Cheltenham's centre is compact and entirely walkable. The main sights — the Wilson, the Pump Room, Montpellier, the Minster — are all within 20 minutes on foot from each other. The racecourse is a slightly longer walk (about 30 minutes from the centre) or a short taxi ride.
Local buses serve the wider town and the surrounding villages. For exploring the Cotswolds, a car is much more practical, as villages like Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Cirencester are not well-served by public transport. Taxis and rideshares are available but scarce during the Cheltenham Festival.