with many events taking place throughout the year at venues including the Wyvern Teatre, the Arts Centre and Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.
Castle Combe
When in town, browse at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, discover the history of the Great Western Railway at STEAM MUSEUM to learn about the history of the Great Western Railway, plus various gadgets at the Museum of Computing, or visit nearby LYDIARD HOUSE AND PARK, Roves Farm Park or the butterfly world and craft village at Studley Grange. Last but not least, there is a great selection of accommodation to be found in Swindon to suit all tastes and budgets.
Picturesque Castle Combe is a Mecca for those interested in history. Wonderful buildings include the Dower House and the White Hart, as well as the lovely church. Tis village is most famous for being portrayed as a fishing port in the filming of Dr Doolittle. During the filming, a jetty was built on the banks of By Brook to make a seaport. For those interested in extreme sports there is the Castle Combe Circuit.
Biddestone is on a minor road between the A420 and A4 to Bristol about three miles west of Chippenham. With its attractive 17th century and 18th century buildings, a duck pond, old pub, Saxon church, and broad village green, this is a typical Wiltshire scene and being only a few minutes drive from Castle Combe, it is worth the short detour.
Being adjacent to the M4 corridor, Calne is the perfect base for exploring the countryside and Wiltshire Downs. Tere are antique shops, old coaching inns, the Friday market, a riverside walk, fine house around Te Green and so much more to see and do in this friendly town. Te beautiful St Mary’s Church has a memorial to Dr Ingenhousz, who pioneered vaccination, and at nearby Doctor’s Pond, Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen. To the east of the town there are several free to visit historical sites, including the White Horse at Cherhill carved into the chalk hillside and ancient monuments such as West Kennet
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Long Barrow, Silbury Hill, and the Avebury Stone Circle.
Malmesbury is a beautiful town to visit and attractions include: the Malmesbury Abbey, the Abbey House Gardens, and the 15th century Market Cross. Malmesbury is also known as the Festival Town because of the wonderfully diverse festivals held in or around the town during different times of the year. Tese range from WOMAD, Badminton, to Malmesbury’s famous Carnival, with different events held during August each year, culminating in a fabulous Carnival parade through the Town. More information about local attractions and events is available from the Malmesbury Tourist Information Centre.
In Cricklade a remarkable range of buildings along the High Street dating from the 13th century are akin to entering a time warp. A range of gift shops, places to eat, thatched buildings in which to stay, and the Tames Path National Trail passing through the town make this a special place to visit. Nearby attractions are the North Meadow National Nature Reserve, which is home to the UK’s largest population of wild Snakeshead Fritillaries, while the nearby Cotswold Water Park has one hundred and thirty two lakes for walks, water sports, fishing, bird watching and much more.
Compassionate Royal Wootton Bassett is just off the M4 and centrally placed to explore
numerous town and countryside attractions, from white horses and Avebury Stones to Stonehenge. Discover the beautiful Wilts and Berks Canal and take a scenic trip on the Swindon and Cricklade Steam Railway. Nearby, Jubilee Lake is a natural habitat for a variety of birds, butterflies, ancient trees, and wild flowers providing a peaceful setting for anglers and walkers.
At Templars Firs, there is a Trail Boat event on the canal in the summer, this is very popular and details can be obtained from the Visitor Centre at Lyneham. Lyneham House & Country Park should be on your visit list, and nearby at Broad Town is Wiltshire’s most northerly chalk hill carved White Horse.
SWINDON has so many things to see, take time to wander through its quiet courtyards and alleyways, or enjoy a vibrant mix of traditional shops and pubs alongside modern outlets and stylish cafes and bars. Te centre is fully pedestrianised and offers both an indoor and outdoor shopping experience. Whether you are in search of the latest fashion, or have an eye for a bargain, this is the place to be. For those more creative purchases, look out for the local and international markets that regularly come to the town. Whether you prefer the Old Town or the modern town, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from with a large array of cuisines. Tere is also a buzzing arts scene
STEAM (Museum of the Great Western Railway) which is housed in a beautifully restored railway building in the heart of the former Swindon Railway Works. Here you can climb aboard iconic locomotives, drive a train simulator, ‘be a signalman’ and even walk underneath 80 tons of metal.
Te State Rooms of LYDIARD HOUSE are celebrated for ornate plasterwork, original furnishings and family portraits dating back to Elizabethan times. Adjacent, St Mary’s Church holds further monuments to the St John family, including the unique Polyptych and Golden Cavalier statue. Te Georgian ornamental fruit and flower Walled Garden has stunning displays of flowers, fruit trees and topiary. Te park has more evidence of this once-great country estate, including the castellated dam wall, Ice House and grand avenues. Dogs are allowed in the grounds and the park is a lovely destination for a walk, run or bike ride. Tere are BBQs available to hire in the summer and lots of picnic spots.
A few miles south of Swindon is Barbury Castle Country Park, with vast open spaces, Nightingale Wood is to the northwest and the River Ray Parkway is a walk covering over eight miles through some of the most interesting and scenic areas of Swindon. Also, nearby are the villages of Badbury, Burderop, Coate, Draycot Foliat and Hodson, all are worth exploring. Yatesbury,
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