| Swindon isn't exactly renowned for being a | | | | because with over 200,000 people living in the |
| popular tourist destination. The likelihood is that if | | | | town, you're pretty much guaranteed to be able |
| you're visiting Swindon, you're here because it's in | | | | to find somewhere to play the sport you're |
| a great location to access places like Avebury, | | | | passionate about. Most notably, though, is the |
| Stonehenge and other pretty places in the not | | | | Oasis Leisure centre with it's swimming pool and |
| too distant outskirts of the town. However, even | | | | famous tube slides that can be seen from outside |
| though there is a certain stigma attached to the | | | | the building. There are three to choose from, if |
| town, people are surprised with the amount it has | | | | you're feeling daring you can go for the black |
| to offer. I'm going to run through a few things | | | | which is the fastest of the three flumes, but be |
| that you can do in Swindon should you have | | | | warned, it gets a bit scary going down that one! |
| some free time to spare: | | | | The huge swimming pool also has a wave |
| 1. Shopping | | | | machine which adds to the children's |
| Swindon has some great shopping parks, probably | | | | entertainment, although can be annoying for |
| the best and most well known being the McArthur | | | | length swimmers! I actually learnt to canoe there |
| Glen Designer Outlet village, where you can pick | | | | when I was younger, so I can vouch for the |
| up last quarter / last year's designer fashion | | | | enjoyment that can be had in the swimming pool! |
| clothes at very cheap prices. This place is always | | | | Another leisure centre worth noting is the Link |
| a hit with the style conscious; I have picked up | | | | Centre, mainly because it has a large ice hockey |
| some decent designer jeans there for around | | | | rink (home to the Swindon ice hockey team) - it's |
| £20 in the past. Parking at the McArthur | | | | great fun skating around the rink during casual |
| Glen is free if you spend over a certain amount, | | | | sessions - check with the leisure centre for casual |
| too. | | | | skate times before you leave as sometimes the |
| You can also grab some decent deals in the town | | | | rink is closed for lessons and training. |
| centre and the shopping centres that lurk within. | | | | 4. Arts and Theatre |
| Of course the town centre is packed with some | | | | The Wyvern theatre shows a wide variety of |
| decent shops and if you look around you can pick | | | | films as well as the normal dramatic productions. |
| up some nice stuff. There is parking at all | | | | It is also host to many one night stands as it is a |
| entrances to town, although you should expect to | | | | well known venue for performers to include in |
| pay a couple of quid for it - pay and display style. | | | | their tours. Easily accessible from town, the |
| Of course there are other shopping centres. For | | | | Wyvern always has a number of plays on, and at |
| sports and IT stuff, the Greenbridge retail park is | | | | Christmas time, the famous pantomimes make |
| pretty useful - you get to avoid the hustle and | | | | their way to Sunny Swindon to perform at the |
| bustle of the town centre and parking is painless | | | | Wyvern. |
| and best of all, free. | | | | For those who prefer a more intimate |
| 2. Steam Railway Museum | | | | atmosphere, check out the Arts centre, which |
| If you're going to visit Swindon, it'd be criminal not | | | | features folk music, smaller production companies |
| to learn about Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the | | | | and other events, such as the Swindon Music |
| history that Swindon has with the railway | | | | Festival. |
| network. Let's not forget that in its hay day, | | | | 5. Professional Sport |
| Swindon was primarily a little railway town and | | | | Home to the Swindon Robins Speedway team, |
| evidence of this can still be seen today with rows | | | | you could take in an evening watching this exciting |
| upon rows of terraced housing previously | | | | sport at the Abbey Stadium. There are three |
| inhabited by workers on one side of the railway | | | | league football teams locally, including the Football |
| line near to the station. | | | | League One Swindon Town F.C. If you like |
| Perfectly located next to the Designer outlet | | | | watching ice hockey, then make sure your visit |
| village, dad can have a wonder around the | | | | coincides with a home game for the Wildcats or |
| museum whilst the shopaholics spend his hard | | | | the Panthers. The faster motocross circuit is |
| earned money. Although, really, the museum is | | | | located at Foxhill, just outside the town. |
| worth a visit from all the family both educationally | | | | That's just a few of the things you can do during |
| and because of the wow factor with old steam | | | | your stay in Swindon - there are many more. I'll |
| locomotives on display. | | | | keep posting articles about them in the near |
| 3. Sports and Leisure Facilities | | | | future! |
| I can't list all the sporting activities in Swindon, | | | | |