Whether you want to get out and about for coffee with a newborn or meet up with friends with toddlers, Cheltenham has a host of cafes that are ideal for visits with young children.

Here’s our round up of the best baby and toddler-friendly cafes Cheltenham has to offer so you can reward your efforts of getting out of the house with cake, coffee and a chinwag. If you have any that you'd love to recommend, then please get in touch.

Plus, don't miss our feeding-friendly Cheltenham directory, where you can find a host of welcoming spaces where parents can feed their babies.

Café Boho, Great Norwood Street, GL50 2AN

This independent cafe in the heart of the Suffolks specialises in Dutch pancakes and waffles but also serves great coffee, delicious homemade cakes, light lunches, and indulgent milkshakes. But the best bit for parents of toddlers is the downstairs play area which is brilliant for keeping little ones entertained while you enjoy your coffee in peace.

There’s also outside seating at the front and a courtyard garden to the rear. Space can be a bit tight for buggies so you might want to drive and park nearby – there’s some on-street parking close by or a pay and display car park on Bath Road which is just a short walk.

For more information visit facebook.com/cafeboho1

Smokey Joes, Bennington Street, GL50 4ED

A feast for the eyes, this vintage-themed American-style diner has a delicious menu that includes shakes, waffles, burgers, hot dogs and plenty of sides, and a dedicated kids’ menu. It's pushchair-friendly with high chairs and baby-changing facilities.

While you're enjoying a relaxing natter and tasty delights, the older kids will have fun amusing themselves with the retro props and free-to-play arcade machines, and they will definitely want to try the amazing unicorn hot chocolates!

For more information visit smokeyjoescheltenham.co.uk

Brew & Bake, Bath Road, GL53 7NA

Take a leisurely stroll up to the top end of Bath Road to discover this gem where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, sweet treats and more. It’s on the smaller side but easily accessible with a buggy and there are no steps to manoeuvre which is always a bonus.

There are plenty of freshly baked cakes to choose from, along with delicious sausage rolls, milkshakes and smoothies. And, on Friday and Saturday afternoons, you can also enjoy homemade burgers and pizzas.

For more information visit facebook.com/BrewandBakeHQ

Huffkins Tea Room, The Prom, GL50 1LE

Come spring, the alfresco seating at Huffkins is a lovely spot to enjoy coffee and cake with the kids in tow. If you are looking for something more substantial to eat, you can find plenty of breakfast options, along with sandwiches, toasties and lots of delicious baked goods.

The family-friendly cafe can get busy at times so the outside area is best suited if you’ve got a buggy and there are high chairs for little ones. The baby changing is downstairs and is clean and spacious. There’s also a Huffkins in John Lewis that’s ideal for meets up with babies.

For more information visit huffkins.com

The Curious Café, Bath Road, GL52 7NE

The lovely secret garden at The Curious Cafe is perfect for summer days but there’s also plenty of inside seating. It has long been one of the best-rated cafes in Cheltenham and a real local hangout in Leckhampton that’s super child-friendly.

It does get busy but it is definitely worth a visit. Children are well-catered for with smaller or adapted versions of adult dishes – the kitchen is happy to provide whatever they fancy if they've got it.

For more information visit curiouscafe.co.uk

The Meadow Café, Old Bath Road, GL53 7FF

Located on the edge of Cox’s Meadow, this family-friendly cafe is the perfect place for coffees meet ups with babies or tea and cake with toddlers. With outside tables, both to the front and rear, Meadow Café is a lovely spot to enjoy on dry days, while there are also a few tables inside for when it rains.

The menu includes breakfast options, along with a choice of bagels for lunch, and there are always plenty of cakes to choose from and ice creams that will please little ones.

For more information visit themeadowcafe.net

The Boston Tea Party, Clarence Street, GL50 3JS

A popular choice for meet ups with kids of all ages, The Boston Tea Party is spacious enough to accommodate get togethers with your antenatal friends or several toddlers in high chairs. There are quieter spots with comfy chairs that are ideal for feeding little ones and good baby changing facilities.

The extensive menu has delicious choices for breakfast, lunch and snack stops, and there’s a kids’ menu with plenty of options. Bear in mind that weekend brunch can get busy.

For more information visit bostonteaparty.co.uk

Pittville Pump Room Heritage Café, East Approach Drive, GL52 3JE

Stroll around the lake, spot the ducks and then tire out little ones in the playground at Pittville Park before enjoying a rest at the Pump Room Heritage Café. The outdoor seating area is sheltered by the colonnade of the impressive Regency building making it ideal for both sunny and rainy days.

Expect a variety of cakes and coffees, along with wraps, baguettes, panini and hot food specials, with takeaways also available.

For more information visit pittvillepumproom.org.uk

The Urban Meadow, Rodney Road, GL50 1JJ

Sister venture of The Meadow Café, The Urban Meadow is an oasis of calm right in the centre of town that’s ideal for meeting friends with little ones. The cosy spot has a delicious choice of breakfast and lunch dishes, along with tasty smoothies, pastries and cakes that kids will love, and plenty of high chairs for toddlers. Open from Tuesday to Saturday.

And while you’re there, make sure you check out the timetable for Bloom, which is located upstairs and offers a range of yoga, Pilates and dance classes, including pregnancy and postnatal yoga.

For more information visit theurbanmeadow.net

School House Cafe, St Paul’s Road, GL50 4EZ

The community-focussed cafe welcomes all and is the perfect spot to stop after you’ve dropped off or picked up the kids up from school, or are meeting friends with babies in buggies. Expect your favourite coffees, smoothies and milkshakes that kids will love, while food choices include a range of breakfast dishes, bagels, toasted sandwiches, jacket potatoes and of course cake.

Pre Covid, the cafe had a family room with toys, which they hope will be able to reopen later in the year.

For more information visit schoolhousecafe.co.uk

The Boathouse, Pittville Park, GL52 2AP

Located on the banks of Pittville Park’s lower lake, the cafe is a pretty spot to enjoy coffees, cakes, Marshfield ice creams and home-made sandwiches. There are picnic tables in the enclosed garden area making it ideal for toddlers to explore safely and there’s a wooden aeroplane for little ones to climb on.

On rainy days the under-covered space is ideal for sheltering and warming up with a hot chocolate, and the cafe also runs regular themed events for children. The Boathouse is part of the In the Park group of cafes, which also has outposts in Montpellier Gardens, and two on the other side of Pittville Park – one in the playground and the other at Central Cross.

For more information visit inthepark.co.uk

Cavendish House, The Promenade, GL50 1HP

There are three cafes available in Cav House as it’s affectionately known. On the ground floor you’ll find Caffè Nero, which is spacious and has comfy sofas. Upstairs in the main store there's Café Zest which offers a wider range of hot and cold food with lots of space for buggies. Then joining Cav House with the Regent Arcade is the Bridge Cafe which is really roomy for pushchairs.

There is a parent and baby room upstairs in Cavendish House and a big baby changing room near the Bridge Cafe in Regent Arcade.

For more information visit houseoffraser.co.uk

Moosh Co, Charlton Kings, GL53 8JN

This independent cafe in Charlton Kings opened in June 2020 and is a great family-friendly spot to enjoy with babies and toddlers. It has seats inside and a canopy-covered outside area that offers plenty of space to park your pushchair.

In addition to delicious cakes, expect kiddy snacks and drinks, along with boxes of books and toys for little ones to play with. There’s also a Clarks foot measuring gauge which is really handy for measuring their feet without having to trek into town. There are plenty of high chairs and baby changing, and on Tuesdays there’s a mum and baby meet up at 9.30am.

For more information visit mooshco.com

Cafe W, Waterstones, GL50 1LE

Located on the first floor of Waterstones, Cafe W is the perfect place to go for coffee and cake with little ones. There are high chairs and baby changing facilities, and on sunny days the balcony is open offering lovely views of The Prom.

The extensive selection of children’s books will inspire young readers, and kids are encouraged to enjoy browsing the range of titles to find one they love to take home.

For more information visit waterstones.com

The Place to Eat, John Lewis, GL50 1DQ

If you’re looking for somewhere to go for your first outing with a newborn, The Place to Eat cafe located on the first floor of John Lewis is ideal. On-site multi-storey parking and lift access directly into the store makes life easier when you’re lugging lots of baby paraphernalia, and there’s a dedicated baby changing and feeding room.

The Place to Eat offers food and bottle warming facilities, along with lots of toddler-friendly snack options, including a selection of baby food pouches, and there are plenty of food options for parents.

For more information visit johnlewis.com