How to Spend a Weekend in Swindon

Whether you're a Swindon native or you're visiting the city for the first time, there are plenty of things to do to have a good time. As a first-time visitor, it can be hard to navigate what is worth spending time on and exploring. And if you're a native, you might know the feeling of not knowing what to do in your own city because “there just isn't anything to do”. But we’ve got news for you: There is

If you’re blanking on the opportunities that Swindon offers, keep on reading. We'll make sure you leave with plenty of inspiration.

3 Things to Do in Swindon

Explore Nature

A great activity for a Saturday or a little getaway during the spring and summer is going out and exploring nature in and around Swindon. There are many places to go to have a little getaway with friends. Or, if you want a classic idea for a date, you can bring a picnic basket on a walkabout at Lydiard Park. The park is absolutely stunning, and in the summer, the grass is green, flowers are blooming, and the estate is just magnificent – straight out of a scene in Bridgerton.

If you’d rather be doing something a bit more active, you can go to Lotmead Farm. Here, you can pick your own strawberries, go to the petting zoo or just have a nice, picturesque walk by a lake.

Sports: Watch or Play

Swindon not only has a lot to offer in the nature department. There are also plenty of fun sports and games activities to either take part in or cheer on. Our most popular sporting events are, of course, soccer, horse racing and speedway. The soccer and horse racing culture is intense here in Swindon, and many fans like to bet on these events. If you’re an avid sports fan or you’d like to try your luck with betting on horse racing, learn what you need to know about betting here.

If you’d rather be active yourself than spend an afternoon cheering on a racehorse or a soccer player, there are many options for that as well. Most notable is tennis, swimming, golfing and fishing. So, if you’re up for it, there's quite a few things you can try out.

Explore the City: Day and Night

You don't always have to be super active and go on trips. Sometimes, we just want a quiet day shopping, going to cafés and relaxing. Luckily, this is also an option in Swindon. Shopping, cafés and bars have reopened to us as part of the Living with COVID Plans. So, since restrictions have been lifted, here are some city options you can explore:

The uptown and downtown parts of Swindon have different things to offer. If you're interested in the nightlife scene, you’ll find a buzzing bar scene uptown with lots of pubs and special bars – and if you go downtown, you’ll find the club scene, where you can go dancing until morning.

If you're more into a quiet day with shopping and afternoon tea, there are places to go for this both uptown and downtown. In both places, you’ll find outlets, malls and quaint little shops to visit on a relaxing day out. Maybe you can start out by discussing where to go over a nice cup of afternoon tea.