5 Swindon Things to Visit.
#Obvs there’s much, much more than 5 things to do in Swindon. But in the interests of brevity I’ll limit this post to 5 historical and cultural things to do in Swindon. For a more extensive overview of things to do/visit in Swindon – and its environs – visit this page: https://swindonian.me/things-to-do-in-swindon/ But first and in no particular order I bring you:
1. Museum and Art Swindon
Museum and Art Swindon resides on the top floor of the really rather splendid Art Deco civic offices on Euclid Street. Whenever I’m in there I expect Hercule Poirot to appear around a corner or to be sitting in the simply fabulous mayor’s parlour sipping one of his famous tisanes.
Home to the Swindon art collection, MAS also cares for thousands of objects, specimens and various bits of ephemera. Stuff collected from the early 1900s to the present day. The collections include archaeology, natural sciences, social and industrial history as well as the famous modern British art collection.
Almost as famous (?? more so!) is the gharial – otherwise known as the Swindon crocodile recently restored and returned to her rightful place. Find out more about the gharial here.
As MAS is situated not far from the Museum of Computing (below) and if you’re visiting on a Saturday, why not combine the two?
2. The Museum of Computing
Sited on Theatre Square, a stone’s throw from Museum and Art Swindon is the Museum of Computing. As their website says: ‘The Museum of Computing is devoted to the history of computing and digital development. It was the first physical museum of its kind in the UK.’
Run by volunteers it’s mostly open on Saturdays only. Do try and make time for a visit though. Within it you’ll find find many hands-on exhibits, allowing you to experience computers and related items as they were in the past. It’s definitely a ‘I remember those’ sort of a place.
3. The Richard Jefferies Museum
You’ll find the museum of Richard Jefferies Victorian nature writer housed within the walls of the Coate farmhouse in which he entered the world. From the museum website: ‘The museum consists of a seventeenth century thatched cottage bought by the Jefferies family in 1800, a later, nineteenth century three-storied farmhouse, plus outbuildings, gardens, a copse, orchard and vegetable gardens. The site’s run by the Richard Jefferies Museum Trust. It’s fully accredited by Arts Council England.’
In fairness that does all sound rather dry. Don’t be fooled. The RJ museum is a living, breathing thing. They do loads for children with their nature tots and the lazy summer Sundays in the garden with cream teas and free music are a joy. And an institution.
4. Lydiard House and Park
A jewel in Swindon’s glittering crown if ever there was one. As the Lydiard Park website states, what we have here is a beautiful historic estate on the western edge of Swindon, with the Palladian House, Church, Walled Garden, Hotel, Restaurant and Conference Centre set in 260 acres of parkland.
You’ll find Lydiard House and Park in West Swindon, not far from junction 16 on the M4.
The park boasts a good children’s play area with equipment suitable for all ages. And of course there’s acres of space in which to fling a frisbee and kick a ball about.
The house is worth a visit – there aren’t a huge number of rooms but they have some interesting items and paintings. My favourite room is the bedchamber. It features a stunning stained glass window and a rare Socchi desk. This room also features a rather interesting portrait of Lady Diana Spencer (1743-1808) 2nd Viscountess Bolingbroke, 19th Century. This Lady Diana Spencer shares a common ancestry with the late Diana Princess of Wales. If ever you’ve thought that downcast eyes thing she did was an affectation – you’d be wrong – it’s evident in this portrait. The resemblance is striking.
Each room has two audio guides – one for adults and one for young visitors. And in school holidays there’s often a trail of some kind for the kids to do.
Right next door to Lydiard House is St Mary’s church (as featured in Secret Swindon). You’d be forgiven for thinking that this was the St John (pronounced SinJin) family’s personal church – stuffed to the gills as it is with monuments to the family and the incredible polyptych of their family tree. But wasn’t – it was a parish church for a long-gone village.
5. STEAM – museum of the Great Western Railway
As featured in Swindon in 50 More buildings: https://swindonian.me/2024/01/15/28-steam-museum-swindon-1846/
From the STEAM website: the museum resides in a Grade II listed railway building in the heart of the former GWR Works. Situated right opposite the Swindon Designer Outlet, the museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway, often referred to by historians and railway fans as ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’.
The pioneering vision and engineering genius of Isambard Kingdom Brunel led to the Great Western Railway network becoming regarded as the most advanced in the world.
There’s something for everyone here. When my granddaughter was a toddler she derived great joy from running up and down the platforms and getting on and off the trains. There’s often events happening at STEAM so do check out their What’s On page.
There is a cafe there but the last time I used it (eons ago) it was, frankly, bluddy awful. So – you’ve been warned! It may be better now – I wouldn’t know. I simply never went back and go across to the Outlet Centre instead.
So there’s an overview of what I call The Big Five. But for an alternative way of exploring Swindon do check out my Born Again Swindonian’s guide book – find info here.
Addendum
One I forgot to mention – my bad – is the cottage museum in the GWR railway village. I don’t want to rename this post as I’ll then have to change all the SEO etc so I’m adding it in here.
I’ve taken the above image from the website of Swindon Heritage Preservation Trust who manage this little gem.
‘Step back in time at this Swindon Railway Village cottage where you can discover Victorian traditions.Â
Witness the sights, sounds and smells of local community life, and learn how a Great Western Railway worker would have lived with their family.
We are open regularly to the public, and host a variety of seasonal and themed events for whole family to enjoy.’
See more here: https://mechanics-trust.org.uk/museum/
