While Swindon in the UK is often considered a newer-build commuter town, primarily due to the number of modern developments and roundabouts, it actually has a long and interesting history. Swindon dates all the way back to the Domesday Book of 1086 and was first a Saxon village, named after the words 'swine dun', or a place where pigs were bred.
Having grown into a thriving market town, today Swindon has a population of over 230,000 people, its own football club, and tons of tourist attractions, including art galleries, sports centres, the railway museum and numerous historic sites.
If you’re visiting Swindon for the first time or would like to capture a little of the culture behind the town, you could ask your SWOOP Swindon taxi driver to take a detour, pointing out some of the remarkable and unique things to see and do around the stunning Wiltshire countryside.
Let’s look at our favourites, compiled from SWOOP taxi service cabbie’s recommendations!
Prestigious Postcodes to Explore in Swindon
There are several streets and lanes in Swindon where the average property sells for well over £1 million – they’re gorgeous places for a leisurely drive and to get a glimpse of some of the most sought-after places to live.
Burytown Lane in SN6 is lined with incredible barn conversions and is more of a rural lane than a road, with trees and shrubbery dotted along the pathways that make you feel like you are in the middle of a country park.
Head a little further out, and Ham Road, in SN4, is another semi-rural lane that stretches from the east of Swindon down towards Liddington, with unspoiled views over the rolling hillsides and endless green fields. This is another street with premium property prices, with no shortage of box hedging and old red brick walls.
Havelock Street in the heart of the town centre in SN1 is another great place to include in your taxi journey. While much of the road is now pedestrianised as part of The Brunel Shopping Centre, you can be picked up or dropped off at either end and browse a broad range of shops, cafes and eateries.
Famous Historical Sites to See In and Around Swindon
Stonehenge must be the most renowned place to visit during a trip to Swindon. The stones are around 35 miles away via the A4361 and A360, with a drive that will take you through some of the other notable towns in the region, including Devizes, with its medieval architecture and towering railway bridges.
You’ll also travel through Avebury, where you can stop to experience the sacred Bronze Age and Neolithic ceremonial sites cut into the landscape.
However, you don’t need to leave the city for a little culture. The Old Town covers a wide area, starting from Wood Street, where you get a real sense of how the old and new coexist. There are bars, pubs, traditional restaurants, musical events and a diverse array of shops and boutiques.
Swindon Old Town offers countless photo opportunities, from the vine-covered walls of The Goddard Arms to the flags flying outside the small businesses on the high street and the colourful baskets of hanging flowers hung outside during the summer.
During the winter and in the run-up to Christmas, you can enjoy the festive spirit with twinkling lights, window decorations in all the locally run shops, and a warming mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate in any of the fabulous Old Town pubs.
Villages and Market Towns Within a Short Drive of Swindon
Whether you’re headed to a destination or making your way back to Swindon, it’s well worth avoiding the motorway if you aren’t in a rush and taking a pleasant afternoon drive through some of the best villages and hamlets that are so characteristic of the Wiltshire countryside.
- Lacock Village – almost all of this village is managed and owned by the National Trust, and it is a preserved settlement with a huge amount of heritage. In the middle of Lacock, you'll find gorgeous cottages alongside Lacock Abbey, which you may recognise from a certain movie series about a young wizard. Lacock Village is around 26 miles or 40 minutes away.
- Castle Combe – within a 38-minute drive from Swindon, you'll arrive in Castle Combe, commonly regarded as the most beautiful English village. The pale stone walls, gentle winding lanes and bridges over the river have been unchanged for generations. Castle Combe also has a Hollywood history, with movies like War Horse having been filmed here.
- Bradford-upon-Avon – this market town is 32 miles from Swindon and just at the edge of the Cotswolds, with a riverfront that runs along the Avon. The natural beauty of the area, traditional homes and ancient pubs all attract thousands of visitors every year.
- The Vale of Pewsey – roughly 23 miles from Swindon, the Vale is part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within the Wessex Downs. Pewsey is the village in the middle of the Vale, surrounded by walking routes and countryside.
As a final recommendation, we mentioned Avebury earlier as a small village you'll pass through en route to Stonehenge. If you have the time, you can visit Stonehenge's lesser-known (and less crowded) cousin, Avebury Henge.
The site has three stone circles that date back to prehistoric times and is one of the largest megalithic stone circles in the world. It's also close to Silbury Hill, which is an equally ancient landmark and a step back into times gone by.
Each of these locations provides a captivating backdrop for your taxi journey and offers an idea about how Swindon and the surrounding towns and villages in Wiltshire have expanded from their humble roots – but how many of the original buildings, communities and countryside have remained unspoiled.
For more recommendations, be sure to ask your SWOOP taxi driver driver to point out places of interest, favourite hangouts and historic sites on your travels – there is much more to see and do around Swindon, and they’ll be happy to share their guidance on how best to make use of your time in their hometown.
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About SWOOP Taxis
SWOOP is a fast, friendly, and stress-free taxi service operating across Bath, Swindon and Chippenham. Order your cab via the app and have the full control of paying the driver direct. All drivers accept credit, debit cards and cash paid direct to them at the end of your journey.
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Source Company: https://swoop.co.uk/
Original Source of the original story >> The Most Scenic Taxi Routes in Swindon, United Kingdom
