Swindon is a large town which has expanded rapidly in recent years. The old town of Swindon is south of the present pedestrianised town centre which developed near the station and works of the Great Western Railway. The Bus Station and Fleming Way bus stops are less than ¼ mile from the Rail Station. Swindon PlusBus tickets are valid within the urban area, including some attractions.
TI Central Library, Regent Circus. Tel. 01793 466454.
Housed in a restored building of the former Swindon railway works, the museum tells the story of the
people who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway. Events programme. Café.
Open Daily 1000-1700.
www.steam-museum.org.uk
This terraced stone cottage is part of the 'Railway Village' built to house workers at the Great Western Railway works.
The furnished interior shows how Victorian railway workers lived. Admission free, donations welcome.
Open occasionally, see website for dates.
www.mechanics-trust.org.uk
The history of computing and digital devices with many hands-on exhibits.
Open FS 1000-1600.
www.museumofcomputing.org.uk
Displays cover local history, archaeology and geology.
Important collection of 20th century art including works by Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland, LS Lowry and Paul Nash. Admission free.
Open WThFS 1100-1500.
www.swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk
A Palladian house with restored state rooms on the ground floor containing furnishings and portraits.
Georgian walled garden. Church. Play area. Landscaped parkland with lake and walks. Tearoom, café and picnic field. Events programme.
Open Park Daily. House & Garden see website.
www.lydiardpark.org.uk
Bus 1/1A from Fleming Way to Hay Lane, Sleaford Close, then ½ mile.
About 20 minutes journey, M-S every 10 minutes, Sun & BH every 30 minutes.
Buses 1 and 1A operate loops in opposite directions so return buses leave from both sides of Hay Lane.
Swindon PlusBus tickets are valid for this journey.
Operated by Swindon Bus.
A country park with a lake originally built as a reservoir for the Wilts & Berks Canal.
The area became a pleasure park when the canal was abandoned and the distinctive former diving platform remains.
Woodland and nature reserve with wildflower meadows and bird-watching hides (permit from Activity Centre).
Interactive splash park for children. Miniature Railway. Events programme.
Open Daily dawn-dusk.
www.swindon.gov.uk
Bus 13/14 from Fleming Way to Coate Roundabout,
10 minutes journey, M-S every 10 minutes, Sun & BH every 30 minutes.
Swindon PlusBus tickets are valid for this journey.
Operated by Swindon Bus.
The farmhouse home and birthplace of Victorian nature writer Richard Jefferies.
Much of the house has been restored to create a mid to late 19th century farmhouse.
Collection of items relating to Richard Jefferies. Gardens and orchard. Admission free.
Open TTh 1030-1230, also May-Sep Sun 1300-1700.
www.richardjefferies.org
Bus as Coate Water Park above.
A standard-gauge railway with vintage steam and diesel trains on the former Swindon to Cricklade line.
The Railway's main centre is at Blunsdon station. Taw Valley Halt is adjacent to Mouldon Hill Country Park.
Café at Blunsdon. Events programme.
Open Mar-Oct, SSu. See website for train times and other dates.
www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org
Bus 15 from Bus Station to Taw Hill, Tawny Owl, then ¼ mile walk.
M-S only, about 15 minutes journey, every 30 minutes.
Swindon PlusBus tickets are valid for this journey.
Operated by Swindon Bus.
An extensive area around lakes created by gravel extraction, offering a wide range of
leisure activities including walks, cycle trails, fishing, birdwatching and nature reserves to explore.
Gateway Visitor Centre with information, maps, walks leaflets and café.
Maps and walks can be downloaded from the website. Admission free.
Open Gateway Centre Daily 0900-1700.
www.waterpark.org
Bus 51/51A from Bus Station to Gateway Visitor Centre, watch for the sign a few minutes after Cricklade.
About 30 minutes journey, M-S hourly, Sun & BH 2-hourly. Swindon PlusBus tickets are NOT valid for this journey.
Operated by Stagecoach.
Accommodation in Cotswold Water Park:
A 17th century hunting lodge with a doll's house appearance, guided tours of the staircase
hung with 17th century paintings. Rooftop views. Maze. Woodland.
Open House Apr-Oct, Wed & Sat, see website for tour times. Woodland open all year.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bus 47 from Bus Station to opposite entrance, look for sign shortly after Ashbury,
about 35 minutes journey, M-S infrequent. Swindon PlusBus tickets are NOT valid for this journey.
Times from Traveline.
Ashdown House is in Berkshire.
Avebury and its surroundings are a World Heritage Site. The village is partially encompassed by the prehistoric stone circle.
Bus 49 from Bus Station to Avebury, Red Lion, about 30 minutes journey.
M-S hourly, Sun & BH 2-hourly. Swindon PlusBus tickets are NOT valid for this journey.
Operated by Stagecoach.
Stay in Avebury: National Trust Holiday cottage.
One of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain, Avebury Henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch.
Within it there were originally about 100 great sarsen stones, forming the largest circle in Britain.
Other ancient monuments near Avebury include West Kennet Stone Avenue,
Silbury Hill (1 mile, no access to hill itself),
West Kennet Long Barrow (1¾ miles) and
Windmill Hill (1½ miles). All admission free.
Open any reasonable time. Check website for summer solstice (20-22 June).
www.english-heritage.org.uk/avebury |
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury
Bus see Avebury above.
Housed in traditional farm buildings, the museum tells the story of Avebury's ancient landscape
and the archaeologist Alexander Keiller who excavated here in the 1930s. Café.
Open Daily 1000-1600. Check website for summer solstice (20-22 June).
www.english-heritage.org.uk |
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury
Bus see Avebury above.
Avebury Manor was transformed in partnership with the BBC, rooms being styled to reflect various periods:
Tudor, Queen Anne, Georgian, Victorian and 20th century. The garden is arranged as a series of 'rooms' with different characters. Tearoom.
Open Mar-Oct, ThFSSu 1100-1600, garden open daily. Check website for summer solstice (20-22 June).
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury
Bus see Avebury above.
Cirencester is a busy market town known as 'The Capital of the Cotswolds', Cirencester was the important Roman city of Corinium.
The Abbey Grounds include a section of Roman wall and the site of the demolished 12th century Abbey is outlined with paving stones.
Read an in-depth
Visitor Guide to Cirencester.
Bus 51 from Bus Station to Cirencester The Forum, about 60 minutes journey.
M-S hourly, Sun & BH 2-hourly. Buses return from the Market Place. Swindon PlusBus tickets are NOT valid for this journey.
Operated by Stagecoach.
Buses also operate from Cheltenham and Kemble.
TI Corinium Museum. Tel. 01285 654180.
www.cirencester.com | www.cotswolds.info | www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk
The Corinium Museum has one of the finest and most extensive Roman collections in the country.
Many exhibits are from Corinium (now Cirencester) which was Roman Britain's second largest city. Mosaics, coins,
buried treasure, metalwork and other archaeological finds from the Cotswolds. The museum also covers Victorian Cirencester.
Café. Exhibitions programme.
Open M-S 1000-1600, Sun 1400-1600, closes 1700 Apr-Oct.
www.coriniummuseum.org
Bus see Cirencester above.
A converted Victorian brewery housing a contemporary art gallery and craft shops with demonstrations.
Café. Exhibitions programme.
Open M-S 0900-1700.
www.newbreweryarts.org.uk
Bus see Cirencester above.
Home to the Bathurst family, the extensive Park is open to the public free of charge.
There are several follies in the Park.
Open Daily 0800-1700.
www.bathurstestate.co.uk
Bus see Cirencester above.
The massive earthwork remains of one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in Britain. Admission free.
Open Daily dawn-dusk.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Bus see Cirencester above,
the Amphitheatre is ½ mile from the town centre.
