Three Tips for Having Fun Indoors in Swindon

With 766mm of rainfall each year, Swindon residents don’t see too much sunshine throughout the seasons. By international standards, even the city’s driest month is rainy. From late June to late August, the sun comes out for longer periods before disappearing again for most of autumn.

This means locals are always ready to take advantage of a surprise sunny afternoon. However, most are prepared to enjoy busy weekends and after-work activities no matter what the weather's like. As such, it’s always helpful to have a few new ideas for a particularly blustery or cold day.

There are three ways Swindonians can take advantage of an afternoon indoors. First, knowing where to find quality entertainment online is important, as is knowing where to find adventure experiences at indoor facilities. Lastly, optimizing the home can also provide a long-lasting source of amusement and satisfaction.

Getting More from Online Ventures

The Wii, released by Nintendo in 2006, was one of the first accessible consoles to transform how people game from home. Since its release, there have been two major booms related to virtual gaming: eSports and online casinos.

The latter has seen a slower but steadier uptick in interest. From the earliest days of online pokies and poker in the late 90s to today’s world of VR-ready blackjack tables, options continue to expand. These are likely to grow based on user interest in US states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, as well as throughout the UK.

eSports, on the other hand, is subject to a more structured format based on international gaming tournaments, which see more viewers than competitors. Free streaming for major tournaments is available on sites like Twitch and YouTube, which provide an interesting peek into sports of the future.

Jump into a Wild Adventure

Though not quite as varied as the realm of online entertainment, the Swindon area has plenty to offer locals in terms of indoor adventures. First, the Link Centre provides four crucial activities that can turn a rainy afternoon into an unforgettable one.

The most riveting is the Better Extreme Trampoline Park, which doesn’t receive enough attention from older groups. Extreme Trampoline Park goes to lengths to create dynamic programs for adults of all activity levels, so be sure to check out their schedules. The Link Centre is also home to the Swindon ice rink, which is open to the public when it’s not being used by the local Wildcats ice hockey team. The rink is internationally sized, which means it’s ideal for group outings. Want to try something new? Attend a local speedskating event as a spectator—it’s sure to entertain.

Optimize the Home

Swindon may be a rainy location when compared to areas like Spain or Germany, but there are plenty of populated areas that receive similar or more rainfall each year. Taipei, Seattle, Mangalore, and Copenhagen all see similar levels of annual rainfall —so what do people around the world do to optimize the home for spending time indoors?

Standard tricks, like optimizing window space for natural light, are staples for most Swindonians. However, there are a few other tricks that can help transform the home into a place where spending hours feels like a treat. One simple trick is to use the psychology of colors (scientific studies related to certain colors) to curate a mood.

Another is to emphasize outdoor spaces like porches or patios that are sheltered from the rain. The idea is to emulate the feeling of being outside without actually stepping foot out from under cover. Outdoor furniture will be a robust option that lasts years, while accents like windchimes add touches of serenity. Depending on size, these can also be areas to host friends in.

However, the most critical piece of advice for dwellers of the world’s rainiest locations is to declutter the home. Less stuff equals more space, which can lead to better relaxation and concentration. Facing a deep clean? Check out decluttering tutorials like the KonMari method or the Everything in a Box method.