Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Swindon travel guide

Swindon Tourism | Swindon Guide

You're Going to Love Swindon

With a population of 155,432, Swindon is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Swindon deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Swindon

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Bell Inn (Purton Stoke) and Basset Down Complex (Lower Salthrop Basset Down) are great picks.

When to visit Swindon

Swindon in December
Estimated hotel price
£55
1 night at 3-star hotel
Swindon in December
Estimated hotel price
£55
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Swindon

Plane

Although Swindon doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 42 miles from Swindon. Bristol Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from easyJet, American Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Swindon departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Swindon, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Swindon to Oxford takes 0h 52m and costs around £34 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Coventry, expect to pay about £18 for a 1h 31m trip. The train station in Swindon is called Swindon, and is located 0.6 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Swindon is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 71 miles from Swindon. You’ll find branches of Turo and Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Swindon, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Swindon takes 135 miles and will cost you around £8. From Bournemouth, the ticket costs about £5 for a journey of 195 miles. The most popular bus station is Swindon Coate Water, located 1.7 miles from the city centre of Swindon. Swindon Stratton Cross Roads is also a commonly used station, and is 1.9 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Swindon doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 42 miles from Swindon. Bristol Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from easyJet, American Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Swindon departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Swindon, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Swindon to Oxford takes 0h 52m and costs around £34 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Coventry, expect to pay about £18 for a 1h 31m trip. The train station in Swindon is called Swindon, and is located 0.6 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Swindon is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 71 miles from Swindon. You’ll find branches of Turo and Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Swindon, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Swindon takes 135 miles and will cost you around £8. From Bournemouth, the ticket costs about £5 for a journey of 195 miles. The most popular bus station is Swindon Coate Water, located 1.7 miles from the city centre of Swindon. Swindon Stratton Cross Roads is also a commonly used station, and is 1.9 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Swindon

Airlines serving Swindon

KLM
Good (1,405 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,558 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,001 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,500 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,032 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,779 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,007 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,007 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,402 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,661 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,484 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (865 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,416 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,285 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,564 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,247 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,055 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,133 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,335 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,393 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Swindon

Average rates range from around £68 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £88 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Swindon, with prices from £25 to £356 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Swindon are about 53% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Swindon

Most booked hotels in Swindon

Leonardo Hotel Swindon
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£53+
Holiday Inn Express Swindon West By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£44+
Delta Hotels by Marriott Swindon
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£58+
Travelodge Swindon Central
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£31+
Holiday Inn Express Swindon City Centre By IHG
3 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
£50+
Campanile Swindon
3 stars
Good (7.4, Good reviews)
£43+

Hiring a car in Swindon

Hiring a car in Swindon costs £34 per day, on average, or £67 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 18% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.36 per litre in Swindon (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.32 and £21.76. Compact (MG ZS or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Swindon, while also 56% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Swindon costs £34 per day, on average, or £67 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 18% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.36 per litre in Swindon (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.32 and £21.76. Compact (MG ZS or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Swindon, while also 56% cheaper than other types, on average.