What Is There To Do When
You Visit Swindon? by Simon Haughtone
Swindon
Featured Hotels
What can you do when you
visit Swindon? Although you may not bump into famous Swindonians such as
Melinda Messenger, there's still plenty of interesting things to see and
do in Swindon.
1. Shopping
Probably the best places
to shop in Swindon are the main retail parks such as Greenbridge, the West
Swindon Shopping Centre, Stratton and the Orbital Shopping Park. Or, if
you're looking for cheaper brand name items then it's well worth checking
out the discounts available at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet which
boasts that it is the largest such development in Europe. There's plenty
of room there, even though some 3 million people a year are estimated to
visit it to save money on their designer goods.
 2.
Steam Railway Museum
This is next to the designer
outlet, so dad can have something to do while the rest of the family shop
until they drop. Situated inside a listed ex-railway works, there are many
exhibits that will guide you through the history of the railways and even
show you how the original railway locomotives were constructed.
3. Sports and Leisure
Facilities
With almost 200,000 people
living there, Swindon has plenty of leisure facilities from the relatively
leisurely 10 pin bowling through gymnasiums and the gigantic Lagoon swimming
pool with it's slides, wave machines and water cannon. Golfers are well
catered for locally as well, with the Broome Manor Golf Complex offering
both 9 and 18 hole courses together with over 30 bays in the driving range
so that you can practice exactly those strokes you need to. Or if you've
got more time and energy on your hands, you could experience the thrill
of flying through the air at one of the local gliding clubs.
4. Arts and Theatre
The Wyvern theatre shows
a wide variety of films as well as the normal dramatic productions. It
is also host to many one night stands as it is a well known venue for performers
to include in their tours. For those who prefer a more intimate atmosphere,
check out the Arts centre, which features folk music, smaller production
companies and other events, such as the Swindon Music Festival.
5. Sport
Home to the Swindon Robins
Speedway team, you could take in an evening watching this exciting sport
at the Abbey Stadium. There are three league football teams locally, including
the Football League One Swindon Town F.C. If you like watching ice hockey,
then make sure your visit coincides with a home game for the Wildcats or
the Panthers. The faster motocross circuit is located at Foxhill, just
outside the town.
6. History and Celebrity
If you're a James Bond fan,
then you may want to visit Sevenhampton where Ian Fleming is buried. Music
fans may want to see where the Moody Blues' singer Justin Haywood was born.
Those who enjoy Mark Lamarr on television can see where he grew up in Park
South. Swindon is also famous for being the location of the UK's first
public lending library. Not to mention being the home of the Great Western
Railway and the site for one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's railway works.
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/ Swindon Featured Hotels
About the Author: Find plenty
of places
to stay in Swindon whether you want a hotel in central Swindon or somewhere
further out of the town. |
