A former railway and agricultural town in Wiltshire County, Swindon showcases its history in excellent museums, art exhibitions and local farms with family-friendly activities. There’s also plenty of modern-day fun on offer, with forest adventure sites and space-themed play venues.

Things to do

One of the most interesting things to do in Swindon is visiting the STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway. Located within a refurbished railway station, it holds collections of antique locomotives and train carriages, including the Royal Saloon designed for Queen Victoria in 1897. You can operate an original signal box and be an engineer in a train simulator.

Shop at Designer Outlet of Swindon, renowned for its large collection of discounted designer shops. Head to the Old Town area to browse British art collections at Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, then learn about the history of computers with hands-on exhibits at the Museum of Computing.

You can enjoy several parks in Swindon, including the historic estate grounds of Lydiard Park. You’ll find education programs, a kids’ play area and the Tea Rooms for refreshments. At Stanton Park, hike through woodlands and have a picnic along the lakefront. Take the little ones to Roves Farm to ride tractors, feed animals, build dens and have indoor playtime at the barn.

Additional family-oriented opportunities include Jungle Parc Swindon, a high-wire forest adventure site with more courses for climbing, swinging and trekking. You can also enjoy space-themed adventures at Spaceplay, which features ramps, slides, tunnels and a dedicated toddler play area.

Getting around

A large network of public buses services Swindon, along with taxis and private shuttles. You can rent a car at Bristol Airport, about 68 kilometres away.