Historical, Hidden, and Unusual Attractions in and Nearby Swindon

As the biggest town in Wiltshire, Swindon is perfectly situated in an area that is surrounded by beautiful countryside views. You can also discover the history behind certain notable features of the town by embarking on a journey to its many Museums and art galleries. Swindon is also flourishing with hidden gems and an array of popular attractions including famous and unusual ones.

Britain’s secret underground bunkers

Secret underground bunkers date way back to the 1940s and although they were in fact meant to be destroyed once the war was over, many remained standing and some can still be found in Swindon today. The main purpose of these bunkers was to accommodate small groups of fighters during the Second World War in the event of an invasion.

These bunkers also posed as one of Britain’s many secret camouflaged military bases located underground, therefore, they’re so hidden they’re nearly impossible to find. As a matter of fact from when they were first built till now many of them have since deteriorated or collapsed. Although they are no longer in use, these underground bunkers still possess an element of secrecy, especially to the untrained eye which might just deem it as a random placing in the ground.

Well, if they are so secret how do we know about them today? Interestingly, one of the main reasons we’ve come to know about them is thanks to historians, veterans, and enthusiasts who whilst seeking the remains of these covert underground bases have documented the history of these concealed units.

Swindon’s magic roundabout

This unusual attraction is one you might see as a bit of a headache as a regular, but if you've never been to our town's magic roundabout, it's worth putting your nerves to the test. This amusing intersection, Swindon’s magic roundabout is an automotive whirlpool built in 1972 between five large roadways and consisting of a large central roundabout surrounded by five small roundabouts. Drivers heading one-way spin in a sort of intricate ballet until they are thrust back out to the direction of their journey. If this dizzying experience wasn’t enough, drivers have to navigate through the smaller outer circles in a clockwise motion whilst the larger lanes direct cars through an anti-clockwise pattern. This unique roundabout is very thrilling indeed.

Explore Clandon’s Park's colonial connections to New Zealand

Despite being on opposite sides of the world there are a lot of similarities between Britain and New Zealand. Sports play a huge role in New Zealand, for one Rugby Union is recognised as the unofficial national sport in the country. Interestingly, it is also Britain’s second most popular sport just behind Football.

Aside from their immense love for sports, both countries enjoy other similar forms of entertainment, including online gaming such as Bonusfinder NZ which offer exclusive betting and casino bonuses and sports. However, this is not all, it turns out that Britain has a deep-rooted history with New Zealand. The history of Clandon is intertwined with New Zealand. Clandon Park’s colonial connection stems all the way from 1889 to 1892 when the fourth Earl of Onslow served as Governor of New Zealand.

Clandon’s Park was built by a Venetian architect back in the 18th century. This Palladian mansion is only 1hr 30 mins away from Swindon, great for a day trip. Guests are able to visit the stunning two-story Marble hall and its unique Maori chapel. From the eye-catching elegance of its interior features to its beautiful gardens, Clandon’s Park really does have a lot to offer.

As you can see, Swindon has a lot to offer, from its secret underground bunkers to its magic roundabout, our town holds a lot of important history however crazy and unusual they may sound!