For students aged 16 and over
Adult courses
Eight ways to learn English with us, all starting from the same place: small classes in a real English town. Group courses from £270 a week, private lessons, a combination of the two, online tuition, exam preparation, business English, and a programme for students over 50. Classes hold 8 to 12 students, run at every level from A1 to C2, and start every Monday, all year round.
- Ages
- 16+All adult courses
- Class size
- 8–12Maximum 12
- Levels
- A1–C2Beginner to proficient
- From
- £270Per week
Which course is right?
Most people arrive knowing their situation rather than our product names. Start here.
- You want to improve steadily, meet people and see the country General English 20 →
- You need a specific score for a university, a job or a visa Exam preparation →
- You want a group class but also help with one particular weakness Combination courses →
- You have a deadline, an unusual goal, or very little time One to one →
- You need English for your work, or you are booking for your staff Business English →
- You cannot travel yet, or want to try us before you book a course Online lessons →
- You are over 50 and want gardens, culture and good company alongside the English Gardens and Culture →
- You want work experience with a local charity while you study English + Volunteering →
The courses side by side
| Course | Format | Hours | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive English 30 | Group, 8–12 students | 30 lessons · 09:00–15:00 | £335 / week |
| General English 20 | Group, 8–12 students | 20 lessons · 09:00–12:15 | £270 / week |
| Combination courses | Group plus private | 25 to 40 lessons a week | £625 / week |
| One to one | Private, or up to 5 sharing | 10, 20 or 30 lessons a week | £545 / week |
| Online lessons | Private, from home | 10, 20 or 30 hours, flexible | £650 |
| Gardens and Culture (50+) | Small group, ages 50+ | 1 or 2 weeks with excursions | £850 / week |
| English + Volunteering | Group course plus placement | Added to General English 20 | £75 / week |
| Business English | One to one, or groups from 4 | Built around your brief | On enquiry |
Weekly rates fall the longer you stay. Prices exclude accommodation and a one-off £60 registration fee. Build your own total with the fee calculator or see the full price list.
The courses in more detail
General and Intensive English
The core of the school. General English 20 runs weekday mornings from 09:00 to 12:15, leaving afternoons free for the social programme and the town. Intensive English 30 continues to 15:00 with skills lessons and exam preparation. Both are taught in classes of 8 to 12 students at your exact level, starting every Monday all year round, with a placement test on your first morning.
Group + privateCombination courses
20 or 30 group lessons a week plus 5 or 10 private lessons, on one timetable. The group gives you conversation and other nationalities; the private hours go on whatever is holding you back.
PrivateOne to one
10, 20 or 30 lessons a week of 45 minutes, planned entirely around your goals. The fastest route if you have a deadline. Can also be shared with up to five friends or colleagues.
IELTS · Cambridge · SELTExam preparation
Delivered through Intensive English 30: mornings build the English, afternoons work the four skills and the exam technique. Add private lessons if one paper is costing you marks.
From homeOnline lessons
One to one with an inlingua Cheltenham teacher, in blocks of 10, 20 or 30 hours at times that fit around your work. No administrative fees, and a good way to try us before booking a course here.
Ages 50+English + Gardens and Culture
One or two weeks of English in the mornings with people your own age, and guided excursions into the Cotswolds in the afternoons — gardens, houses and market towns, at an unhurried pace.
Ages 18+English + Volunteering
Added to General English 20: mornings in class, afternoons volunteering with a local charity. Requires B1 or above and runs September to May, for up to six weeks.
For professionalsBusiness English
Presentations, meetings, negotiation and professional writing — plus subject-specific English in fields from aviation and medicine to finance and engineering. One to one, or groups of four or more.
Wherever you start, this part is the same
inlingua Cheltenham is the only private English language school in the town, which is the single most important thing to know about studying here. In a city with forty schools it is easy to spend a month speaking your own language every afternoon. Here your classmates come from across the world and everybody else you meet is British.
Small classes, at your level
8 to 12 students, never more than 12, grouped across nine levels from complete beginner to C2 proficient after a test on your first morning.
Teachers who train teachers
Every teacher holds a CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL as a minimum and many hold a Diploma. We are accredited by Trinity College London to train new teachers.
Accredited and inspected
British Council accredited for the teaching of English in the UK, and members of English UK and Business English UK.
Teaching since 1990
Over thirty years in Cheltenham, and part of inlingua International — 350 centres across 40 countries, sharing one methodology.
inlingua Cheltenham is a really beautiful place to improve your English. There are dedicated teachers and a pleasant atmosphere for group lessons. Anna, adult student
And the town you will be living in
Cheltenham is a Regency spa town of 121,000 people on the edge of the Cotswolds. It has been a spa since 1716 and became fashionable when King George III came to drink the water in 1788 — which is why it is now the most complete Regency town in Britain.
For a student that means somewhere safe and walkable, with a very low crime rate and a Purple Flag award for the town centre. The school sits fifty metres from the high street. The Cotswolds are fifteen minutes away, Oxford and Bristol an hour, Bath an hour and a quarter, and London two hours — close enough for a Saturday, far enough to be affordable.
Everything else you will want to know
Homestay accommodation
From £225 a week including breakfast, dinner and laundry. Every home found and inspected by our own staff, most within thirty minutes of the school.
Read more →Your first day
Arrival, orientation, the placement test and meeting your class — exactly what happens on your first Monday morning.
Read more →Social programme
Activities after class from 15:30 at £5 to £20, and Saturday trips to London, Oxford, Bath and the Cotswolds at £30 to £60.
Read more →Airport transfers
Private transfers from Bristol, Birmingham, Heathrow, Luton, Gatwick and Stansted, from £175 one way. Prices are per vehicle and can be shared.
Read more →Also useful: the free placement test, the how to pay page, our terms and conditions, and the student handbook. Looking for courses for under-18s? See junior courses.
Common questions
Which adult course should I choose?
If you want steady improvement and free afternoons, General English 20. If you are working towards an exam or want to move up a level quickly, Intensive English 30. If one particular weakness is holding you back, add private lessons through a combination course. If you have a deadline and limited time, go one to one.
How much does it cost?
General English 20 from £270 a week and Intensive English 30 from £335, falling the longer you stay. Homestay accommodation is from £225 a week including breakfast, dinner and laundry. Four weeks of General English 20 with homestay comes to £2,500 in total including fees.
What English level do I need?
None. We teach nine levels from complete beginner to C2 proficient. Take the free online placement test before you enquire, then a full test on your first morning decides your class.
When can I start?
Every Monday, all year round, or the Tuesday when the Monday is a UK bank holiday. Students arrive on a Sunday and leave on a Sunday, so accommodation covers all seven nights of each week.
How old do I have to be?
Adult courses are for students aged 16 and over. Gardens and Culture is designed for students over 50, and English + Volunteering requires you to be 18 or older. For under-18s, see our junior courses.
Can I take more than one course?
Yes, and many students do — a few weeks of General English followed by a combination course, for example. Consecutive weeks are added together for pricing, which often moves you into a lower weekly band.
Start on any Monday
Check your level, price it up, and reserve a place — none of which costs anything or commits you to anything.
Accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK · Member of English UK · Prices valid for courses starting in 2027 · inlingua Cheltenham, Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham GL50 1HX · Last updated August 2026.