LOCAL GUIDE
Exploring Swindon and its Surroundings
Swindon is a great jumping-off point, whether you’re looking for a base for a holiday or for work. Its strategic road and rail links offer easy access to a plethora of attractions, both nearby and within a comfortable driving distance. Swindon has excellent rail links, less than an hour to either London or Bristol.
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway
A testament to Swindon's industrial history. Immerse yourself in the railway history of Swindon at the award-winning STEAM museum.
McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
Housed in the Grade 2 Listed buildings of the old railway works, indulge in some retail therapy. Offering quality shops and a good selection of food outlets.
Lydiard Park
Just outside the town is Lydiard Park with its small stately home, surrounded by beautiful grounds with woodlands, a lake, and acres of space for children and dogs to run around in.
Avebury World Heritage Site
Explore the World Heritage Site of Avebury, home to an ancient village, manor house, and a Neolithic henge and stone circles.
Iconic towns
Discover Bath, Marlborough, Cheltenham, Oxford, Cirencester – perfect for a day trip with captivating landscapes and historic villages.
Uffington White Horse
The prehistoric chalk horse at Uffington gallops across the hillside as it has done for over 3,000 years.
THE LOCAL AREA
The centre of Old Town still retains the ancient street pattern of the hilltop market town it once was, centuries ago. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Before that, the Romans were here, and prehistoric tribes even before them.
Visit the Town Gardens, laid out in Victorian times, and enjoy tea and cake from the refreshment kiosk in the centre of the park. On Sunday afternoons in summer, come to hear a local band or group of musicians. Much of Swindon is post-industrial Victorian, especially in what is still known as ‘New Town’ at the bottom of the hill, which grew up around the iconic railway works in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Old Town:
All within 15 minutes walk:
- Nearby well-stocked general store
- Clifton pub, 5 minutes’ walk
- Independent shops, pubs, restaurants
- Arts Centre theatre
- Town Gardens – Victorian park with café
- Lawn country park, woods and lake
- Christ Church, fine Victorian parish church
Railway Quarter:
Delve into the Railway Quarter, housing:
- Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway
- Designer Outlet Shopping Village
- National Trust national headquarters
- The Railway Village – charming houses built for railway workers and their families
West Swindon:
Explore West Swindon’s amenities, including:
- Link Centre sports, swimming, and leisure centre
- Shaw Ridge leisure park with Cineworld cinema, ten-pin bowling, pool, laser quest, and various restaurants and bars
- Asda supermarket and shops
New Town:
A 20-minute downhill walk leads you to New Town, featuring:
- Pedestrianised shopping centre
- Modern library
- Wyvern Theatre
- Cineworld cinema Regent Circus
- Boom Battle Bar
- Railway and bus stations
Coate Water is a popular country park and nature reserve, 2.7 miles away. Seasonal activities and attractions, café, toilets, play area, visitors centre, miniature railway (Sundays) etc
About 6.6 miles drive, this is a wild and wonderful place with fantastic views, great for walking, birdwatching, picnics and kite flying. Not a castle as such, but a prehistoric Iron Age hill fort with steep earth ramparts dating back 2,500 years.
Working family farm open all year round, 8 miles drive. A great day out where you can experience and learn about animals, farming and the countryside. Visitors centre, activities, tractor and trailer rides, play barn, café, farm shop.
Located south of Marlborough, this huge, ancient forest dates back around a thousand years. It has an outstanding legacy of old trees, rich landscapes and diverse habitats. A wonderful wild place to walk, run, and play. About 15 miles drive.
Greenbridge Retail and Leisure Park:
Visit the modern shopping complex featuring Empire cinema, restaurants, bars, and Jolly Roger Adventure Ltd – an indoor play area with a bouncy castle, slides, nets, arcade games, and a café.
Studley Grange Garden Centre:
As well as gardening goods it has: a soft play centre, Butterfly World and Farm Park, and inviting places to eat. Alongside a craft village featuring small, independent makers and retailers.
The wider area
Wiltshire is a mainly rural county, and Swindon is surrounded by some of England’s finest countryside. Beyond the local area lie the famous Cotswolds, wonderful walking country, and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Look for the villages of Bibury, Lechlade, Bourton-on-the-Water, and so many other places. Stonehenge near Salisbury is another must-see destination.
