Shrivenham 2015

Swindon
How to find us
By Rail: only one hour from London Paddington. Frequent high-speed services from Reading, Bath, Bristol and South
Wales.
By Road: M4 Motorway, Junction 15 (East) and Junction 16 (West). Main routes from the North, A361 and A419;
from the South, A346 and A4361; from the West A3102; from the East, A420.
By Air: The M4 Motorway provides a direct link with London Heathrow Airport. There are direct National Express
coaches and a Rail/Air Link express coach between Heathrow and Reading Rail Station. Bristol, Cardiff & Southampton
airports are also within easy reach.
Information Centre
7 Regent Street Swindon SN1 1JL Tel: (01793) 530328/466454 Fax: (01793) 434031
Website: www.visitswindon.co.uk Email: infocentre@swindon.gov.uk Open: 0930-1730 hrs, Mon to Sat.
Swindon Information Centre offers a free and friendly service with 25 years experience of helping visitors make the
most of their visit to Swindon.
– Hundreds of free leaflets on places to visit and things to do.
– Accommodation booking service for personal callers.
– Theatre entertainment and events listings.
– UK Holiday Information.
– Books, maps, postcards and souvenirs.
The Leisure Garrison Time
Swindon
Around and About
Swindon is not only a major town, it also has within
the Borough boundaries beautiful countryside, historic
market towns & many delightful villages.
To the northeast of Swindon you can visit the historic
market town of Highworth. Once described by John
Betjeman as “one of the most charming and unassuming
country towns in the West of England”. Highworth is still
charming with many fine 17th and 18th Century buildings
in the High Street and Square. From Highworth it is an
easy drive to the Cotswold town of Lechlade, where
the River Thames begins its working life and you can
experience some delightful walks and even a boating trip
on the river.
To the south of Swindon are the glorious Marlborough
Downs. You can experience one of the best views across
Swindon and Wiltshire at Barbury Castle. This Iron Age
Hill Fort allows direct access onto the Ridgeway and is
believed to be the site of a battle where Cynric defeated
the Britons in 556AD. A walk, or cycle, west along the
Ridgeway will lead you to the White Horse at Hackpen,
just one of the many to be found throughout the county,
and onto the prehistoric stone circles at Avebury.
There are numerous other villages and small towns
around the borough. Blunsdon is really two villages
on either side of the Roman Ermin Way – now
the A419 Cirencester road – and is the location of
Swindon Stadium where you can regularly experience
the excitement of speedway and greyhound racing.
Bishopstone and Wanborough are to the east of Swindon
close to the Ridgeway and are both attractive villages
with thatched cottages and interesting churches.
Closer to the main town you can visit the Coate Water
Country Park. The park has a 56 acre lake, which was
originally a reservoir for the Wilts and Berks canal, fishing
and boating activities are available in the summer months.
There are signed walks, children’s play area, pitch & putt,
mini golf an open air pool and a café.
In Old Town you will find the beautiful Town Gardens.
This splendid Victorian Park was opened in 1894. The
ornate bandstand is used for free concerts on Sunday
afternoons throughout the summer. The Gardens also
has the Burmah Castrol Bowl – one of the few concert
bowls built in the UK. The Bowl is used throughout the
summer for concerts.
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Leisure Time