Racing at Cheltenham Racecourse
In 2020, racing at Cheltenham took place behind closed doors. However, this October, the crowds are back so get down to the Racecourse to enjoy the thundering hooves once more. Showcase Friday has a thrilling seven racecard on offer. The excitement continues on the Saturday with fantastic events from The Didbrook Handicap Steeple Chase to The Masterson Holdings Hurdle Race to The Showcase Handicap Steeple Chase. Our beautiful Georgian townhouse No. 131, in the heart of Cheltenham, is only a short drive away so stop by for an early lunch beforehand.
22nd-23rd October. Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4SH. 01242 513014; www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
Dial M for Murder at Everyman Theatre
One of Hitchcock’s most famous movies, this iconic thriller has been adapted for the stage. And it’s no less spine-tingling. Packed with twists and turns, Dial M for Murder follows Tony Wendice, a jaded ex-tennis pro, who has given it all up for his wife Margot. When he discovers she has been unfaithful, his mind turns to revenge and the pursuit of the ‘perfect crime’. Strictly Come Dancing winner Tom Chambers treads the boards as Tony while West End star Diana Vickers takes on Margot. The play has left critics raving: ‘a taut, acidly funny thriller’, said The Guardian and ‘a precision-engineered delight’ concluded The Telegraph.
11th-16th October. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573; www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Pumpkin Patch at Cotswolds Farm Park
Autumn has arrived which means pumpkin season is finally here. So, wrap up warm, throw on your wellies and get down to Cotswolds Farm Park. A perfect day out for all the family, there is lots to enjoy: explore the pumpkin trail, have your face painted with a spooky design and grab yourself a pumpkin to take home for carving and pie-making. While you there, don’t forget to visit the Farm, too, where you can meet the animals, make ‘mud pies’ in the muddy kitchen, build a den in the woods and spot rare wildlife on a woodland walk. The Hollow Bottom, our beautiful Cotswolds pub, which serves hearty British classics, is also just around the corner.
Open on October weekends and throughout half-term (22nd-31st October). Guiting Power, Cheltenham GL54 5FL. 01451 850307; www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk
English Symphony Orchestra at Cheltenham Town Hall
The Cheltenham Concert Series kicks off this month – and it’s as brilliant as ever, sporting a wide variety of performers, from much-loved British orchestras to big name musicians from far-flung places including Armenia and China. The English Symphony Orchestra are the first in this eight-part series – and they have a fantastic programme planned with the beautiful tones of Philip Sawyer’s compositional style before pianist Sarah Beth Briggs performs Mozart’s 22nd concerto – a sparkling late Viennese work. The second half features Beethoven’s ground-breaking pastoral masterpiece Symphony No.6 in F, described as the ‘ultimate hymn to nature’.
25th October. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. 0844 576 2210; www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
Cheltenham Literature Festival
The great and the good will be descending on Cheltenham once again for this year’s literature festival. From literary legends to fresh new voices to the biggest books of the year, there is something on offer for everyone. For keen cooks, there’s Raymond Blanc, Ainsley Harriott and Monica Galetti. Fiction lovers can enjoy talks by Elif Shafak, Colm Tóibín and Sebastian Faulks. Lenny Henry, Michael Morpurgo and the legendary Jacqueline Wilson are the perfect choice for all the family. Other hot tickets include: Guest curator, Dame Joan Bakewell, doyenne of Latin American literature Isabel Allende, Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk
8th-17th October. Various venues around Cheltenham. 01242 850270; www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature