Step Through the Garden Gate to a Moroccan Cabin Under the Apple Trees
Step outside your room here and you'll find your front door opens onto a landscaped garden rather than a corridor: the two en-suite rooms are detached, Moroccan-styled log cabins set among the apple trees, each with its own private entrance, patio and en-suite shower room. Lantern light, embroidered textiles and carved masks give the cabins their character, and a returning guest called the experience a clear step up from glamping. This is the quirk that defines Alice Guest House, and it is the single thing to understand before you book: an en-suite always means a garden cabin.
Inside the Victorian main house are characterful four-poster doubles, a twin and a single, all sharing bathrooms on the floor. Hosts Karen and Jean El Hachemi have welcomed guests since 2012, Jean speaks French as well as English, and the warm, no-fuss owner-run welcome is exactly why the property earns its standout staff score. Across hundreds of verified stays it is warmly rated overall, and the pattern is consistent: the hosts draw the loudest praise, with the Wi-Fi, value for money and cleanliness close behind. Resident dog Milo gets his own mentions in the reviews.
A Warm, Owner-Run Welcome a Short Walk from the Promenade
Wake up to a generous breakfast and a quiet, central base: continental breakfast is included and served from 07:30 to 09:00 in the main-house dining room, with gluten-free bread and packed lunches available on request, and guests routinely report cooked options offered in practice. Beyond the breakfast table, what makes the place is its sense of personal hospitality: a genuinely independent family business rather than a chain, where the hosts know the town and point you to the walks, the trails and the right taxi firm.
The location does the rest. It is a 10-minute walk into central Cheltenham and the Regency Promenade, 20 minutes to Cheltenham Spa station along the leafy Honeybourne Line trail, and 20 minutes to the famous racecourse, home of the Festival and the Gold Cup. Two practical things to settle before you travel: the property is cash only, with no card terminal on site, and there is no on-site parking, only free street parking on the residential side-streets opposite after 18:00 and on Sundays. Drop your bags at the gate first, then move the car.
Why Book Alice Guest House?
The B&B is strongest for solo travellers, couples, racegoers and Cotswold walkers who want a warm, characterful, central stay and don't mind paying cash.
Moroccan garden cabins
Book a cabin and you get the only en-suite units, each a detached Moroccan-styled log cabin with a private entrance and a patio under the apple trees.
A genuinely warm welcome
Owner-run by Karen and Jean El Hachemi since 2012, with a welcome guests single out above everything else and an included breakfast they praise nearly as often.
Walk to town and the races
Best for racegoers and walkers: 10 minutes into town, 20 minutes to the racecourse, and the station 20 minutes away along the Honeybourne Line trail.
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Interesting Points About Alice Guest House
- The en-suite rooms are not in the Victorian house at all: they are two detached, Moroccan-styled garden log cabins, each with a private entrance, patio and en-suite shower room. Booking an en-suite always means a cabin, never a main-house room. The four-poster doubles, the twin and the single inside the main house all share bathrooms on the upper floor.
- It is cash only. There is no card terminal on the property, which surprises guests who don't check first. The online room rate is settled at the time of booking and any extras are paid in cash on departure.
- Aggregator microsites get several facts wrong about this property. There is no on-site parking and no driveway (free street parking on the side-streets opposite, after 18:00 Mon to Sat and all day Sunday); there is no air conditioning and no swimming pool; and the Chinese restaurant on the High Street is roughly 400 metres away, not 200. There is no private art gallery.
- It is genuinely owner-run by Karen and Jean El Hachemi, an unincorporated family business with no chain affiliation. Hosts have welcomed guests since 2012, Jean speaks French as well as English, and the warm personal welcome earns the property its standout staff score.
Rooms & Accommodation at Alice Guest House
Double Room (Garden Cabin)
Sleeps 2 · 14 m² · Detached garden cabin · Private en-suite
The most-praised room and the one to book for the full Moroccan-cabin experience. A double bed in a detached, Moroccan-styled log cabin with a private en-suite shower room, a private entrance and a quiet patio under the apple trees. Choose this if you're a couple who wants a private bathroom, a private door and a bit of garden calm rather than a shared bathroom in the house.
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Budget Single Room
Sleeps 1 · 9 m² · Ground-floor cabin · Step-free · Private en-suite
The other garden cabin, and the one to choose for step-free access: a ground-floor, garden-side detached cabin with a private en-suite shower room and a single bed. Best for solo travellers and Cotswold walkers who want their own bathroom, level access and a quiet, affordable base a short walk from town.
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Double Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 12 m² · Main house · Four-poster · Shared bathroom
A characterful wooden four-poster in the Victorian main house, with parquet floors, a sofa and a desk, sharing a bathroom on the floor. Best for couples who love period charm and a four-poster bed and are happy to share a bathroom rather than book a cabin for the en-suite. Bring cash and note the bathroom is along the landing.
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Twin Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 12 m² · Main house · Two singles · Shared bathroom
A two-single-bed room in the Victorian main house, sharing a bathroom on the floor, with a desk, wardrobe and tea tray. Best for friends or colleagues travelling together who want separate beds and a central, affordable base and don't need an en-suite. Choose a garden cabin instead if a private bathroom matters to you.
Check PricesIs Alice Guest House right for you?
Best Suited For
- Couples who want the full Moroccan-cabin experience: a private en-suite, private entrance and a patio under the apple trees
- Solo travellers and Cotswold walkers after a warm, affordable, central base, with a step-free ground-floor cabin available
- Racegoers: Cheltenham Racecourse is a 20-minute walk and the property fills fast around the March Festival, so book ahead
- Guests who value a genuinely owner-run welcome over a slick, anonymous hotel
- Budget visitors happy to pay cash and walk 10 minutes into the Regency town centre
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You want to pay by card: the property is cash only, with no card terminal on site
- You need an en-suite inside the main house: only the two detached garden cabins are en-suite; main-house rooms share a bathroom on the floor
- You need on-site parking: there is none, only free street parking on side-streets after 18:00 and on Sundays
- You're travelling with children under 12 or a pet: the minimum age is 12 and pets are not accepted (host allergy)
- You're a very light sleeper: some guests note road and thin-wall noise at night in the main house
Amenities & Facilities
In-Room
- Private en-suite shower room in the two detached garden cabins
- Free Wi-Fi throughout, one of the best-reviewed features (the main house is faster than the cabins)
- Flat-screen TV in every room (main-house double has a DVD player)
- Electric kettle and tea/coffee tray
- Heating, desk and wardrobe
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Free toiletries and a hairdryer in the cabins
- Not available: Shared bathrooms on the floor for the main-house four-posters, twin and single
- Not available: No air conditioning
Food & Drink
- Continental breakfast included, served 07:30–09:00 in the main-house dining room
- Gluten-free bread and packed lunches on request
- That Sandwich Place for lunch ~50 yards along Swindon Road
- The Adam & Eve, a traditional Arkell's ales pub, a short walk away
- Hei Kitchen Chinese on the High Street, roughly 400 metres away
- The Brewery Quarter (restaurants and cinema) about 10 minutes' walk
- Not available: No on-site restaurant or bar
Property-Wide
- Landscaped rear garden with apple trees and two detached log cabins
- Patio and outdoor seating
- Open-fire lounge in winter
- Free secure bike storage
- Luggage storage
- Non-smoking indoors (smoking in the garden only)
- Not available: No swimming pool, spa or gym
- Not available: No lift; main-house rooms are up a narrow staircase
Parking & Transport
- Free street parking on residential side-streets opposite, free after 18:00 (Mon–Sat) and all day Sunday
- Permit bays free after 20:00 every day
- Carlton Place bus stop ~50 m (Stagecoach D from Cheltenham Spa station)
- Cheltenham Spa station ~1.1 mi, ~20-min walk along the Honeybourne Line trail
- Taxi from the station ~5–7 min (host recommends Starline Taxis)
- Not available: No on-site parking or driveway
- Not available: No airport shuttle
Policies
- Cash only: no card terminal on site (cashpoint a short walk on the High Street)
- Check-in 13:00–21:00, host phones ahead · check-out by 11:00
- Children aged 12 and over only · no cots, no extra beds
- Pets not accepted (host allergy)
- Non-smoking indoors; smoking in the garden only
- Hen, stag and similar large parties not accommodated
141 Swindon Road, Cheltenham: A Short Walk to the Promenade and the Races
Alice Guest House sits at 141 Swindon Road, set back behind its own front garden on the quiet west side of central Cheltenham, in the GL51 postcode north-west of the Promenade. It is a primarily residential corner, with the Carlton Place bus stop about 50 metres away and the town centre an easy 10-minute walk. Cheltenham is widely regarded as the most complete Regency town in Britain, all tree-lined promenades, white-stuccoed crescents and the caryatid-lined Montpellier Walk, and it is the western gateway to the Cotswolds AONB.
The headline draw is Cheltenham Racecourse, home of the Festival and the Gold Cup and the most important venue in National Hunt racing, a 20-minute walk or 5-minute drive away. Cheltenham Spa railway station is about 1.1 miles off, a 20-minute walk along the leafy Honeybourne Line trail, with direct trains to London Paddington, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff. Closer in, the Everyman Theatre, The Wilson art gallery and museum, Pittville Park and Pump Room and the boutique Montpellier District are all within a 15 to 20-minute walk.
Getting here is straightforward. From the station it is a short taxi (the host recommends Starline Taxis), the Stagecoach D bus to Carlton Place, or the 20-minute walk along the Honeybourne Line. By car from the M5 J11, take the A40 into town and follow Tewkesbury Road onto Swindon Road; there is no on-site parking, so drop your bags at the gate, then move the car to the side-streets opposite.
- Cheltenham town centre / Promenade: 0.7 mi · ~10-min walk · The Regency shopping spine, with the High Street and the Brewery Quarter just behind.
- Cheltenham Racecourse: 1.5 mi · ~20-min walk / 5-min drive · Home of the Festival and Gold Cup, with stadium tours on non-race days.
- Cheltenham Spa railway station: 1.1 mi · ~20-min walk via the Honeybourne Line · Direct trains to London, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff.
- The Everyman Theatre: ~15-min walk · Frank Matcham's beautifully restored 1891 theatre, the oldest of his theatres still in use.
- Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum (The Wilson): 950 m · ~15-min walk · Fine art, Arts & Crafts holdings and Edward Wilson Antarctic material.
- Pittville Park & Pump Room: ~1.5 km · The town's largest ornamental park and its grand Regency pump room.
- Montpellier District: ~1.7 km · ~20-min walk · The caryatid-lined boutique shopping street, with 32 caryatids.
- Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe: ~8 mi drive · Tudor castle, burial place of Katherine Parr, with superb gardens.
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Jaggery, CC BY-SA 2.0
Central Cheltenham & the Promenade
10 min walk
The town centre is an easy 10-minute walk away, anchored by the tree-lined Promenade, the most complete Regency shopping spine in Britain. Behind it sit the High Street, the Brewery Quarter with its cinema and restaurants, and the boutique Montpellier District with its caryatid-lined walk. It is a compact, walkable town that pairs Regency heritage with one of the most ambitious festival programmes outside London, Jazz, Science, Music and Literature across the year.
View on Map
Photo: David P Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cheltenham Racecourse & the Festival
20 min walk
A 20-minute walk or 5-minute drive north, Cheltenham Racecourse is the most important venue in National Hunt racing and the home of the March Festival and the Gold Cup. Festival week sells out months ahead and transforms the town; the quieter November Meeting is the other peak. On non-race days the course runs stadium tours. Being walkable to the track is a real advantage when taxis are scarce and roads are busy on big race days.
View on Map
Photo: GarfieldJAustin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pittville & the Regency parks
North of the centre, Pittville Park is the town's largest ornamental park, laid out in the 1820s around lakes and the grand Pittville Pump Room, one of the finest Regency buildings in England. It is the genteel, green side of Cheltenham, a short walk or cycle from the property, and a reminder that the town grew rich on its mineral springs after George III's 1788 royal visit. Cleeve Hill and the Cotswold escarpment rise just beyond.
View on MapHow to Get to Alice Guest House from Cheltenham Spa
- 1. On foot via the Honeybourne Line (~20 min): Leave Cheltenham Spa station onto Queens Road, turn right and follow it as it becomes Gloucester Road; at Westal Green roundabout pick up the signposted Honeybourne Line walking and cycling trail, which follows the old railway east and emerges near Swindon Road. Turn east along Swindon Road and number 141 is on the right, set back behind its front garden.
- 2. By bus (Stagecoach D, ~10–15 min): From the stop immediately outside the station, take the Stagecoach D to the Carlton Place stop, about 50 metres from the gate. Pay contactless on board.
- 3. By taxi (~5–7 min): A short taxi ride from the station brings you to the door; the hosts recommend Starline Taxis, whose app makes getting around Cheltenham easy.
- 4. By car from the M5 (J11): Take the A40 east into Cheltenham, follow signs for Tewkesbury Road, then turn onto Swindon Road. There is no on-site parking, so drop your bags at the gate, then move the car to the side-streets opposite (free after 18:00 and all day Sunday).
Cheltenham at a Glance
Cheltenham is widely regarded as the most complete Regency town in Britain, its tree-lined Promenade, white-stuccoed crescents, wrought-iron balconies and the caryatid-lined Montpellier Walk all surviving remarkably intact. The town grew rich after the discovery of its mineral springs and came of age following George III's 1788 royal visit, eventually overtaking Bath as a fashionable spa resort. Today it pairs that heritage with one of the most ambitious festival programmes outside London, Jazz in spring, Science in June, Music in July and Literature in October, alongside a stylish independent shopping district.
Cheltenham also sits at the western gateway to the Cotswolds AONB. Within a short drive you can reach Cleeve Hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds, the Devil's Chimney on Leckhampton Hill, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, and honey-stone villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury, making the town an ideal walking and sightseeing base. The headline event is the Cheltenham Festival in March, Gold Cup week, when accommodation sells out months ahead; the quieter November Meeting is the other peak.
Practical notes: bring cash for the property, drop your bags at the gate before hunting for a parking space, and allow the 10-minute walk into town. From an Alice Guest House base the racecourse is a 20-minute walk, the station is 20 minutes along the Honeybourne Line, and the Promenade, the Everyman Theatre and The Wilson are all within an easy stroll. Summer is best for Cotswold walking, while festival and race weeks keep the town busy almost year-round.
Watch: Cheltenham, a Regency town in full
A walk through the Regency terraces, the Promenade, Montpellier and the Pittville Pump Room, with the spa-water history that shaped them. The clearest ten minutes on what the town centre actually looks like.
Is Alice Guest House worth it?
Yes, if you want a warm, characterful, owner-run B&B a 10-minute walk from central Cheltenham, and especially if you book a Moroccan garden cabin for the private en-suite and patio: guests praise it warmly, and the owners' welcome is the single most-mentioned strength of the stay. Skip it if you need to pay by card, want on-site parking, or expect an en-suite inside the main house, the property is cash only, parking is free street parking only, and the en-suite rooms are the detached cabins.
What Guests Say About Alice Guest House
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Very Good
Alice Guest House inspires real warmth: across hundreds of verified stays it is warmly rated overall, and guests single out the hosts and the quirky Moroccan cabins again and again, with value for money running through almost every positive review. The hosts are the standout, with the Wi-Fi, value and cleanliness close behind. The weaker feedback is nearly always about set expectations, the cash-only policy and the cabin-versus-house bathroom question, rather than the welcome itself. When those two points are clear up front, guests come away consistently pleased.
A solo trip that never once felt awkward, with a comfy bed and pillows and consistently friendly, helpful hosts throughout the stay.
Wendy
A genuinely lovely stay with a gracious hostess; everything ran smoothly from arrival right through to checkout.
A simple but cosy room in an excellent location, with a very good breakfast and a welcoming team.
Adored the Moroccan feel of the cabin and the hearty breakfast, calling it a clear step up from glamping; Karen and resident dog Milo were lovely.
A returning guest: easy to find, a friendly welcome, a big comfy bed, two bathrooms right beside the room and a superb breakfast with gluten-free bread.
A quiet spot where they slept well in the four-poster, enjoyed the breakfast and walked the Honeybourne Line trail down to the station.
Stayed in a Moroccan-style garden cabin with a double bed and a tea tray, a short walk from station and town; Karen kindly left the heater on for a late arrival.
Good to Know Before You Book
Cash only, so arrive with cash
There is no card terminal on site. The online room rate is settled when you book, but any extras are paid in cash on departure, so it is easiest to arrive with cash. A cashpoint is a short walk away on the High Street.
The en-suite rooms are detached garden cabins
Book a cabin for a private bathroom, a private entrance and a patio under the apple trees. The four-poster doubles, the twin and the single inside the Victorian main house all share a bathroom on the floor, so choose a garden cabin if a private bathroom matters to you.
No on-site parking, but free street parking nearby
There is no driveway or car park at the property. The residential side-streets opposite are free after 18:00 (Monday to Saturday), all day Sunday and after 20:00 in the permit bays. Drop your bags at the gate first, then move the car.
Check-in is 13:00 to 21:00 and the host phones ahead
Karen usually calls to confirm your arrival time, and later check-ins can be arranged in advance. Check-out is by 11:00. The minimum age is 12, and pets are not accepted because of a host allergy.
Call Alice Guest House
Want to ask about availability, your arrival time, a garden cabin or a special request? Contact the property directly.
+44 1242 253000Photos of Alice Guest House
Frequently Asked Questions about Alice Guest House
It is at 141 Swindon Road on the quiet west side of central Cheltenham. The town centre and Promenade are an easy 10-minute walk, and Cheltenham Racecourse is roughly 1.5 miles away, a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute drive.
The station is about 1.1 miles off. You can walk it in around 20 minutes along the Honeybourne Line trail, take the Stagecoach D bus to the Carlton Place stop 50 metres from the gate, or grab a short taxi; the hosts recommend Starline Taxis.
There is no on-site parking and no driveway. The residential side-streets opposite are free after 18:00 from Monday to Saturday, all day Sunday, and after 20:00 in the permit bays. It is easiest to drop your bags at the gate first, then move the car.
Check-in runs from 13:00 to 21:00 and Karen usually phones ahead to confirm your arrival; later arrivals can be arranged in advance. Check-out is by 11:00.
Yes, a continental breakfast is included and served between 07:30 and 09:00 in the main-house dining room, with cereals, eggs, toast, hot croissants, fruit and yogurts. Gluten-free bread and packed lunches are available on request.
Only the two detached garden cabins are en-suite: each is a Moroccan-styled log cabin in the rear garden with its own shower room, private entrance and patio. Booking an en-suite always means a cabin. The four-poster doubles, the twin and the single inside the main house share a bathroom on the floor.
Pets are not accepted because of a host allergy, and the minimum age is 12, with no cots or extra beds. Smoking is permitted in the garden only; the house is non-smoking. Hen, stag and similar large parties are not accommodated.
No, the property is cash only, with no card terminal on site, so arrive with cash for any extras. A cashpoint is a short walk away on the High Street. The online room rate is settled at the time of booking.
Cancellation and prepayment terms vary by the rate you choose, so check the exact policy shown for your dates before you confirm. The room rate is settled online when you book, and any extras at the property are paid in cash.
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Ready to Book Alice Guest House?
Four room types in an owner-run Cheltenham B&B: two detached Moroccan-styled garden cabins with private en-suites and patios, plus characterful four-poster, twin and single rooms in the Victorian main house. Continental breakfast included, a 10-minute walk into town and 20 minutes to the racecourse. Warmly reviewed by verified guests, with the hosts its standout strength. Remember: cash only, and no on-site parking.
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