Affordable Summer Entertainment at the Brunel centre, Swindon.
With the school summer holidays in full swing, The Brunel Swindon has unveiled ten exciting ways for parents to keep children entertained under one roof.
From free creative craft sessions to arcade gaming, Swindon’s popular shopping centre offers a complete mix of budget-friendly events, dining and play for all ages.
Laid on for the summer holidays, The Brunel Swindon is running creative ‘Wonderful Wednesdays’. Every Wednesday up to and including August 26, there are free activities for children between 10am and 4pm, downstairs near Boots. Each session has a different theme. They’re hosted by organisations such as:
Affordable Summer Entertainment at the Brunel centre Swindon
What’s on offer
Well all for free is the Brunel’s Summer Rainbow Trail. Collect a map from the Card Factory and follow the clues around the centre. Once finished, pop your completed map back for a small treat.
Then, for active entertainment, High Score Arcades is running One Final Play sessions. There’s a Monday special offer where families can upgrade a sixty-minute pass to ninety minutes and enjoy classic and modern games.
When it’s time to take a break, families can refuel at The Crossing food hub. It includes:
a new kids’ menu at Chopstix
kids’ meals at Broccoli Pizza & Pasta
and, of course, in Canal Walk there’s always a McDonald’s Happy Meal.
Books and more!
For book lovers, Swindon Story Shed – open Wednesday to Sunday during the summer holidays – has free preloved books available. And it runs creative workshops to keep the little ones entertained.
There’s a huge range of affordable games, books, and activities from The Works. And there are hundreds of pocket-money-priced treats at The Entertainer. For fans of comic books and graphic novels, look no further than The Incredible Comic Shop, upstairs at The Brunel. For fifteen years it’s been supplying a huge range of comics to enthusiasts in Swindon and the wider area.
Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Hub, also upstairs at The Brunel, runs community workshops, some free and some asking for a £2 donation. On August 15, the Pride Festival takes place. It starts with the traditional march from the town centre to the GWR Park, for a family-friendly afternoon of food, stalls, and live entertainment.
The Brunel’s monthly Makers’ Market is on August 22, showcasing fantastic products made by local crafters.
And finally, when it’s time to start preparing for back-to-school, why not take the kids for a haircut at The Cutting Bar? Prices start from £11.50 per child, and no appointment needed – just walk in!
‘We know how challenging it can be for parents to keep children entertained over the long summer break, especially while managing family budgets,’ said a spokesperson for The Brunel Swindon. ‘Our summer line-up combines completely free creative events like Wonderful Wednesdays with comfortable dining and entertainment spaces. So families can spend quality time together right in the heart of Swindon.’
As Swindon’s primary covered shopping venue – complete with an adjoining multi-storey car park and direct links to public transport – The Brunel provides a convenient, stress-free family destination regardless of the weather.
Free Summer Family Fun at The Brunel Swindon this summer.
Looking for ways to keep the family entertained this summer? Then look no further than The Brunel Swindon. The centre is staging six weeks of family fun – all completely free.
The shopping centre is teaming up with local partners including the Wyvern Theatre and Festival of Tomorrow to create ‘Wonderful Wednesdays’. All to help families keep youngsters busy during the school holidays.
Every Wednesday, until August 26, a different activity is taking place downstairs near Boots, from 10am to 4pm. There’s no need to book – families can just turn up and join in.
Free Summer Family Fun – Wonderful Wednesdays Signal Festival
Not only but also
But the fun doesn’t stop when Wednesday ends. Running throughout the entire summer holiday, families can take part in a free treasure trail across the centre. Explorers can collect their trail maps from the Card Factory within the Brunel. Armed with that, hunt down the hidden letters across the mall, and claim a special little treat once they’ve solved the puzzle.
‘We know the school summer holidays can be long and often expensive for parents. Thus we wanted to offer something practical, fun and FREE,’ said a spokesperson for The Brunel Swindon.
‘By teaming up with some fantastic local organizations we’ve created a varied mix of activities. They range from science experiments and storytelling to arts and crafts.’
Wonderful Wednesdays
Wonderful Wednesdays kicked off on July 29 with an arts and crafts pop-up run by the Signal Festival Swindon. On August 5 is the National Literacy Trust pop-up book swap, celebrating the National Year of Reading. Families will have the chance to browse and take home free pre-loved books. The Brunel is currently seeking book donations for all ages ahead of the event. You can drop them off at Something Different or the Swindon Story Shed.
Festival of Tomorrow is running the activities on August 12 and 13. Aimed at science enthusiasts they promise a hands-on day packed with exciting science experiments alongside themed arts and crafts.
On August 19, Swindon Story Shed are taking over with activities inspired by the much-loved story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, including themed crafts and story time.
The final Wonderful Wednesday, on August 26, will see the Wyvern Theatre return with Jack and the Beanstalk-themed fun. That will include the chance for children to plant their very own beanstalk to take home and maybe meet the pantomime cow.
Running alongside, every Wednesday there’ll be free face painting, with donations encouraged for Swindon & Wiltshire Pride.
With a full line-up of engaging, hands-on activities and a treasure trail running throughout the summer holiday, The Brunel Swindon is offering families a practical day out without the price tag. As well as a great range of shops to browse in.
CONFIDENCE TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT SOLD-OUT WYVERN THEATRE SHOWCASE.
Children who once hid in the wings, worried about stepping on stage, were among the confident young performers who took to the spotlight at Revolution Performing Arts’ sold-out showcase at the Wyvern Theatre.
Around 160 children aged 4 to 17 from RPA classes across Swindon and the surrounding area performed in Show the World Who You Are! earlier this month. Tickets sold out in a mere 48 hours.
For Founder Fi Da Silva-Adams, the biggest success wasn’t the sell-out audience or the polished performance. It was watching children achieve things they never thought possible.
‘We’ve always believed children perform at their best when they feel supported, not pressured,’ said Fi.
The showcase looked slick. But that’s because the children were well prepared, enjoyed every minute and felt confident in what they were doing. We never expect perfection, and we don’t believe in pressuring the children to feel like they need to be. We want them to enjoy performing, believe in themselves and leave the stage feeling proud.’
CONFIDENCE TAKES CENTRE STAGE – RPA performance
What a difference a year makes
For one family, the difference a year had made was impossible to ignore.
‘Albie told me before bed that being on stage at the start of the show made him so, so happy and he couldn’t believe he’d done it,’ said parent Gary.
‘Last year he needed me to sit in the wings before he would go on stage. The difference in his confidence in one year is amazing.’
There were countless moments like this throughout the performance.
One young performer found the confidence to join her best friend on stage two days before the show after being too nervous to perform. Another child, who’d worried about being without her mum, finished her performance. She beamed with pride after throwing her inflatable saxophone into the air in celebration.
Another young singer, who had before only sung with confidence in her bedroom, found the courage to step forward. And she performed in front of a packed theatre after weeks of encouragement from her RPA leader.
A multitude of moments
It wasn’t about one big moment,’ said Fi. ‘It was lots of little moments that meant everything to the children and their families. Watching them grow in confidence, support one another and celebrate each other’s successes is exactly why we do what we do.’
The showcase also highlighted the strong community that has grown around Revolution Performing Arts.
When tickets sold out within two days, parents worked together to make sure every family still had the chance to watch their child perform by exchanging spare tickets between themselves.
‘I hardly had to get involved because our families looked after one another. Parents were offering spare tickets, helping each other out and making sure nobody missed seeing their child on stage. That’s the kind of community we’ve built.’
Behind the scenes, months of preparation helped the day run well, with volunteer chaperones, RPA leaders and backstage teams working together to support the performers throughout the show.
‘Our volunteers were so well organised. The children knew exactly what to expect and they looked after one another from start to finish. By the end of the day they were exhausted, but they were already asking when they could do it all again.’
Founded in 2007 by Fi Da Silva-Adams, RPA dedicates itself to encouraging young people to embrace their individuality through the power of the performing arts.
Revolution Performing Arts delivers 1,200 performing arts sessions every year across Swindon, North Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
Southwest in Bloom Judges Visiting South Swindon. South Swindon is set to undergo evaluation as part of the Southwest in Bloom competition on 6th August. Led by local volunteers, the South Swindon in Bloom movement encompasses several prominent community groups. They include:
the Old Town Community Gardeners
the Friends of Shaftesbury Lake
Swindon Schools Grow Together and …
Growing South Swindon Community.
Together, these organizations have collaborated to enhance the area. And create a warm and vibrant ambiance for residents and visitors alike.
Southwest in Bloom Judges Visiting South Swindon.
When it began
South Swindon Parish Council first entered the competition in 2019. They won a silver medal and a trophy for best Victorian Park. In 2021, they again achieved a silver medal, followed by a silver gilt medal in 2022.
In 2023, South Swindon in Bloom won a Gold Medal along with the Tesco Cup. 2024 saw them achieve gold in the Champion of Champions category. And in 2025, achieved their third gold medal, winning the Tesco Cup again as well as the Urban Communities trophy – both significant achievements.
In recent years, South Swindon in Bloom has fostered a collaborative partnership encompassing several local community groups, organizations, businesses, and volunteers. All making a significant contribution to its success. Groups, such as:
the Richard Jefferies Museum
Prospect Hospice
Twigs
Town centre cupcake planters
Friends of Shaftesbury Lake
Swindon schools grow together
Growing South Swindon community
the Cambria Bridge Community gardeners and …
the GAP community gardens to name but a few.
The Southwest in Bloom judge visit on 6th August presents an opportunity for South Swindon to showcase the collective efforts of its volunteers and community groups. The 2026 entry is featuring various community initiatives from across South Swindon based around 3 distinct “hubs”. These are:
the Old Town area
Central Swindon
and East Swindon
Each one with their own unique characteristics and contribution to the history of Swindon.
For more information on the South Swindon in Bloom 2026 entry, visit:
I felt rather disappointed that I couldn’t attend the event described here so I could get photos etc for the blog. But thank goodness for Jason Spickett, owner of the Swindon from the Air Facebook page.
Jason did a good write-up of this Swindon XTC artwork that he’s kindly let me use. So what follows, edited for SEO purposes, are Jason’s words. And some of his photos.
Swindon XTC Tribute Artwork in Queen’s Park – image by Jason Spickett
XTC Fans
There’s no doubting that Mike Smith and Swindon historian Graham Carter are amongst a large number of Swindon residents that are fans of Swindon born & bred band XTC.
After a lot of hard work and commitment to the project their dream of having a permanent marker to the world-renowned rock band came true. A large and enthusiastic crowd saw their tribute piece unveiled in Swindon’s Queen’s Park.
Present at the event, Mike Smith gave a short speech in which he said that he’s often asked ‘why hasn’t Swindon got a tribute to the band in their home town? Well thanks to you here today they have now’!
So Mike was present at the unveiling. But, due to prior commitments Graham Carter was unable to be there, but sent his best wishes and and followed events live online.
It was nice that a couple from America had decided to make it part of their trip. Further, a lovely French lady called Lisa came over from Paris especially for the unveiling.
Also in attendance was a member of the band: Steve Warren. Amongst other things he served as the band’s sound engineer and manager.
Performing the unveiling honours
Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Neil Hopkins did the performed the unveiling honours. In his speech he spoke of annoyance at the constant drip of negativity about our town. He said XTC comprised part of our cultural heritage, that we were aiming to become a city of culture and that XTC formed part of that culture. He also praised both Mike and Graham for their hard work and commitment. They’ve achieved something positive by bringing this lasting tribute to the people of Swindon.
MP Heidi Alexander spoke of her love forQueen’s Park. She explained how, when a youngster, she lived nearby. So it pleased her to see XTC remembered in this park. She also had words of praise for Mike and Graham apropos their efforts.
It pleased me to be able to cover the event and to be fortunate enough to see this tribute under construction. Made from two sheets of 10mm mild steel with a bright steel plate in between them, it’s been laser cut. The three sections were then slotted into a stand that’s concreted into the ground.
Funded by crowdfunding, the project saw donations arrive from many corners of the world. Japan, the USA, South Africa, Australia, Spain and France. Further, ticket sales to the Swindon RockPaper Scissors + Mr Love & Justice gig formed part of the fundraising.
I’m so pleased for Graham & Mike that they had a good crowd attend this event today. A very well done to them both.
Mayor of Swindon, Neil Hopkins, with the Swindon XTC tribute artworkSouth Swindon MO, Heidi Alexander and mayor Neil Hopkins with the artworkThe XTC tribute artwork in Queen’s Park, SwindonPlaque on the artwork
