| What can you do when you visit Swindon? | | | | and energy on your hands, you could experience |
| Although you may not bump into famous | | | | the thrill of flying through the air at one of the |
| Swindonians such as Melinda Messenger, there's | | | | local gliding clubs. |
| still plenty of interesting things to see and do in | | | | 4. Arts and Theatre |
| Swindon. | | | | The Wyvern theatre shows a wide variety of |
| 1. Shopping | | | | films as well as the normal dramatic productions. |
| Probably the best places to shop in Swindon are | | | | It is also host to many one night stands as it is a |
| the main retail parks such as Greenbridge, the | | | | well known venue for performers to include in |
| West Swindon Shopping Centre, Stratton and the | | | | their tours. For those who prefer a more intimate |
| Orbital Shopping Park. Or, if you're looking for | | | | atmosphere, check out the Arts centre, which |
| cheaper brand name items then it's well worth | | | | features folk music, smaller production companies |
| checking out the discounts available at the | | | | and other events, such as the Swindon Music |
| McArthur Glen Designer Outlet which boasts that | | | | Festival. |
| it is the largest such development in Europe. | | | | 5. Sport |
| There's plenty of room there, even though some | | | | Home to the Swindon Robins Speedway team, |
| 3 million people a year are estimated to visit it to | | | | you could take in an evening watching this exciting |
| save money on their designer goods. | | | | sport at the Abbey Stadium. There are three |
| 2. Steam Railway Museum | | | | league football teams locally, including the Football |
| This is next to the designer outlet, so dad can | | | | League One Swindon Town F.C. If you like |
| have something to do while the rest of the family | | | | watching ice hockey, then make sure your visit |
| shop until they drop. Situated inside a listed | | | | coincides with a home game for the Wildcats or |
| ex-railway works, there are many exhibits that | | | | the Panthers. The faster motocross circuit is |
| will guide you through the history of the railways | | | | located at Foxhill, just outside the town. |
| and even show you how the original railway | | | | 6. History and Celebrity |
| locomotives were constructed. | | | | If you're a James Bond fan, then you may want |
| 3. Sports and Leisure Facilities | | | | to visit Sevenhampton where Ian Fleming is |
| With almost 200,000 people living there, Swindon | | | | buried. Music fans may want to see where the |
| has plenty of leisure facilities from the relatively | | | | Moody Blues' singer Justin Haywood was born. |
| leisurely 10 pin bowling through gymnasiums and | | | | Those who enjoy Mark Lamarr on television can |
| the gigantic Lagoon swimming pool with it's slides, | | | | see where he grew up in Park South. Swindon is |
| wave machines and water cannon. Golfers are | | | | also famous for being the location of the UK's |
| well catered for locally as well, with the Broome | | | | first public lending library. Not to mention being the |
| Manor Golf Complex offering both 9 and 18 hole | | | | home of the Great Western Railway and the site |
| courses together with over 30 bays in the driving | | | | for one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's railway |
| range so that you can practice exactly those | | | | works. |
| strokes you need to. Or if you've got more time | | | | |