About us
About inlingua Cheltenham
inlingua Cheltenham is the only private English language school in Cheltenham, a Regency spa town of 121,000 people on the edge of the Cotswolds in south-west England. Founded in 1990, it has taught English to students from all over the world for more than thirty years, and is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK. The school is part of inlingua International, the largest association of privately owned language schools in the world, with more than 350 centres in 40 countries.
- Founded
- 1990In Cheltenham
- In town
- The only onePrivate English school
- Network
- 350+ centresIn 40 countries
- From school
- 50 metresTo the high street
The school
inlingua Cheltenham was founded in 1990 and has since established itself as a provider of high quality English courses. Over more than thirty years we have given a great many students, from a great many countries, their first real experience of living and studying in England.
We teach adults and juniors, individuals and school groups, from complete beginners to people preparing for Cambridge and IELTS examinations. We also train teachers, deliver contracts overseas, and teach foreign languages to people living locally in Gloucestershire.
When you arrive at our school, you will be welcomed into our family. My experienced team will take care of all of your needs. I will ensure that you are well looked after as you study English, make friends and enjoy an unforgettable study experience. Daniel Foulkes, Principal
Our teachers
Every teacher at inlingua Cheltenham holds a CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL as an absolute minimum, and many are qualified at Diploma level and beyond. A number have professional business experience and qualifications of their own, and understand what a working professional actually needs from a language course.
We are also accredited by Trinity College London to train new teachers, which means the people teaching you are the people other teachers learn from.
Inside the school
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Part of inlingua International
Founded in Bern, Switzerland, in 1968
inlingua means "mother tongue". Since 1968 the organisation has dedicated itself to understanding how people learn, and what the most effective way of teaching a language actually is. That research has evolved over the decades, but the central idea has not changed: immersion. Learning a language from a native speaker, by speaking and listening, is universally accepted as the fastest and most effective route.
inlingua is the largest association of privately owned language schools in the world, and the inlingua method remains the first choice for thousands of learners. The pedagogical department in Bern continually updates and develops teaching materials and methods for exclusive use at inlingua centres, which is how standards stay consistent from one country to the next.
Why students choose Cheltenham
Most international students learning English in Britain end up in London, Brighton or Oxford — cities with dozens of language schools and thousands of other international students. Cheltenham is a different proposition, and deliberately so.
A non-EFL town
Cheltenham has a population of 121,000 and the people who live here are predominantly British. We are the only private English language school locally, which gives maximum exposure to the language, the culture and the people.
Full English immersion
A typical English town where you can live an entirely English-speaking life. There is no cluster of schools funnelling students from the same country into the same cafés every afternoon.
Central location
The school is in the centre of Cheltenham, only 50 metres from the main high street, and the town sits centrally in the UK with easy access to Bristol, Oxford, Bath, Cardiff and Birmingham.
A safe area
The town has a very low crime rate and students feel safe in the town centre and the suburbs. Cheltenham holds a Purple Flag award, which recognises a safe and well-managed town centre in the evening.
An accent you can follow
The Cheltenham accent is generally considered easy for international students to understand, which makes the first weeks a great deal less exhausting than they might be elsewhere.
Accommodation nearby
Homestay accommodation is a walk or a short bus journey from the school. Students are usually surprised by how quickly and easily they can get around the town.
Accreditations
These are not decorations. Each involves an outside body inspecting how we teach and how we look after students.
British Council
Accredited for the teaching of English in the UK. Inspection covers teaching, welfare, care of under-18s and accommodation standards.
English UK
Member of the national association of accredited English language centres.
Business English UK
Member of the special interest group of English UK for business language training.
Trinity College London
Registered examination centre, and accredited to deliver the Trinity CertTESOL teacher training qualification.
inlingua International
A licensed centre of the world's largest association of privately owned language schools, using teaching materials developed in Bern.
Our safeguarding arrangements, including our named Designated Safeguarding Lead and the DBS checking of staff and hosts, are set out on our safeguarding page.
How to find us
inlingua Cheltenham is at Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1HX, in the centre of town — fifty metres from the main high street, five minutes' walk from the coach station, and about 25 minutes' walk from Cheltenham Spa railway station.
Open in Google Maps for directions →
Travelling here
| By | What to know |
|---|---|
| Coach | National Express coaches arrive in the centre of Cheltenham, five minutes' walk from the school, and run from all major UK ports and cities. There is an excellent direct service from London Heathrow taking about two hours. Book at nationalexpress.com. |
| Train | Cheltenham Spa station is on the edge of town, about 25 minutes' walk from the school, with regular buses and a taxi rank nearby. From London, trains leave from Paddington. Book at nationalrail.co.uk. |
| Car | Approach Cheltenham from the M5 motorway or the A40 and follow signs for the town centre. Because we are in the centre, parking beside the school is limited, but there are several public car parks nearby. |
| Air | The nearest airports are Bristol and Birmingham, both about an hour and a quarter away. There are also good links from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Cardiff, and plenty of low-cost flights from European cities. |
Airport transfers
We can arrange a private taxi from the airport directly to your accommodation, bookable up to a week before you travel. Prices are per vehicle and can be shared. Full prices, journey times and arrangements for students under 16 travelling alone are on the transfers page.
See airport transfers →Getting around once you are here
Every local bus route passes close to the school, and weekly bus tickets giving unlimited travel around Cheltenham can be bought on any Stagecoach bus, along with single, daily and monthly tickets.
For travel further afield, Cheltenham Spa station has direct trains to London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cornwall and many other places, and National Express coaches link the town to cities across the country.
Arriving for the first time
Courses run Sunday to Sunday. If you have booked a transfer we will bring you straight to your accommodation. Please avoid arriving in Cheltenham after 22:00 or before 07:00 out of consideration for your host — and send us your flight details as soon as you have them, whether or not you have booked a transfer with us.
School calendar
Courses run all year and start every Monday, but the school closes on UK bank holidays and over Christmas. These are the dates still ahead.
Remaining in 2026
| Date | Day | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 31 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday — school closed |
| 18 December 2026 | Friday | Last day of teaching before the school closes for Christmas |
2027
| Date | Day | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 4 January 2027 | Monday | School term starts |
| 26 March 2027 | Friday | Good Friday — school closed |
| 29 March 2027 | Monday | Easter Monday — school closed |
| 3 May 2027 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday — school closed |
| 31 May 2027 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday — school closed |
| 30 August 2027 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday — school closed |
| 17 December 2027 | Friday | Last day of teaching before the school closes for Christmas |
What a bank holiday means for your course
There are no lessons on these dates and the school is closed, but you will not simply lose the time. Students on short courses of one, two or three weeks are offered extra lessons to compensate, and students on English + Gardens and Culture have a full-day excursion in place of the missed lessons.
If your course starts on a Monday that is a bank holiday, lessons begin on the Tuesday instead. Arrival is still on the Sunday and your accommodation covers the whole week as normal.
Taking a holiday during a long course
If you have booked a course of 12 weeks or more, you may take a holiday during it — normally a maximum of one week for every 12 weeks at the school. Two conditions apply: you must request the number of holiday weeks at the time you book, and once you are here you must give us four weeks' notice in writing before taking it.
Holidays arranged after booking, or beyond what was pre-booked, are treated as absences and those weeks of tuition are lost. If you want to keep your room while you are away there is a £50 per week retainer to your host, or your luggage can be stored securely at the school for £50 per week.
Terms and conditions
Full details on bank holidays, extending a course, taking holidays, changing accommodation, cancellation and payment.
Read the terms →Any other school closures will be announced in advance, and compensatory classes offered where appropriate. Calendar last updated August 2026.
Common questions
How long has inlingua Cheltenham been teaching?
The school was founded in 1990 and has taught English to international students for more than thirty years. It is part of inlingua International, founded in Bern, Switzerland, in 1968.
What is inlingua?
inlingua is the largest association of privately owned language schools in the world, with more than 350 centres in 40 countries. It was founded in Bern in 1968, and the name means "mother tongue". Teaching materials and methods are developed by the pedagogical department in Bern for exclusive use at inlingua centres, which keeps standards consistent across the network.
What qualifications do your teachers hold?
Every teacher holds a CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL as an absolute minimum, and many are qualified at Diploma level and beyond. A number also have professional business experience and qualifications. inlingua Cheltenham is itself accredited by Trinity College London to train new teachers.
Is inlingua Cheltenham accredited?
Yes. We are accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK, and are members of English UK and Business English UK. We are also a Trinity College London registered examination centre.
Where exactly is the school?
Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1HX — in the town centre, fifty metres from the main high street, five minutes' walk from the coach station and about 25 minutes' walk from Cheltenham Spa railway station.
Why study in Cheltenham rather than London?
Because we are the only private English language school in the town. In a big city you will be one of thousands of international students and it is easy to spend a month speaking your own language every afternoon. Here the people around you are British, which is harder work and considerably more effective. Cheltenham is also safer, cheaper and easier to get around, and London is still only two hours away for a day trip.
Come and see for yourself
Courses start every Monday, all year round, for students aged 11 and over. Reserve a place in about two minutes without paying anything yet, or email us with your questions.
inlingua Cheltenham, Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1HX · +44 (0)1242 250 493 · info@inlingua-cheltenham.co.uk · Last updated August 2026.