Cheltenham Air Quality
Live air quality readings for Cheltenham, updated regularly from official DEFRA monitoring stations, covering particulates, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and sulphur dioxide.
- 2 monitoring stations
- 3 latest readings
- Low highest band
- 2.5 km to the nearest station
Cheltenham Air Quality Reports
Air quality in Cheltenham changes hour to hour depending on traffic, weather and wider weather patterns. The readings below come directly from DEFRA’s UK-AIR monitoring network, the UK government’s official air pollution data source, and are pulled from the nearest monitoring stations to Cheltenham.
The main pollutants tracked here are fine particulates (PM2.5 and PM10, from vehicle exhaust, brake dust and burning), nitrogen dioxide (NO2, mostly from traffic), ozone (O3, which builds up in sunny weather) and sulphur dioxide (SO2, from industrial and fuel burning sources). Each reading is given a rough band — Low, Moderate, High or Very High — based on DEFRA’s Daily Air Quality Index thresholds, so you can see at a glance whether levels are a concern. This is a simplified, single-reading guide rather than the official rolling-average DAQI figure, so treat it as indicative rather than exact.
If you have asthma, another lung condition, or a heart condition, the NHS and DEFRA recommend reducing strenuous activity outdoors when readings are in the High or Very High bands. See DEFRA’s air quality advice for more detail on what each band means for your health.
Cheltenham A40 Gloucester Road (2.5km from Cheltenham Centre)
| Pollutant | Reading | Band | Measured (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulates) | 0.0 ug.m-3 | Low | 2026-10-15 10:00 |
Gloucester Tredworth (12.1km from Cheltenham Centre)
| Pollutant | Reading | Band | Measured (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM10 (particulates) | 9.4 ug.m-3 | Low | 2026-10-15 10:00 |
| PM2.5 (fine particulates) | 4.057 ug.m-3 | Low | 2026-10-15 10:00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is Air Quality Measured Near Cheltenham?
- 2 DEFRA monitoring stations within 19.3 km of the town centre reported readings at the last check: Cheltenham A40 Gloucester Road (2.5km), Gloucester Tredworth (12.1km).
What Do the Low, Moderate, High and Very High Bands Mean?
- They follow DEFRA's Daily Air Quality Index thresholds for each pollutant.
- Each band is worked out from a single reading rather than the official rolling average, so treat it as a guide.
- When readings are High or Very High, people with asthma, lung or heart conditions are advised to cut down on strenuous outdoor activity.
How Often Are the Readings Updated?
- This page checks DEFRA's network every two hours and shows the latest reading from each station, with the time it was measured.
About This Data
Data from DEFRA UK-AIR, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Last updated 15 October 2026, checked every two hours.