
About This is Life
In This Is Life, Stephen Hawking’s former Ph.D. student Christophe Galfard takes you on a wonder-filled journey through the complete history of life on earth, from its birth and the mysterious colonies of bacteria that lived billions of years ago, through the extreme evolutionary turns that saw sea scorpions grow to the size of dogs and trees covered in scales, to the visionary discoveries of the past two centuries that have allowed us to understand what all living organisms really are.
Through brilliant storytelling and delightful humour, Galfard makes the secrets of the living world accessible to all. This Is Life will transform the way you see the world and your place in it.
There will be a book signing after this event.
Get ahead of your Festival reading and visit the Waterstones Cheltenham Science Festival bookshop and support Cheltenham Festivals with every purchase.

This Is Life: How the Science of the Cosmos Explains What We Are (Hardback)
Getting Here
Parking
The venue’s car park is private, but parking can be found throughout the town centre. The nearest car parks are Rodney Road (GL50 1HX), St Georges Road (GL50 3DT), Royal Well (GL50 3DS) and Regent Arcade (GL50 1HN). There is a regular bus service from Cheltenham Racecourse Park and Ride car park to the centre of Cheltenham.
Rail
The Town Hall is a 25-minute walk from Cheltenham Spa Railway Station. There is also taxi rank outside the station.
Bus
Stagecoach bus services stop nearby on the Promenade with the Town Hall a five-minute walk away. For further information on Cheltenham bus services, please visit stagecoach.com. National Express Coaches stop a short walk away from Cheltenham Town Hall at Royal Well Bus Station.
Bike
There are bike racks located near Imperial Gardens, behind the Town Hall, should you wish to visit the Festival on your bike. Please note that anyone wishing to secure their bike at one of the bike racks does so at their own risk.
More infoAccess
Cheltenham Town Hall has both step access and an accessible ramp at the main entrance. There is a hearing loop in this venue operating on the ground floor stalls section of seating.
The venue does not have a lift and so the balcony and rear gallery seating located on the first floor are only accessible via stairs. Any accessible bookings should be made for ground floor stalls seating. We advise contacting our box office via email, by phoning us on 01242 850 270 during on-sale periods, or by using our Access Booking Form so that we can ensure you seating is suitable for the event you wish to attend. Our booking information page will have the most up to date box office phone opening hours.
Guide dogs are welcome in the Town Hall and accessible toilets are located on the ground floor of the venue.
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