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Swindon Car Hire

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The original market town of Swindon was transformed in the mid 19th Century by the arrival of the Great Western railway and the new railway works, around which a whole new town grew up. This area has become the town centre, with the alleyways and courtyards of the market town now known as the Old Town. The centre of the town is now largely pedestrianized, and has excellent shopping centres and markets and a popular designer retail outlet. There are good transport links with the M4 motorway to London and the West Country close to the town, and the dual-carriageway A419 leading from Swindon to Cirencester, making it an excellent base from which to explore Wiltshire and the Cotswolds. The world heritage sites of Stonehenge and Avebury are within easy driving distance, together with many delightful historic towns like Marlborough and Salisbury.

Things to Do in Swindon

The wealth of places to explore in Wiltshire make a car essential for your visit, and car hire in Swindon can be arranged in advance through GoCarHire.co.uk. In the town itself, the Steam Museum of the great Western railway makes for a fascinating visit, even for those less interested in steam trains – the chance to stand on the footplate of a monster engine, or to learn about the lives of the railway workers, will enthral almost everyone. Swindon boasts one of the largest covered designer centres in Europe, the McArthur Glen’s Designer Outlet, with its mix of designer and high street brands, all offered at bargain prices.

Top 3 Must See: Swindon

• Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway

• McArthur Glen’s Designer Outlet

• Lydiard House and Gardens

Close to the town but a world away from the buzz of the centre is Coate Water Country Park, offering the peace of woodlands and lakes and country walking. Lydiard House is a fine historic house set in a country park close to Swindon, and the church that served the estate is well worth a visit, with extraordinary wall and roof paintings and carvings. A drive of thirty miles away the World Heritage site of Stonehenge is not to be missed, and the nearby market town of Amesbury offers excellent eateries after your tour of the standing stones. A day trip to Bath, an easy drive down the M4, will provide fascinating glimpses into the Roman origins of the town, and the chance to “take the waters”, as well as to enjoy the town’s stunning Georgian terraces.

Drive Around Swindon

Swindon is not the most driver-friendly town, with pedestrianized areas and one-way streets, together with some of the narrow alleyways in the Old Town sometimes making life difficult for the driver, and satnav is definitely recommended to help you navigate your way around the town. The routes linking Swindon to the west and the south-west are all excellent, with the M4 motorway linking the town to Bristol, the West Country and South Wales, and the A346 crossing the motorway and heading south towards Amesbury and Stonehenge. For visitors arriving by air, London Heathrow is the nearest airport, with plenty of car hire options to choose from, and a fast link to Swindon down the M4.