Swindon

United_Kingdom

Swindon town centre, viewed from Radnor Street Cemetery

Swindon is a large town in Wiltshire, in southern England, with a population of approximately 200,000 people. It doesn't have very much to offer from a historical perspective, although it does have a great deal of heritage from the British railway system in which it played a central part during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The town began its existence as a Saxon village, and it is likely that its name is derived from the Saxon words 'swine dun' or 'swines down' meaning 'pig hill'. The small hilltop village subsequently expanded around the site of a quarry, with a 19th-century canal facilitating trade.

During the mid-19th century, the introduction of the Great Western Railway and the associated railway works fully transformed Swindon from a village into a thriving industrial town, which drew workers from across the United Kingdom.

Swindon experienced a population boom after World War II. New housing areas were built due to a shortage of housing in London following the mass destruction caused by the war. This population growth has continued and the town remains one of the fastest growing urban areas in the United Kingdom and Europe.

  • Cotswold Water Park. The United Kingdom's largest water park has over 150 lakes which were formed by filling old gravel quarries. It is about north-west of Swindon and offers many water sports and activities.

  • Steam: The Great Western Railway Museum, Fire Fly Ave, SN2 2EY (Follow directions to the Designer Outlet Village, then pickup signs to Steam, +44 1793 466637. 10AM-5PM every day except Christmas (check website). The museum is in a restored railway works building. The building is a treat in itself. As well as having a wealth of information about the railways, it also is an invaluable source of social history. There are plenty of events for children, and it is right next to the Great Western Designer Outlet Village and the National Trust Headquarters, so anyone in the family who doesn't want to visit the museum has plenty of other options. Adults £8, Children £6.
  • Museum of Computing @ Swindon, 6-7 Theatre Square, SN1 1QN, +44 7834 375628. F 10AM-4PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Educational museum with excellent collections of what are now antique computers and games consoles. Guided tours depending on number of visitors. The museum has even been visited by Google Street View: http://goo.gl/maps/bvbyp Adults £2, children £1.
  • Swindon Museum, Bath Rd, SN1 4BA. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. Interesting displays on local history, geology and archaeology. It is run by the local council. Free.
  • Wroughton Science Museum, Red Barn Gate, +44 1793 846222. Just outside Swindon on the old RAF Wroughton Airfield, the science museum features display on science and engineering topics.

Steam: The Great Western Railway Museum, Fire Fly Ave, SN2 2EY (Follow directions to the Designer Outlet Village, then pickup signs to Steam, +44 1793 466637. 10AM-5PM every day except Christmas (check website). The museum is in a restored railway works building. The building is a treat in itself. As well as having a wealth of information about the railways, it also is an invaluable source of social history. There are plenty of events for children, and it is right next to the Great Western Designer Outlet Village and the National Trust Headquarters, so anyone in the family who doesn't want to visit the museum has plenty of other options. Adults £8, Children £6.

Museum of Computing @ Swindon, 6-7 Theatre Square, SN1 1QN, +44 7834 375628. F 10AM-4PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Educational museum with excellent collections of what are now antique computers and games consoles. Guided tours depending on number of visitors. The museum has even been visited by Google Street View: http://goo.gl/maps/bvbyp Adults £2, children £1.

Swindon Museum, Bath Rd, SN1 4BA. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. Interesting displays on local history, geology and archaeology. It is run by the local council. Free.

Wroughton Science Museum, Red Barn Gate, +44 1793 846222. Just outside Swindon on the old RAF Wroughton Airfield, the science museum features display on science and engineering topics.

  • Swindon Art Gallery, Bath Rd, SN1 4BA. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. Very important collection of 20th-century British art and includes works by Henry Moore and L.S. Lowry. Admission is free.

Swindon Art Gallery, Bath Rd, SN1 4BA. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. Very important collection of 20th-century British art and includes works by Henry Moore and L.S. Lowry. Admission is free.

  • Railway Village. A remnant of Swindon's past glory involving Brunel and the steam railways, these three rows of houses are Grade II listed gems, hidden away between the railway station, the Great Western Designer Outlet Village and Swindon central shopping plaza. Although the cottages are still private property, the streets have public access; and the two pubs in the center of the village (the Glue Pot and the Cricketers) serve local ale and food, from lunch time until late.
  • Former Great Western Railway Works Now turned into the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet shopping centre, it features architectural and mechanical reminders of days gone by.
  • Renault Distribution Centre, designed by Sir Norman Foster. Although the building is now owned by Spectrum, it is still popularly called "the Renault building" by Swindonians. Similar in design is the Link Centre, a sports and leisure centre in the west of Swindon, opposite Shaw Ridge Leisure Park.
  • Wood Street, Old Town. This features original 17th-century buildings, modernised with shop fronts, bars and restaurants. Considered a more upper class area than the current centre of Swindon, it is an "Access Only" street.

Railway Village. A remnant of Swindon's past glory involving Brunel and the steam railways, these three rows of houses are Grade II listed gems, hidden away between the railway station, the Great Western Designer Outlet Village and Swindon central shopping plaza. Although the cottages are still private property, the streets have public access; and the two pubs in the center of the village (the Glue Pot and the Cricketers) serve local ale and food, from lunch time until late.

Former Great Western Railway Works Now turned into the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet shopping centre, it features architectural and mechanical reminders of days gone by.

Renault Distribution Centre, designed by Sir Norman Foster. Although the building is now owned by Spectrum, it is still popularly called "the Renault building" by Swindonians. Similar in design is the Link Centre, a sports and leisure centre in the west of Swindon, opposite Shaw Ridge Leisure Park.

Wood Street, Old Town. This features original 17th-century buildings, modernised with shop fronts, bars and restaurants. Considered a more upper class area than the current centre of Swindon, it is an "Access Only" street.

Town Gardens

Queen’s Park

Lawns Park

Faringdon Road Park

Lydiard Country Park

Coate Water Country Park

Hagbourne Copse

Shaw Forest Park

Peatmoor Lagoon

Mouldon Hill Country Park

Cotswold Water Park. The United Kingdom's largest water park has over 150 lakes which were formed by filling old gravel quarries. It is about north-west of Swindon and offers many water sports and activities.

  • Festival of Literature. May (annual). Created in the early 1990s, this event is for those who enjoy readings, poetry and talks from a wide range of authors, performers and speakers. Highlights from previous years include Sir David Attenborough, Will Self, Richard Dawkins, and the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir John Major.
  • Film Festival, Hosted at a number of venues. March (annual). 10-day programme showcasing the latest independent films from Britain and abroad. £5 (£4 for concessions).
  • Mela, Town Gardens, Old Town. August (annual). A celebration of Indian culture. Free.
  • Old Town Festival, Various locations in Old Town. June (annual).
  • Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, Town Gardens, Old Town. August (annual). The main annual LGBT event in Wiltshire. Accessible and free for all to attend. Free.
  • Shuffle. August (annual). Music festival packed with upcoming and established bands from Swindon and the wider region.

Festival of Literature. May (annual). Created in the early 1990s, this event is for those who enjoy readings, poetry and talks from a wide range of authors, performers and speakers. Highlights from previous years include Sir David Attenborough, Will Self, Richard Dawkins, and the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir John Major.

Film Festival, Hosted at a number of venues. March (annual). 10-day programme showcasing the latest independent films from Britain and abroad. £5 (£4 for concessions).

Mela, Town Gardens, Old Town. August (annual). A celebration of Indian culture. Free.

Old Town Festival, Various locations in Old Town. June (annual).

Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, Town Gardens, Old Town. August (annual). The main annual LGBT event in Wiltshire. Accessible and free for all to attend. Free.

Shuffle. August (annual). Music festival packed with upcoming and established bands from Swindon and the wider region.

  • Watch football ie soccer at Swindon Town, The County Ground, County Road SN1 2ED. "The Robins" play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football.

Watch football ie soccer at Swindon Town, The County Ground, County Road SN1 2ED. "The Robins" play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football.

  • Jungle Parc, Lydiard Park, West Swindon, SN5 3PA. Adventure park in the 'tree-tops', with zip lines, rope bridges and cargo nets. Aimed at children 3yrs or over.
  • Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon Station, Tadpole Lane, SN25 2DA. Standard gauge heritage railway located on a portion of the former Midland & South West Junction Railway (M&SWJR). Rides are available on carriages hauled by steam and diesel locomotives. The line is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers, with the track length increasing year on year. Child £5, senior £6, adult £7, family (two adults + two children) £20..
  • Swindon Karting, Hanger C2, Area 1, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton Airfield, SN4 0QJ, +44 1793 814340. Based in a hangar at the former RAF Wroughton airfield, you can race on a 550-metre indoor track using a 270cc go-kart. From £40 per driver.
  • ATBShop Skate Warehouse, Unit 1 Newcombe Drive, Swindon SN2 1DZ, England, +44 1793 523244. Enclosed skate park for children - let your kids skate in safety! protective clothing and equipment hire available, events and partys available for booking.
  • Oasis Leisure Centre, North Star Avenue, SN2 1EP, +44 1793 507110. M-F: 6:30AM-10PM, Sa: 8AM-6PM, Su: 8AM-7PM. Concert hall and leisure centre with a swimming pool, waterslides and rapids of which the band Oasis took its name.

Jungle Parc, Lydiard Park, West Swindon, SN5 3PA. Adventure park in the 'tree-tops', with zip lines, rope bridges and cargo nets. Aimed at children 3yrs or over.

Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon Station, Tadpole Lane, SN25 2DA. Standard gauge heritage railway located on a portion of the former Midland & South West Junction Railway (M&SWJR). Rides are available on carriages hauled by steam and diesel locomotives. The line is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers, with the track length increasing year on year. Child £5, senior £6, adult £7, family (two adults + two children) £20..

Swindon Karting, Hanger C2, Area 1, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton Airfield, SN4 0QJ, +44 1793 814340. Based in a hangar at the former RAF Wroughton airfield, you can race on a 550-metre indoor track using a 270cc go-kart. From £40 per driver.

ATBShop Skate Warehouse, Unit 1 Newcombe Drive, Swindon SN2 1DZ, England, +44 1793 523244. Enclosed skate park for children - let your kids skate in safety! protective clothing and equipment hire available, events and partys available for booking.

Oasis Leisure Centre, North Star Avenue, SN2 1EP, +44 1793 507110. M-F: 6:30AM-10PM, Sa: 8AM-6PM, Su: 8AM-7PM. Concert hall and leisure centre with a swimming pool, waterslides and rapids of which the band Oasis took its name.

Swindon town centre contains the main retail core of the town, primarily served by four pedestrianised shopping streets (Bridge Street, Regent Street, Canal Walk and The Parade). The shops are around 150 m from the bus station and approximately 300 m from the railway station.

  • Brunel Centre, SN1 1LF. It is ccessible from Canal Walk, anf comprises a two-storey indoor shopping area.

At the end of western end of Canal Walk is the Swindon’s Tented Market .

Two shopping destinations exist within walking distance of the town centre. 0.8 km west of the town centre is the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Europe's largest indoor designer outlet in the unique setting of restored Victorian railway engineering buildings. south-east of the town centre is Old Town.

  • McArthurglen Swindon Designer Outlet, Kemble Dr, SN2 2DY, +44 1793 507600. M-F: 10AM-8PM, Sa: 9AM-7PM, Su: 10AM-6PM.

Further afield are Greenbridge Retail Park, the West Swindon Shopping Centre and the Orbital Retail Park. These are accessible from the town centre by bus, taxi or car.

  • Greenbridge Retail Park, Drakes Way, Greenbridge SN3 3EY, +44 1793 619918. M-Sa: 8AM-10PM, Su: 10AM-6PM.
  • West Swindon Shopping Centre, Tewkesbury Way, SN5 7DL, +44 1793 872987. M-F: 7AM-10PM, Sa: 7AM-9PM, Su: 10AM-4PM.
  • Orbital Retail Park, Thamesdown Drive, SN25 4AN, +44 1793 726636.

Brunel Centre, SN1 1LF. It is ccessible from Canal Walk, anf comprises a two-storey indoor shopping area.

McArthurglen Swindon Designer Outlet, Kemble Dr, SN2 2DY, +44 1793 507600. M-F: 10AM-8PM, Sa: 9AM-7PM, Su: 10AM-6PM.

Greenbridge Retail Park, Drakes Way, Greenbridge SN3 3EY, +44 1793 619918. M-Sa: 8AM-10PM, Su: 10AM-6PM.

West Swindon Shopping Centre, Tewkesbury Way, SN5 7DL, +44 1793 872987. M-F: 7AM-10PM, Sa: 7AM-9PM, Su: 10AM-4PM.

Orbital Retail Park, Thamesdown Drive, SN25 4AN, +44 1793 726636.

There are plenty different types of places to choose from, including traditional English and Irish pubs, Chinese and Indian restaurants, and cafés and bars.

  • Los Gatos, 1-3 Devizes Road (At top of hill in Old Town, +44 1793 488450. 11AM-11PM. A real, independently-owned Spanish tapas bar which uses fresh ingredients. Always busy and good atmosphere.
  • Jewel in the Crown, 14-16 Victoria Road, +44 1793 522687. Indian restaurant in Old Town.

Los Gatos, 1-3 Devizes Road (At top of hill in Old Town, +44 1793 488450. 11AM-11PM. A real, independently-owned Spanish tapas bar which uses fresh ingredients. Always busy and good atmosphere.

Jewel in the Crown, 14-16 Victoria Road, +44 1793 522687. Indian restaurant in Old Town.

For really good pubs it is advised you head out of town into the countryside a bit, however several of the more popular pubs are:

  • The Glue Pot, 5 Emlyn Square, +44 1793 523935. Probably one of the better places to find good real ale in Swindon. They also have a large and constantly changing selection of ciders.
  • Groves Company Inn, 22/23 Fleet Street. The ubiquitous Wetherspoons: Cheap beer, no atmosphere.
  • The Victoria Pub, Victoria Hill. Great food, a brilliant laugh free pub quiz on Wednesdays which involves snakes and ladders and cheating is encouraged! They are also a great music venue for all types of music encouraging unsigned bands. They also show films and have a great atmosphere.
  • The Old Bank, 18 Wood Street, Swindon. The Old Bank comprises a bar and brasserie on the ground floor and on the upper floors, bar areas.
  • McKenzies Bar, Wood Street. Reasonable bar; food served.
  • Longs Bar. Reasonable bar with good drinks selection, conservatory and outdoor areas.
  • The Hop Inn, Devizes Road, Swindon (Old Town, +44 1793 976833. noon-midnight. Small, friendly, independent bar serving real ales and craft beers. Beer list changes very frequently. Crisps, etc., but no kitchen.

The Glue Pot, 5 Emlyn Square, +44 1793 523935. Probably one of the better places to find good real ale in Swindon. They also have a large and constantly changing selection of ciders.

Groves Company Inn, 22/23 Fleet Street. The ubiquitous Wetherspoons: Cheap beer, no atmosphere.

The Victoria Pub, Victoria Hill. Great food, a brilliant laugh free pub quiz on Wednesdays which involves snakes and ladders and cheating is encouraged! They are also a great music venue for all types of music encouraging unsigned bands. They also show films and have a great atmosphere.

The Old Bank, 18 Wood Street, Swindon. The Old Bank comprises a bar and brasserie on the ground floor and on the upper floors, bar areas.

McKenzies Bar, Wood Street. Reasonable bar; food served.

Longs Bar. Reasonable bar with good drinks selection, conservatory and outdoor areas.

The Hop Inn, Devizes Road, Swindon (Old Town, +44 1793 976833. noon-midnight. Small, friendly, independent bar serving real ales and craft beers. Beer list changes very frequently. Crisps, etc., but no kitchen.

Whitehorse Hill, Uffington, [[Wantage|Vale of White Horse]]