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Enjoy theatrics at the Wyvern Theatre
Address: Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN
About: The Wyvern Theatre puts Swindon on the dramatic arts map and is Swindon’s premier theatre with the stage dominated by some of the countries best theatrical talents all year round. From stand-up comedy to Christmas pantomimes, the Wyvern has something for everyone, so If you’re a fan of theatre then is a must-visit attraction for you,
Suitable for kids: Yes
Richard Jefferies Museum
Address: Marlborough Rd, Swindon SN3 6AA
About: The Richard Jefferies Museum is a museum located just a stone's throw away from Coate Water Country Park, tucked away in a beautiful little 17th century cottage, and is the home of passionate nature writer and pioneer ecologist, Richard Jefferies. Entry to the museum is free.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Where: Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
About: Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is a great family day trip destination with plenty of activities!
Enjoy a leisurely stroll around their forest trails, go wild in their play ares and end the day with a stop at their cafe! If you're looking for an entertaining event, then Fortest Live, hosted at Westonbirt, is a fabulous live music event!
Forest Live hosts an impressive range of popular musicians throughout the year, view their upcoming events, here.
Address: Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS
Telephone: 0300 067 4890
Marvel at Swindon’s Railway history
Address: Fire Fly Ave, Swindon SN2 2TA
About: Swindon is steeped in railway history and is famous for its Great Western Railway that is seen as one of the pioneering icons in the evolution of the United Kingdom’s railway network. Head to Swindon’s STEAM museum and travel in time as you learn about Swindon’s mesmeric railway lines, steam trains, and more on their interactive feature-packed museum tour.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Visit the farm animals at Roves Farm
Address: Sevenhampton, Swindon SN6 7QG
About: Everyone loves a trip to the farm, and at Roves Farm you can meet and feed all of the favourite farm animals including pigs, goats, and sheep. Get in the South-West spirit and take a trip on the tractors, trek along their adventurous adventure tail and if you’re lucky spot some live lambing taking place between March and April!
Suitable for kids: Yes
Take a historic railway journey
Address: Blunsdon Station, Tadpole Lane, Blunsdon, Swindon SN25 2DA
About: We’ve already told you about Swindon being stamped in railway folklore, well now is the time to experience it for yourself as you take a 45-minute trip on Wiltshire’s only standard gauge heritage railway. Running four trips a day you have plenty of opportunities to grab a ticket and get on board these locomotive masterpieces.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Shop designer brands at Swindon’s Outlet
Address: Kemble Dr, Swindon SN2 2DY
About: Designer brands at a fraction of the standard price? Yes please! Swindon’s Designer Outlet is packed with some of the fashion industries biggest brands including Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, and so much more, making this perfect day out for fashionistas on the hunt for a bargain. Give shop till you drop a new meaning by chomping down and refuelling on energy at one of their delicious restaurants such as Five Guys, Wagamamas, and Giraffe along with a host of fast-food outlets.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Watch Swindon Town at the County Ground
Address: County Rd, Swindon SN1 2ED
About: Football is the World’s most popular sport and Swindon is lucky enough to have its own professional football team, Swindon Town FC. Currently playing in League Two of the EFL pyramid, a day out watching the Robins is a rite of passage for everyone living in Swindon. Buy your ticket, head on down to the County Ground and cheer on the Reds.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Try watersports at The Real Outdoor Experience
Address: Lake 12, Spine Rd E, Cirencester GL7 5TL
About: Situated in the stunning beauty of the Cotswolds, The Real Outdoor Experience run a range of fantastic watersport activities to make a splash with. Showcasing a range of water-based activities including kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, sailing, and much more, you can have an afternoon full of fun on the lakes of The Real Outdoor Experience.
Just book online, turn up, and you’re ready to go! If you want some help then book a session with one of their experienced instructors.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Pick your own strawberries at Lotmead Farm
Address: Lotmead Farm, Swindon SN4 0SN
About: Nothing says summer like a trip to your local pick your own farm and at Lotmead Farm in Swindon, you can enjoy a wonderful afternoon in the sun walking around their fields and picking your own juicy strawberries, raspberries, and fresh vegetables fresh to take home and tuck into! Lotmead Farm also features a nature trail, farm animals to interact with and an exciting children’s play area.
Suitable for kids: Yes
The Museum of Computing
Address: 6-7 Theatre Square, Swindon, SN1 1QN
About: The Museum of Computing in Swindon is dedicated to preserving and showcasing a range of early computers. This museum is the first of its kind in the UK, so don't miss out on this unique experience to Swindon. Browse over machines that display the birth of computing, see vintage machines, and gain insights into the digital revolution.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Visit a Spa
Venues: Cricklade House Hotel & Spa, SPA6 at De Vere Cotswolds
About: Everyone needs some time to unwind, and luckily Swindon is home to some great and celebrated spas and experiences! Treat yourself to a massage, enjoy some pampering treatments, lounge in a jaccuzi or chill out in the sauna. Either treat yourself to a solo self care trip, or take your loved ones with you!
View our full Spas in Swindon Guide, here.
Treat Yourself To An Afternoon Tea
Venues: Kings Head Hotel, Chiseldon House, De Vere Cotswolds, Blunsdon House Hotel
About: Swindon is home to some superb hotels and resturants that are very much worth a visit. We've compiled a list of some of our favourites that offer very tempting afternoon tea spreads! All offering a flight of Champagne, fantastic world teas, beautiful finger sandwiches, delicate cakes, scones and more.
Suitable for kids: Yes, many of these venues offer both adult and kids afternoon teas.
View our full Afternoon Tea Guide, here.
Take to the Ice at the Link Centre
Address: Whitehill Way, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DL
About: Ice Skating is a favourite day out attraction for everyone to get involved in, and at the Better Link Centre you can take to the ice for an afternoon of ice skating fun! Rent your skates and head out onto their Olympic-sized rink. If you’re a fan of ice hockey then stick around and watch the Swindon Wildcats compete.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Play a round on Swindon’s golf courses
Courses: Wrag Barn, Basset Down, Broome Manor, Ogbourne Downs.
About: Surrounding by roaming fields of beautiful countryside, Swindon is home to some of the South-West’s most beautiful, and challenging, golf courses, making it an outstanding location to play a round of golf. Whether you’ve got time to play a full 18-hole course, or just fancy a quick 9-hole round with friends, there is a course for everyone of all abilities in Swindon.
Suitable for kids: No
Test your Footgolf skills at Basset Down
Address: Basset Down Golf Complex, Hay Ln, Swindon SN4 9QW
About: Ever heard of footgolf? We won’t blame you if you haven’t, but it is definitely something you will want to try once you hear more about it. Combining football with golf, all you need is some boots and a ball to make it round Basset Down’s 18-hole footgolf course as you swap out the clubs and attempt to kick your way around this football adapted golf course in as few kicks as possible. A great activity perfect for a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Suitable for kids: Yes but will be challenging for younger ages.
Take a walk on the Ridgeway
Access Points: Barbury Castle, Liddington Castle, White Horse Hill
About: The Ridgeway is a historic national walking route starting in the World Heritage Site of Avebury (a stone's throw from Swindon) and finishing at Ivinghoe Beacon in London. Strap on your walking boots and jump on ‘Britain’s Oldest Road’ at various points throughout Swindon and take in the scenery of the stunning countryside. If you fancy a challenge then try and get all the way to London and walk on the broad track through the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Dine Al Fresco
Venues: Weighbridge Steakhouse & Bar, Hall & Woodhouse, Cricklade House, De Very Cotswold, Chiseldon House, Cricklade Club.
About: Through a combination of hot weather and coronavirus restrictions, dining outdoors has never been more popular! Fortunately, Swindon has a brilliant array of Al Fresco drinking and dining venues to choose from across a range of settings based in and around the iconic Old Town, Swindon Town centre, Wichelstowe and more. Soak up the rays and settle down in some of Swindon’s best beer gardens.
Suitable for kids: Yes
Bounce around with Better Trampoline Park
Address: Whitehill Way, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DL
About: Trampoline parks have popped up all over the country in recent years and Swindon is no exception with the Better Extreme trampoline park a kid’s greatest dream with their bounce zone boasting a trampoline-filled dodgeball court, basketball nets to jump high and show off with a slam dunk, foam pits, and hundreds of trampoline mats to bounce and have fun on!
Suitable for kids: Yes
Marvel at the Magic Roundabout
About: Perhaps the most googled feature about Swindon is the magic roundabout so we couldn’t leave it out of our list of 21 things to do in Swindon! A ring junction consisting of five mini-roundabouts makes up the magic roundabout in central Swindon and in 2009 it was voted the fourth scariest junction in Britain. It’s not that bad though, just give way to the right and you’ll be over it in no time!
Suitable for kids: Yes
Scour the treetops at Lydiard Park
Address: Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon SN5 3PA
About: Lydiard Park’s treetop adventure gives you a chance to challenge yourself at the highest of heights as you climb, jump, and swing through this adventure obstacle course taking place in the forest of Lydiard Park. Jump into action with Jungle Parc and choose whether to take on their Adventurer Course, perfect for children, or test your skills on their Xplorer course that is very high and very exciting!
Suitable for kids: Yes
Watch the Swindon Robins Speedway Team
Address: Lady Lane, Swindon SN25 4DN
About: Speedway is the purest form of motorbike racing as four bikes race around a dirt racetrack at 70mph with no brakes! Crazy we know but this is a sport steeped in history and certainly gets the adrenaline pumping. Based in Blunsdon, the Swindon Robins ride in Britain’s Premiership and are one of the country’s most successful teams having won three league titles since 2021 including a league and cup double in 2019! Cheer on the Robins and experience a sport like no other!
Suitable for kids: Yes
Enjoy some expert cocktails
Bars: Royal Oak Old Town, Kenzo, Rudi’s, Brass Monkey, Longs.
About: Old Town is the place to go if you want an expert cocktail that packs a punch! A plethora of trendy bars don the pavements of Old Town and are well worth a trip to during your night out on the town. Once you’re done with the cocktails, take to the dance floor at some of Swindon’s nightclubs.
Suitable for kids: No
Visit a Safari Park
Address: Longleat Safari Park, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW
About: Longleat Safari Park is situated just over an hour outside of Swindon and is the perfect daytrip location! Although this is a little journey away, a day out at Longleat is very much worthwhile. As you drive through the magnificent safari, excitement builds as majestic lions, towering giraffes, and playful monkeys roam freely around your vehicle, allowing you to witness these incredible creatures up close.
Suitable for kids: Yes