Swindon Attractions

There’s more to this Wiltshire town than its railway past so emerge from your Swindon hotel to learn why a local postmistress was on Hitler’s hit list.

Historic Swindon

See how Swindon grew into a prosperous railway town in the Town Gardens in Quarry Road, where a bandstand entertained walkers. An aviary was added in 1928, and in 1936 the Bowl began hosting open-air concerts. The derelict Mechanics’ Institute was built to entertain GWR’s workers and was a temple to reading, theatre and socialising.

Art and museums in Swindon

From your Swindon hotel you can get a whiff of the wood in the carriage body shop at Steam, Museum of the Great Western Railway at Kemble Drive. The Swindon and Cricklade Railway lets you live the steam experience and showcases God’s Wonderful Railway’s impact on the town.

Quirky things to do in Swindon

Take a trip out to Highworth Post Office where postmistress Mabel Stranks was enlisted by Churchill’s resistance movement to vet thousands of people en route to nearby spy HQ Coleshill House. There is a plaque to commemorate this extraordinary woman who was on Hitler’s most-wanted list. Nearby, Ian Fleming was writing Bond books in Sevenhampton.

Events in Swindon

There’s highbrow high jinks at the Swindon Festival of Literature in May when the book world comes to town. The Old Town Festival in mid-June kicks off with a jazz festival and follows up with a pop concert and family fun day.

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BEST WESTERN PLUS Blunsdon House Hotel,
Swindon

BEST WESTERN Mayfield House Hotel,
Malmesbury

BEST WESTERN PLUS Angel Hotel,
Chippenham

BEST WESTERN Compass Inn,
Near Badminton

BEST WESTERN Leigh Park Country House Hotel & Vineyard,
Bradford-on-Avon

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Bowood House & Gardens - playing by the fountain. Courtesy of Bowood House

Bowood House & Gardens

Opening times:
House daily 11am-4.30pm; grounds daily 11am-5pm; rhododendron walks Apr-Jun: 11am-6pm Mar - Oct 2013 (annual)

Chedworth Roman Villa

Opening times:
Mar & Nov: Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; Apr-Oct: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm Mar - Nov 2013; not Mon (annual)

The Mount Vernon Garden (a replica of George Washington's garden at Mount Vernon in Virginia). Courtesy of the American Museum in Britain

The American Museum in Britain

Opening times:
Tue-Sun 12pm-5pm (Nov & Dec until 4.30pm) Mar - Oct 2013; not Mon (various dates)

Dyrham Park. Courtesy of The National Trust

Dyrham Park

Opening times:
Admission times vary throughout the year. Please check venue website for current times. Feb - Oct 2013; not Wed or Thu (various dates)

Blenheim Palace South Front, Oxfordshire. Courtesy of Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace

Opening times:
Daily 10.30am-5.30pm (last admission 4.45pm); park daily 9am-4.45pm; 2 Nov-16 Dec Wed-Sun only Feb - Dec 2013 (annual)