Swindon is a town that is located in the county of Wiltshire, South West England. Originally a small market town that later developed with the arrival of the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1840, Swindon is most known for being surrounded by some of the finest countryside and attractions in the County. This thriving town offers a wonderful selection of appealing sights to visit, where residents and tourists have the option to enjoy either a peaceful stroll through the quaint courtyards and gardens of the town, or take the opportunity to explore the lively mix of shops, pubs, bars, and cafes. Swindon is said to be one of the South West's best-kept secrets which offers an abundance of heritage and diversity as well as a good selection of properties, such as terraced homes, detached homes, and apartments.
Plenty of exciting entertainment and nature sites are located all over Swindon, with some of the popular attractions of Wyvern Theatre, Lydiard Park, Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, and Lotmead Farm. Residents also have a great choice of places to shop til' they drop, with the Swindon Designer Outlet, The Brunel Shopping Centre, The Parade, and the District Centre, all on their doorstep.
With an estimated population of around 225,000 residents, Swindon has a recorded crime rate 14% higher than the rest of the South West and 12% lower than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure. The city seems to be a reasonably safe location for residents to live at, in comparison to other major cities within the UK.
Residents can find a great selection of car parks across Swindon. If they are looking for hourly rates for a short stay, they can head to the likes of Whalebridge Multi Storey Car Park, Brunel North Car Park, Princes Street Car Park, and Britannia Place car park. Locals who are looking for long-stay spaces can find private parking at a daily or monthly fee, via the online sites of JustPark, Yourparkingspace, and Parkopedia.
The residents in Swindon don't have the best choice of nightlife, as the city centre is made up of slightly tamer venues. With a majority of both bars and pubs, the hotspots of Swindon consist of Kioki, Boom Battle Bar, The Victoria, and The Vault. If the residents are in need of more lively nightlife scene, they can head to the nearby areas of Bristol, Cheltenham, or Gloucester.
Only a small number of ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted-rated schools are offered to families in Swindon. Parents can choose from just 5 impressive schools, some of which are Drove Primary School, The Croft Primary School, and Rodbourne Cheney Primary School. Higher and further education options are much better, with New College Swindon, UTC Swindon, and Oxford Brookes University.
With a wide range of properties in the area, pet owners are more than likely to find suitable accommodation for themselves and their furry friends. A great deal of green spaces are also offered in the area, with the local parks of Queens Park, Coate Water Country Park, Shaw Forest Park, and GWR Park, which all allow dog walkers and adventurers to enjoy a pleasantly scenic walk.
Swindon train station is mainly served by the GWR trains service, where residents can access plenty of connections to the popular destinations of Reading- 29m, Bristol Temple Meads- 38m, London Paddington- 56m, and Cheltenham Spa- 1hr 3m. The nearest airport to Swindon is Bristol (BRS) Airport, which can be reached in 1hr 22m by car via the M4. Buses also serve the area for local travel.