and Alfred Lord Tennyson to name but a few.
After exploring the town’s unique connection with the East India Company and British Raj, you’ll visit former colonial retirement home ‘The Spice Lodge’ Indian Restaurant to learn more about the links with the past and sample some of the flavours from that legendary era.
Booking
Price: £60 per person. VAT does not apply.
Duration: Approximately 3 hours. The walk is approximately 2 hours and the experience in the restaurant is approximately 1 hour. Shorter experiences are available, please enquire for details.
Capacity: Minimum 4 people and maximum 20.
Opening: Tours will be on selected dates shown on our website. We are happy to consider private tours if available on requested dates.
Booking: Advanced booking for tour required but can be booked up to 1 hour before the start time as long as confirmation is received. To book please contact the trade contact below.
Facilities
Language: English only. Guests will need a basic knowledge of English to fully appreciate the experience.
Parking: Parking available in public car parks in Cheltenham.
Accessibility: Tourists will need to be able to follow the tour guide on a 2-hour walk. There are a few steps, but please let us know if you have special accessibility requirements and we will try to accommodate your needs. You will walk up to 1.5 miles (2.4km) at an ambling pace, over mostly flat ground.
Special requirements: Relevant clothing for the weather with suitable shoes for walking and maybe an umbrella.
Trade contact
Philip Collins
pcolhead@gmail.com
07815 852153
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