Swindon factfile

How to get to Swindon
A large town in south-west England, Swindon is 81 miles west of London in the county of Wiltshire, approximately halfway between Bristol and Reading. You can easily reach it by road via junctions 15 or 16 off the M4 motorway, which links London with Swansea.

Several trains an hour run from Swindon station to London Paddington, Bristol and Swansea. The central bus station and the town centre are a short walk away.

Swindon through the ages
Swindon was a small market town until the mid 19th century. The original market area is located at the top of a hill in central Swindon, now known as the Old Town.

Swindon really started to grow with the construction of the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal in 1810, and the North Wiltshire Canal in 1819. The canals brought trade to the area, and the population began to climb. Swindon is now home to over 150,000 people.

Shopping in Swindon
Swindon town centre boasts extensive shopping facilities. The Brunel Shopping Centre, built on the site of the filled-in Wilts and Berks Canal, offers a range of national and international retailers, numerous coffee shops, and a kids' play area.

Adjacent to the Brunel Centre are three pedestrianised shopping areas—Canal Walk, The Parade and Regent Street, all of which are crammed with brands and department stores. The Big Top Market Hall, another short walk from the Brunel Centre, houses a selection of smaller shops.

Natural beauty spots around Swindon
Swindon is ideally located for touring the many beauty spots of the West Country. North of Swindon lies the Cotswolds, with the Cotswold Water Park and the Cotswold Wildlife Park just a short drive away.

West of Swindon lies Lacock Abbey, and the Georgian country house and gardens of Bowood House.

Head South and you'll come to the beautiful Marlborough Downs, while the magnificent stone circle at Avebury lies just a few miles to the south-east of Swindon.

Arts and culture in Swindon
During the summer months Swindon plays host to a number of festivals, including a World Music Festival, the Old Town Festival and the Forest Festival. Street performers travel from all over the world to attend the Swindon Summer Festival, which takes place across five days in June.

For art lovers, Swindon Art Gallery in the Old Town houses what is widely regarded as one of the best collections of British 20th-century art outside London.

Famous people from Swindon
Swindon is home to teen pop-star turned actress Billie Piper, Irish-born singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan, and former glamour model Melinda Messenger.