Swindon is a town in Wiltshire, located in the south west of England, which sits midway between Bristol to the west, and Reading, which is located 35 miles to east. Swindon is a town which combines rich history with contemporary charm, and there is plenty to do if you’re spending a weekend in this part of Wiltshire.
If you’re interested in technology, then the Museum of Computing is well worth a look. Its collection of computers, calculators, games and other bits of earlier technology will certainly bring back memories, and possibly raise a few smiles from the younger members of your group too. Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has a superb collection of 20th century British art to browse.
Of course, if all those museums have tired you out, you can always kick back for a while in one of the town’s many pubs, and perhaps enjoy a few games of Aloha Slots while you grab a bite to eat and a drink. Once you have unwound a little, you might be ready for a night out.
The good news is that Swindon has plenty of options when it comes to enjoying a night out. For a quiet few pints, you can try one of the pubs in the Downtown area of Swindon. The Sir Daniel Arms is a great venue for some quiet drinks. You can also fuel up with some hot food here.
If you fancy a proper long night out which includes a bit of dancing as well as drink and conversation, head into the Old Town. There, you can find the nightclub Juju, where DJs like Shadow Child and OneMan have played sets in the past. Playing everything from classic R’n’B to house and dubstep, you should be able to find some tunes to show off your dance moves.
For a leisurely Sunday, you can try visiting the nearby Shaw Forest Park, which offers up some lovely woodland walks. If you’re lucky, you might spot some of the local wildlife in amongst the trees and wetlands too, with deer, foxes, birds of prey and a host of small amphibians resident in the park. You can take your dog, too, if you have one.
You might also find time to take in one of Swindon’s genuinely quirky features – the Magic Roundabout. This innovative piece of 1970s urban planning is a ring junction consisting of five roundabouts laid out in a circle around a central, sixth roundabout. It is also handily located close to Swindon Town FC’s County Ground, if there happens to be a game on that you fancy seeing.
Swindon is far from being dull and boring, and there is plenty to see and do if you are spending a weekend there. Whether you want to idle away the hours over a meal, get some fresh air in the great outdoors, or see some quirky street features, Swindon offers plenty of options.
