The sun has got his hat on hip-hip-hip hooray (here’s hoping!), so it’s time for the insider word on where to go and what to do these summer holidays in Swindon, Wiltshire’s go-to destination for adults and children alike.
Park life. Swindon boasts more parks than most big cities and the town’s abundant green spaces come in all shapes and sizes. For starters? If it’s Victorian splendour and a splendid bandstand with live music every Sunday, then head for Town Gardens. If a 70-acre lake amidst glorious meadows and wooded trails tickles your fancy, try Coate Water Country Park – as a bonus it’s got a fab Splash Park for the kids. More
Fun on the farm. Rowes Farm offers a great day out for animal lovers with a huge array of outdoor and (for that occasional summer shower) indoor activities. Meet and feed friendly farm animals in Pets Corner, then rub noses with piglets of all ages in the Animal Barn before taking a tractor ride around the farm. Exciting play areas include giant slides, ropes, ball ponds and pedal tractors. More
Swindon’s Oasis. Named after the band? Actually, legend has it that it’s the other way around. Whatever the truth, the Oasis Leisure Centre is Swindon’s one stop destination for family thrills and spills. The Lagoon Swimming Pool boasts the famous wave machine, water cannon and triple hydro-slide, while the Pirate Ship water play area is perfect for toddlers. More
Old Town Festival and Fringe. From 8 June to 15 June, Swindon’s most popular festival is back for its 28th edition with a packed schedule of music, parades, theatre, local heritage tours and family fun days. More
Lydiard Park’s hottest festival. Swindon’s very own Palladian House in 260 acres of parkland, complete with great children’s play areas, is worth a visit at any time of the year, but on Saturday 6 July and Sunday 7 July it’s also the setting for the UK’s only dedicated Cheese and Chilli Festival. Featuring cooking displays, food tastings and a beer tent for mum and dad, while kids will love the human-sized table football, treasure hunts and balloon modelling. More
The world’s fastest railway. STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway (GWR) is housed in a beautifully restored Grade II listed railway building in the heart of the former Swindon railway works. Located right next to Swindon's Designer Outlet, the Museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the GWR. The brand-new ‘World’s Fastest’ exhibition charts the GWR’s race to become the fastest railway in the World and how advances in design and technology have changed since City of Truro became the first train to travel at 100mph 115 years ago! More
Swindon Shuffle. For four nights from 12 July to 14 July, Swindon’s rockers, punks, goths, funksters, metalheads and assorted musical tribes will be letting their hair down at the town’s premium music festival across a host of Old Town venues. Featuring, among others, Spunking Octochoke, Fake Walnut Dash, Black Sheep Apprentice, Flour Babies – these bands get our vote for their names alone! More
Shop ‘til you drop. Open for business all summer is the Swindon Designer Outlet. Get top brands like Calvin Klein, Superdry, Jack Wills, Tommy Hilfiger and Joules at a fraction of their normal cost. There’s also a large children’s play area and a large food court. More
Blockbuster movies for the kids. Swindon has no less than three multiplex cinemas - Cineworld Regent Circus, Cineworld Shaw Ridge and Empire Greenbridge, the latter home to Wiltshire’s only IMAX screen. And what child doesn’t look forward to an outing to the cinema during the school holidays? Movies to watch out for this summer include Aladdin, Toy Story 4, The Secret Life of Pets 2 and Spider-Man: Far From Home. More
Teenage Foodie Heaven. It wouldn’t be a town centre if teenagers didn’t like to hang out there and apart from its great range of shops Swindon town centre now has a new magnet for young people in the shape of The Crossing Food Court in the Brunel Shopping Centre. Choose from soul food, vegan treats, gorgeous desserts, wholesome wraps, chicken stir fry, master blended coffee, and freshly made subs. Also, watch out for regular fashion and beauty events and pop-up stores. More