When you're running an Airbnb on one of Cheltenham's most iconic streets, your listing needs to match the prestige of the address. The Royal Crescent is a sweeping Regency terrace, one of the finest examples of its kind outside of Bath, and this particular property has been completely reimagined as a boutique short-term rental with bold, contemporary interiors. The owner needed photography that would capture both the architectural grandeur of the building and the personality of the interior styling, positioning the listing at the premium end of the market.
As a property photographer covering Cheltenham and the Cotswolds, I regularly shoot Airbnb and holiday let properties for hosts who understand that professional images are the single biggest factor in driving bookings. This property presented an interesting challenge: a classic Regency exterior housing a thoroughly modern, design-led interior. The photography needed to tell both stories.
01The Property
Number 13 Royal Crescent sits within the sweeping white-painted terrace, accessed via stone steps flanked by iron railings. The owners have styled the interior with a bold, boutique-hotel aesthetic: dark feature walls, oak barn doors, pop art, geometric textiles, and gold accents throughout. It's a property with real personality, the kind of place guests remember and recommend.
The brief was straightforward: create images that show the property exactly as it is, communicate the quality and character of the styling, and make the listing stand out in a competitive Cheltenham Airbnb market.
02The Exterior
The exterior shots were essential for this listing. The aerial drone image shows the full sweep of the crescent and its central green, giving guests a sense of the address and its setting within Cheltenham. The street-level shots capture the white-painted Regency facade, the iron balconies, the stone steps, and the coloured front doors that give each property its identity. The close-up of number 13's entrance, with its black panelled door, brass knocker, fanlight, and olive trees in planters, sets the tone for what guests will find inside.
03The Living Spaces
The ground floor living space is open-plan with an oak sliding barn door separating the lounge from the dining area. Dark grey walls, a trestle dining table with bench seating, and black-and-white pop art prints (James Dean, Marilyn Monroe) give the space a boutique-hotel feel that's completely different from what you'd expect behind a Regency facade. I shot this from multiple angles to show how the spaces connect and flow, which is important for groups trying to understand the layout.
The TV unit detail shot captures the oak slat panelling, dark green feature wall, and carefully chosen accessories: a textured white vase, gold bowl, and reed diffuser. These detail shots communicate the quality of the styling and help justify the premium nightly rate.
04The Snug
The snug is a separate lounge space with a large grey corner sofa, a geometric textured wall hanging, glass and brass pendant lights, and a marble-topped coffee table with gold legs. The dark teal walls and warm lighting create an intimate, cinema-room feel. I shot both a wide angle to show the full space and a tighter composition to capture the styling details: the brass dachshund ornament, the floral cushions, the Audrey Hepburn print in the corner.
For Airbnb listings, showing multiple living spaces is important because it tells groups they won't be on top of each other. This property has the main living area and this separate snug, which is a genuine selling point.
05The Dining Area
The dining area features banquette seating with pink and olive green cushions, a "No Riff Raff" cushion adding personality, and a leopard artwork above. White tulips in a glass vase and a carefully laid place setting show guests what the dining experience looks like. The wainscoting and dado rail are a nod to the building's Regency origins, blending with the contemporary styling above.
06The Bedroom
The bedroom is finished in warm neutral tones with three single beds dressed in cream and blush bedding. An open clothes rail, decorative shelf with framed photos and a "I hope you feel beautiful today" sign, and a glass ribbed bedside lamp on a twisted black stand add boutique touches. I shot both a wide angle showing the full room and sleeping configuration, and a detail shot of the alcove styling, because both serve different purposes in the listing: the wide shot answers "what's the room like?" while the detail shot communicates "this place has been thoughtfully put together."
07Styling Details
Detail shots like this one, showing white orchids, a "La Dolce Vita" framed print, a reed diffuser, and a gold hammered lamp, serve a specific purpose in Airbnb listings. They communicate that the property is well-maintained, thoughtfully styled, and regularly refreshed. Guests scrolling through listings make quick judgements about quality, and these details tip the balance.
08Why Professional Photography Matters for Premium Airbnb Listings
A property on the Royal Crescent commands a premium nightly rate, but only if the listing communicates the quality of the experience on offer. This property has bold, design-led interiors that photograph beautifully when lit and composed correctly, but would look flat and uninviting with smartphone photos taken in ambient light.
For Airbnb hosts at the premium end of the market, professional photography delivers:
- Accurate representation. Guests arrive knowing exactly what to expect. The dark walls, the bold styling, the layout, it's all clearly communicated so there are no surprises.
- Justified pricing. When your listing looks like a boutique hotel, guests understand why the nightly rate reflects that.
- Higher booking rates. The first photo is your shop window. You have about two seconds to make someone click through rather than scroll past.
- Fewer enquiries, more direct bookings. When guests can clearly see the space, they book with confidence rather than sending messages asking for more photos.
09Professional Photography for Your Cheltenham Airbnb
If you're running a short-term rental in Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, or anywhere in the South West, professional photography is the most cost-effective investment you can make in your listing. My packages start from £250 and include full HDR photography, editing, and delivery within 48 hours.
Local coverage: I cover Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, and the wider South West. View my Airbnb photography services for pricing and availability.
Based locally and covering Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, and the Cotswolds. View my property photography services or get in touch to arrange a shoot.
