Editing Swindon

{{Short description|Town in Wiltshire, England}}
{{About||the local government district|Borough of Swindon|other uses|Swindon (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Swinton (disambiguation){{!}}Swinton}}{{For|the village and civil parish|Swindon, Staffordshire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | country                  = England
 | static_image_name        = Swindon Radnor Street Cemetery.jpg
 | static_image_caption     = Central Swindon seen from Radnor Street Cemetery in 2019
 | official_name            = Swindon
 | population               = 183,638
 | population_ref           = <ref name=citypopulation>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/england/?cityid=7281 |title=United Kingdom: Major Cities in England - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |website=City Population |accessdate=18 December 2022}}</ref>
 | unitary_england          = [[Borough of Swindon|Swindon]]
 | lieutenancy_england      = [[Wiltshire]]
 | region                   = South West England
 | constituency_westminster = [[Swindon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Swindon North]]
 | constituency_westminster1= [[Swindon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Swindon South]]
 | website                  = {{URL|https://swindon.gov.uk}}
 | post_town                = SWINDON
 | postcode_district        = SN1–SN6, SN25, SN26
 | postcode_area            = SN
 | dial_code                = 01793
 | os_grid_reference        = SU152842
 | london_distance          = {{convert|71|mi|km|0}}
 | coordinates              = {{coord|51.56|-1.78|type:city(200000)_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
 | type                     = Town
}}

'''Swindon''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|w|ɪ|n|d|ən|audio=en-uk-Swindon.ogg}}) is a town in [[Wiltshire]], England. At the time of the 2021 Census the population of the built-up area was 183,638, making it the largest settlement in the county.<ref name=citypopulation/> Located at the northeastern edge of the [[South West England region]], Swindon lies on the [[M4 corridor]], 84 miles (135 km) to the west of London and 36 miles (57 km) to the east of [[Bristol]]. The [[Cotswolds]] lie just to the town's north and the [[North Wessex Downs]] to its south.

Recorded in the 1086 [[Domesday Book]] as ''Suindune'', the arrival of the [[Great Western Railway]] in 1843 transformed it from a small market town of 2,500 into a thriving railway hub that would become one of the largest [[Swindon Works|railway engineering complexes]] in the world at its peak.<ref name="domesday" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=STEAM and the history of Swindon Works |url=https://www.steam-museum.org.uk/about-us/history-of-steam/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway |language=en-GB}}</ref> This brought with it pioneering amenities such as the UK's first lending library and a 'cradle-to-grave' healthcare centre that was later used as a blueprint for the NHS.<ref name=":2" /> Swindon's railway heritage can be primarily seen today with the [[grade 2 listed]] Railway Village and [[Museum of the Great Western Railway|STEAM Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Swindon Borough |title=STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway |url=https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20076/museums_galleries_and_heritage/475/steam_-_museum_of_the_great_western_railway |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=www.swindon.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Swindon |first=Visit |title=Visit Swindon |url=https://www.visitswindon.org.uk/news/swindons-railway-village-is-a-local-gem-and-a-nationally-listed-treasure.aspx |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=Visit Swindon |language=en}}</ref> The [[Swindon Designer Outlet|McArthurGlen Designer Outlet]] is housed in the renovated former works and the Brunel Shopping Centre is one of several places in Swindon that bear the name of the famous [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel|engineer]] generally acknowledged with bringing the railways to the town.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=25 February 2016 |title=Did a ham sandwich cause Swindon to become a boomtown? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-35605986 |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref>

Despite the subsequent decline and closure of its railway works, Swindon was one of the fastest growing towns in Europe post-war as its economy diversified, attracting large international companies, who made use of its burgeoning population and strategic transport links.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Britain From Above - Stories - Building Britain - Birth of Swindon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/britainfromabove/stories/buildingbritain/birthofswindon.shtml |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon: Growth of the town {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol9/pp104-119 |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref>

Major venues in the town include the [[Wyvern Theatre]] and the [[Swindon Mechanics' Institute|Mechanics' Institute]]. [[Lydiard Park]] has hosted festivals such as [[BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend]], while the Swindon Mela, an all-day celebration of South Indian arts and culture, attracts up to 10,000 visitors a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BBC |title=BBC - Wiltshire - Big Weekend |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/big_weekend/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> The ancient [[The Ridgeway|Ridgeway]], known as Britain's oldest road, runs a few miles to Swindon's south, with [[Avebury]], the largest megalithic [[stone circle]] in the world, and [[Uffington White Horse]], Britain's oldest white horse figure, also nearby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ridgeway |url=https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=National Trails |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Uffington White Horse |url=https://www.hows.org.uk/personal/hillfigs/uff/uffing.htm |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=www.hows.org.uk}}</ref> Wiltshire's only professional football club, [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], have played in the [[Premier League]] in the [[1993–94 in English football|1993/94 season]] and won a major trophy, securing a famous giant-killing victory over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the [[1969 Football League Cup final|1969 League Cup final]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club History |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2017/apr-2017/club-history2/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=www.swindontownfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> They currently play in [[EFL League Two|League Two]] at the 15,000-seat [[County Ground (Swindon)|County Ground]] in the town centre.<ref name=":5" /> Other sports in the town include [[Swindon Wildcats]] [[Ice hockey|Ice Hockey]] and five-time [[Motorcycle speedway|British speedway]] champions the [[Swindon Robins]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Robins Speedway Official Website: CLUB HISTORY: 1980s |url=http://www.swindon-speedway.com/1980s.php |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=www.swindon-speedway.com}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Wilts-and-Berks-Canal-Swindon.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Wilts & Berks Canal]] near Rushey Platt]]
{{Main|History of Swindon}}

===Early history===
The [[Anglo-Saxon]] settlement of Swindon sat in a defensible position atop a [[limestone]] hill. It is referred to in the 1086 [[Domesday Book]] as Suindune,<ref name="domesday">{{OpenDomesday|SU1583|swindon|Swindon}}</ref> believed to be derived from the [[Old English language|Old English]] words "swine" and "dun" meaning "pig hill" or possibly Sweyn's hill, Sweyn being a Scandinavian name akin to Sven and English swain, meaning a young man.

Swindon is recorded in the Domesday Book as a [[Manorialism|manor]] in the [[Hundred (county division)|hundred]] of Blagrove, [[Wiltshire]]. It was one of the larger manors, recorded as having 27 households and a rent value of £10 14s, which was divided among five landlords.<ref name="domesday" /> Before the [[Battle of Hastings]] the Swindon estate was owned by an [[Anglo-Saxon]] [[Thegn|thane]] called Leofgeat.<ref name=":0" /> After the [[Norman Conquest]], Swindon was split into five holdings: the largest was held between [[Miles Crispin]] and Odin the Chamberlain,<ref name="domesday" /> and the second by [[Wadard]], a [[knight]] in the service of [[Odo of Bayeux]], [[brother]] of [[William the Conqueror|the king]].<ref name=":0">{{citation |author=Wadard and Vital |title=1066: The Hidden History in the Bayeux Tapestry}}</ref>{{page needed|date=November 2021}} The manors of Westlecot, Walcot, Rodbourne, Moredon and Stratton are also listed; all are now part of Swindon.

The [[Goddard family]] were [[lord of the manor]] from the 16th century for many generations, living at the [[manor house]], sometimes known as The Lawn.

Swindon was a small [[market town]], mainly for [[barter|barter trade]], until roughly 1848. This original market area is on top of the hill in central Swindon, now known as Old Town.<ref name="Chandler">John Chandler, Swindon Decoded, The Hobnob Press 2005, {{ISBN|0-946418-37-3}}.</ref>

The [[Industrial Revolution]] was responsible for an acceleration of Swindon's growth. Construction of the [[Wilts and Berks Canal]] in 1810 and the [[North Wilts Canal]] in 1819 brought trade to the area, and Swindon's population started to grow.

===Railway town===
[[File:GWR Church Swindon.jpg|alt=|thumb|Former lodging house in the Railway Village, now a community centre]]
Between 1841 and 1842, [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]'s [[Swindon Works]] was built for the repair and maintenance of locomotives on the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR). The GWR built a small railway village to house some of its workers. The [[Swindon Steam Railway Museum|Steam Railway Museum]] and [[English Heritage]], including the [[English Heritage Archive]], now occupy part of the old works. In the village were the GWR Medical Fund Clinic at Park House and its hospital, both on Faringdon Road, and the 1892 health centre in Milton Road, which housed clinics, a pharmacy, laundries, baths, [[Swindon Victorian Turkish Baths|Victorian Turkish baths]] and swimming pools, was almost opposite.

From 1871, GWR workers had a small amount deducted from their weekly pay and put into a healthcare fund; GWR doctors could prescribe them or their family members medicines or send them for medical treatment. In 1878 the fund began providing artificial limbs made by craftsmen from the carriage and wagon works, and nine years later opened its first dental surgery. In his first few months in post, the dentist extracted more than 2,000 teeth. From the opening in 1892 of the health centre, a doctor could also prescribe a haircut or even a bath. The [[cradle-to-grave]] extent of this service was later used as a blueprint for the [[National Health Service|NHS]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=24 October 2007 |title=Background |url=https://mechanics-trust.org.uk/history/background/ |url-status=dead |access-date=25 December 2021 |website=The Mechanics' Institution Trust |language=en-gb |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225134507/https://mechanics-trust.org.uk/history/background/}}</ref>

The Mechanics' Institute, formed in 1844, moved into a building that looked rather like a church and included a covered market, on 1 May 1855. The New Swindon Improvement Company, a [[co-operative]], raised the funds for this programme of self-improvement and paid the GWR £40 a year for its new home on a site at the heart of the railway village. It was a groundbreaking organisation that transformed the railway's workforce into some of the country's best-educated manual workers.<ref>[http://mechanics-trust.org.uk/history/1850-1870/  ''1850–1870'' – The Mechanics Institution Trust, Swindon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217090445/http://mechanics-trust.org.uk/history/1850-1870/ |date=17 December 2013 }}. Retrieved on 23 July 2007. Reference updated 12 December 2013</ref>

The Mechanics' Institute had the UK's first [[lending library]],<ref name=":2" /> and a range of improving lectures, access to a theatre and various other activities, such as ambulance classes and [[xylophone]] lessons. A former institute secretary formed the New Swindon Co-operative Society in 1853 which, after a schism in the society's membership, spawned the New Swindon Industrial Society, which ran a retail business from a stall in the market at the institute. The institute also nurtured pioneering trades unionists and encouraged local democracy.<ref>[http://mechanics-trust.org.uk/2003/07/this-is-our-heritage/  ''This is Our Heritage'' — 1996 lecture by Swindon labour movement historian Trevor Cockbill] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185012/http://mechanics-trust.org.uk/2003/07/this-is-our-heritage/ |date=4 March 2016 }}. Retrieved on 23 July 2007. Reference updated 12 December 2013</ref>

When [[tuberculosis]] hit the new town, the Mechanics' Institute persuaded the industrial pioneers of North Wiltshire to agree that the railway's former employees should continue to receive medical attention from the doctors of the GWR Medical Society Fund, which the institute had played a role in establishing and funding.<ref>[http://mechanics-trust.org.uk/history/background/  ''Background'' – The Mechanics Institution Trust, Swindon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012181448/http://mechanics-trust.org.uk/history/background/ |date=12 October 2013 }}. Retrieved 23 July 2007. Reference updated 12 December 2013 {{cite web |url=http://www.new-mechanics.com/history/background.htm/ |title=Background |access-date=23 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929175547/http://www.new-mechanics.com/history/background.htm/ |archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref>

Swindon's 'other' railway, the [[Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway]], merged with the [[Swindon and Cheltenham Extension Railway]] to form the [[Midland & South Western Junction Railway]], which set out to join the [[London & South Western Railway]] with the [[Midland Railway]] at [[Cheltenham]]. The Swindon, Marlborough & Andover had planned to tunnel under the hill on which Swindon's Old Town stands but the money ran out and the railway ran into [[Swindon Town railway station]], off Devizes Road in the Old Town, skirting the new town to the west, intersecting with the [[Great Western Railway|GWR]] at [[Rushey Platt railway station|Rushey Platt]] and heading north for [[Cirencester]], Cheltenham and the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS]], whose 'Midland Red' livery the M&SWJR adopted.

During the second half of the 19th century, Swindon New Town grew around the main line between London and [[Bristol]]. In 1900, the original market town, Old Swindon, merged with its new neighbour at the bottom of the hill to become a single town.<ref name="Chandler"/>

On 1 July 1923, the GWR took over the largely single-track M&SWJR and the line northwards from Swindon Town was diverted to [[Swindon railway station|Swindon Junction]] station, leaving the Town station with only the line south to Andover and Salisbury.<ref>[http://www.swindonsotherrailway.co.uk/his.html/  ''Swindon's Other Railway'' — the Swindon, Marlborough & Andover Railway] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020619050944/http://www.swindonsotherrailway.co.uk/his.html |date=19 June 2002 }}. Retrieved on 23 July 2007.</ref><ref>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/RR%20MidSWJR.htm/  ''The Midland & South Western Junction Railway'', Railspot Reloaded] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224203526/http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/RR%20MidSWJR.htm |date=24 December 2007 }}.Retrieved on 23 July 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.steampicturelibrary.com/pictures_447348/Swindon-Town-Station-c1920.html/ ''GWR Museum'' picture gallery] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028190519/http://www.steampicturelibrary.com/pictures_447348/Swindon-Town-Station-c1920.html |date=28 October 2008 }}. Retrieved on 23 July 2007</ref> The last passenger trains on what had been the SM&A ran on 10 September 1961, 80 years after the railway's first stretch opened.

During the first half of the 20th century, the railway works was the town's largest employer and one of the biggest in the country, employing more than 14,500 workers. Alfred Williams<ref>Leonard Clark, Alfred Williams – His Life and Work, David and Charles 1969</ref> (1877–1930) wrote about his life as a hammerman at the works.<ref>Alfred Williams, Life in a railway factory, first published 1915, 2007 edition published by Sutton Publishing {{ISBN|978-0-7509-4660-5}}</ref>

The works' decline started in 1960, when it rolled out [[BR standard class 9F 92220 Evening Star|''Evening Star'']], the last steam engine to be built in the UK.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A15849868/ ''Evening Star — Steam Locomotive''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203154340/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A15849868 |date=3 December 2009 }}, BBC, 29 November 2006. Retrieved on 21 July 2007.</ref> The works lost its locomotive building role and took on rolling stock maintenance for [[British Rail]]. In the late 1970s, much of the works closed and the rest followed in 1986.

The community centre in the railway village was originally the barrack accommodation for railway employees of the GWR. The building became the Railway Museum in the 1960s, until the opening of the STEAM Museum in the 2000s.

===Modern period===
[[File:Swindonmap 1933.jpg|thumb|right|Swindon in 1933]]
[[File:Extract of Ordnance Survey Map SU18.jpg|thumb|right|Swindon in 1959. Grid squares are {{convert|1|km|mi|abbr=on}}.]]
The [[Second World War]] saw an influx of new industries as part of the war effort; [[Vickers-Armstrong]] making aircraft at Stratton, and [[Plessey]] at Cheney Manor producing electrical components. By 1960, Plessey had become Swindon's biggest employer, with a predominantly female workforce.<ref>[http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=396&t=THE+ELECTRONIC+AGE The Electronic Age], ''swindonweb.com'', 21 August 2014; retrieved 3 September 2019</ref>

[[David Murray John]], Swindon's town clerk from 1938 to 1974, is seen as a pioneering figure in Swindon's post-war regeneration: his last act before retirement was to sign the contract for Swindon's tallest building, which is now named after him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=115&ss=462&c=1168&t=The%20David%20Murray%20John%20 |title=SwindonWeb – Brunel Tower David Murray John |work=swindonweb.com |access-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207181044/http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=115&ss=462&c=1168&t=The%20David%20Murray%20John%20 |archive-date=7 February 2012}}</ref>  Murray John's successor was David Maxwell Kent, appointed by the Swindon/Highworth Joint Committee in 1973: he had worked closely with Murray John and continued similar policies for a further twenty years. The [[Greater London Council]] withdrew from the Town Development Agreement and the local council continued the development on its own.

There was the problem of the Western Development and of [[Lydiard Park]] being in the new [[North Wiltshire]] district, but this was resolved by a boundary change to take in part of North Wiltshire. Another factor limiting local decision-taking was the continuing role of [[Wiltshire County Council]] in the administration of Swindon. Together with like-minded councils, a campaign was launched to bring an updated form of [[county borough]] status to Swindon. This was successful in 1997 with the formation of [[Swindon Borough Council]], covering the areas of the former Thamesdown and the former Highworth Rural District Council.

In February 2008, ''[[The Times]]'' named Swindon as one of "The 20 best places to buy a property in Britain".<ref>[http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article3327954.ece The 20 best places to buy a property in Britain] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509153728/http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article3327954.ece |date=9 May 2008 }}, ''[[The Times]]'', Property pages, February 2008</ref> Only [[Warrington]] had a lower ratio of house prices to household income in 2007, with the average household income in Swindon among the highest in the country.

In October 2008, Swindon Council made a controversial move to ban fixed point [[speed cameras]]. The move was branded as reckless by some,<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4999970.ece More councils expected to ban speed cameras] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507164553/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4999970.ece |date=7 May 2009 }}, ''[[The Times]]'', October 2008</ref> but by November 2008 [[Portsmouth]], [[Walsall]], and [[Birmingham]] councils<ref>[http://www.bigredl.co.uk/Swindonbansspeedcameras.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618033148/http://www.bigredl.co.uk/Swindonbansspeedcameras.htm|date=18 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/oct/23/localgovernment-motoring |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=More councils expected to ban speed cameras |first=Matthew |last=Weaver |date=23 October 2008 |access-date=24 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005225726/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/oct/23/localgovernment-motoring |archive-date=5 October 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> were also considering the move.

In 2001, construction began on [[Priory Vale]], the third and final instalment in Swindon's 'Northern Expansion' project, which began with Abbey Meads and continued at St Andrew's Ridge. In 2002, the New Swindon Company was formed with the remit of regenerating the town centre, to improve Swindon's regional status.<ref>[http://www.newswindon.co.uk New Swindon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205080556/http://www.newswindon.co.uk/ |date=5 February 2007 }}.</ref> The main areas targeted were Union Square, The Promenade, The Hub, Swindon Central, North Star Village, The Campus, and the Public Realm.

In August 2019, a secondary school in the town was at the centre of a '[[County lines (drug trafficking)|county lines]]' drug supply investigation by Wiltshire Police, with 40 pupils suspected of being involved in the supply of cannabis and cocaine, and girls as young as 14 being coerced into sexual activity in exchange for drugs.<ref>'County lines drugs gang recruits 40 pupils in one school-one for each class' report by Charles Hymas, Home Affairs Editor, The Daily Telegraph 23 August 2019 page 11.</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Borough of Swindon arms on 1905 'JaJa' postcard.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Borough of Swindon arms on an early 20th century postcard]]
[[File:Swindon Town Hall 2018.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Swindon Town Hall]], now a dance theatre]]
{{Further|History of local government in Swindon}}

The local council was created in 1974 as the Borough of Thamesdown, out of the areas of Swindon Borough and Highworth Rural District. It was not initially called Swindon, because the borough covers a larger area than the town; it was renamed as the [[Borough of Swindon]] in 1997. The borough became a [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] on 1 April 1997,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951774_en_1.htm |title=The Wiltshire (Borough of Thamesdown)(Structural Change) Order 1995 |publisher=Opsi.gov.uk |date=11 August 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902025517/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951774_en_1.htm |archive-date=2 September 2008}}</ref> following a review by the [[Local Government Commission for England (1992)|Local Government Commission for England]]. The town is therefore no longer under the auspices of [[Wiltshire Council]].

[[Swindon Borough Council#Elections|Council elections]] are held in three out of every four years, with one-third of the seats up for election in each of those years; beginning in 2026, the whole council will be elected every four years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 October 2023 |title=Swindon Borough Council votes for election every four years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-67094760 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] gained control of the council from the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] at the [[2023 Swindon Borough Council election|2023 election]], and increased their majority in [[2024 Swindon Borough Council election|2024]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2024 |title=Labour Party holds control of Swindon Borough Council |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gvle55e1do |access-date=17 July 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Swindon is represented in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|national parliament]] by two MPs. [[Heidi Alexander]] (Labour) was elected for the [[Swindon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Swindon South]] seat in July 2024 with a 16% swing from the Conservatives.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Swindon South – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001537 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Will Stone]], also Labour, represents [[Swindon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Swindon North]] – which covers the whole of the north of the borough, including [[Blunsdon]] and [[Highworth]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Maps: Great Britain |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |access-date=17 July 2024 |website= |publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref> – after a 19% swing at the same election.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Swindon North – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001536 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Prior to 1997 there was a [[Swindon (UK Parliament constituency)|single seat]] for Swindon, although much of what is now in Swindon was then part of the [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes]] seat.

==Geography==
{{See also|List of places in Swindon}}

Swindon is a town in northeast Wiltshire, {{Convert|35|mi|km}} west-northwest of Reading and the same distance east-northeast of Bristol 'as the crow flies'.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/UK_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Swindon,+UK&toplace=Bristol,+UK&dt1=ChIJ5eTbPU9EcUgRmpTF6Te_VqU&dt2=ChIJYdizgWaDcUgRH9eaSy6y5I4 |title=Distance between Swindon, UK and Bristol, UK (UK) |website=distancecalculator.globefeed.com |access-date=27 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427235128/https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/UK_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Swindon,+UK&toplace=Bristol,+UK&dt1=ChIJ5eTbPU9EcUgRmpTF6Te_VqU&dt2=ChIJYdizgWaDcUgRH9eaSy6y5I4 |archive-date=27 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/UK_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Swindon,+UK&toplace=Reading,+UK&dt1=ChIJ5eTbPU9EcUgRmpTF6Te_VqU&dt2=ChIJtz092XggdEgRlHn6zn-f4So |title=Distance between Swindon, UK and Reading, UK (UK) |website=distancecalculator.globefeed.com |access-date=27 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427235128/https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/UK_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Swindon,+UK&toplace=Reading,+UK&dt1=ChIJ5eTbPU9EcUgRmpTF6Te_VqU&dt2=ChIJtz092XggdEgRlHn6zn-f4So |archive-date=27 April 2018}}</ref> The town is also {{Convert|26|mi|km}} southwest of [[Oxford]], {{Convert|65|mi|km}} south-southeast of [[Birmingham]], {{Convert|71|mi|km}} west of London and {{Convert|60|mi|km}} east of Cardiff. Swindon town centre is also equidistant from the county boundaries of Berkshire and Gloucestershire, both being {{Convert|8|mi|km}} away. The border with Oxfordshire is slightly closer, being around {{Convert|5|mi|km|0}} away.

Swindon is within a landlocked county and is a considerable distance from any coastline. The nearest section of coast on the [[English Channel]] is near Christchurch, {{Convert|56|mi|km}} due south. Meanwhile, the eastern limit of the [[Bristol Channel]], just north of [[Weston-super-mare]], lies {{Convert|53|mi|km}} to the west.

The landscape is dominated by the chalk hills of the Wiltshire Downs to the south and east. The Old Town stands on a hill of Purbeck and Portland stone; this was quarried from Roman times until the 1950s. The area that was known as New Swindon is made up of mostly Kimmeridge clay with outcrops of Corrallian clay in the areas of Penhill and Pinehurst. Oxford clay makes up the rest of the borough.<ref name="geology">{{cite book |author=Crittall, Elizabeth |author2=Rogers, Kenneth |author3=Shrimpton, Colin |title=A history of Swindon to 1965 |year=1983 |publisher=Wiltshire Library & Museum Service |isbn=0-86080-107-1 |chapter=Geology}}</ref> The [[River Ray, Wiltshire|River Ray]] rises at Wroughton and forms much of the borough's western boundary, joining the [[Thames]] which defines the northern boundary, and the source of which is located in nearby [[Kemble, Gloucestershire]]. The [[River Cole, Wiltshire|River Cole]] and its tributaries flow northeastward from the town and form the northeastern boundary.

* Nearby towns: [[Calne]], [[Chippenham]], [[Royal Wootton Bassett]], [[Cirencester]], [[Cricklade]], [[Devizes]], [[Highworth]], [[Marlborough, Wiltshire|Marlborough]], [[Witney]] and [[Malmesbury]]
* Nearby villages: [[Badbury, Wiltshire|Badbury]], [[Blunsdon]], [[Broad Hinton]], [[Chiseldon]], [[Hook, Wiltshire|Hook]], [[Liddington]], [[Lydiard Millicent]], [[Lyneham, Wiltshire|Lyneham]], [[Minety]], [[Purton]], [[South Marston]], [[Wanborough, Wiltshire|Wanborough]], [[Wroughton]]
* Nearby places of interest: [[Avebury]], [[Barbury Castle]], [[Crofton Pumping Station]], [[Lydiard Country Park]], [[Silbury Hill]], [[Stonehenge]], [[Uffington White Horse]]
* [[Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] in Swindon include [[Coate Water]], [[Great Quarry, Swindon|Great Quarry]], [[Haydon Meadow]], [[Okus Quarry]] and [[Old Town Railway Cutting, Swindon|Old Town Railway Cutting]]

===Climate===
Swindon has an [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb'' in the [[Köppen climate classification]]), like the vast majority of the British Isles, with cool winters and warm summers. The nearest official weather station is [[RAF Lyneham]], about {{convert|10|mi|km}} west southwest of Swindon town centre. The weather station's elevation is {{Convert|145|m|ft}} in a rural setting, compared to the typical {{Convert|100|m|ft}} encountered around Swindon town centre, so is likely marginally cooler throughout the year.

The absolute maximum is {{Convert|34.9|C|F}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=1990&indexid=TXx&stationid=1872 |title=1990 August maximum |access-date=28 February 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430200210/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=1990&indexid=TXx&stationid=1872 |archive-date=30 April 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> recorded during August 1990. In an average year the warmest day should reach {{Convert|28.7|C|F}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=1872 |title=1971-00 Annual average warmest day |access-date=28 February 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430200216/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=1872 |archive-date=30 April 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and 10.3 days<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=1872 |title=1971-00 >25°C days |access-date=28 February 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430200235/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=1872 |archive-date=30 April 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> should register a temperature of {{Convert|25.1|C|F}} or above.

The absolute minimum is {{Convert|-16.0|C|F}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1982&indexid=TNn&stationid=1872 |title=1982 minimum |access-date=28 February 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430200239/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1982&indexid=TNn&stationid=1872 |archive-date=30 April 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> recorded in January 1982, and in an average year 45.2 nights of air frost can be expected.

Sunshine, at 1,565 hours a year, is typical for inland parts of Southern England, although significantly higher than most areas further north.

Annual rainfall averages slightly under {{convert|720|mm|0|abbr=on}} per year, with 123 days reporting over {{convert|1|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain.

{{Weather box
|location = [[Lyneham, Wiltshire|Lyneham]],{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|10.0|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the Swindon city centre.}} elevation {{convert|145|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present)
|collapsed =
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 13.7
|Feb record high C = 18.1
|Mar record high C = 21.1
|Apr record high C = 25.3
|May record high C = 26.6
|Jun record high C = 32.7
|Jul record high C = 34.9
|Aug record high C = 34.9
|Sep record high C = 29.5
|Oct record high C = 26.5
|Nov record high C = 17.2
|Dec record high C = 14.7
|Jan record low C = -16.0
|Feb record low C = -11.3
|Mar record low C = -8.0
|Apr record low C = -4.8
|May record low C = -1.6
|Jun record low C = 0.6
|Jul record low C = 3.8
|Aug record low C = 5.0
|Sep record low C = 1.5
|Oct record low C = -3.6
|Nov record low C = -7.8
|Dec record low C = -14.0
|Jan high C = 7.2
|Feb high C = 7.7
|Mar high C = 10.2
|Apr high C = 13.2
|May high C = 16.4
|Jun high C = 19.4
|Jul high C = 21.5
|Aug high C = 21.0
|Sep high C = 18.3
|Oct high C = 14.2
|Nov high C = 10.1
|Dec high C = 7.5
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 4.5
|Feb mean C = 4.7
|Mar mean C = 6.6
|Apr mean C = 9.0
|May mean C = 12.0
|Jun mean C = 14.9
|Jul mean C = 17.0
|Aug mean C = 16.7
|Sep mean C = 14.3
|Oct mean C = 10.9
|Nov mean C = 7.3
|Dec mean C = 4.8
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 1.7
|Feb low C = 1.6
|Mar low C = 3.0
|Apr low C = 4.7
|May low C = 7.5
|Jun low C = 10.4
|Jul low C = 12.4
|Aug low C = 12.3
|Sep low C = 10.2
|Oct low C = 7.6
|Nov low C = 4.4
|Dec low C = 2.1
|year low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 76.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 56.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 51.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 52.7
|May precipitation mm = 57.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 54.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 60.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 65.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 55.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 79.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 82.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 78.6
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 13.0
| Feb precipitation days = 10.9
| Mar precipitation days = 9.9
| Apr precipitation days = 10.1
| May precipitation days = 9.8
| Jun precipitation days = 9.3
| Jul precipitation days = 9.7
| Aug precipitation days = 10.2
| Sep precipitation days = 9.7
| Oct precipitation days = 12.4
| Nov precipitation days = 13.4
| Dec precipitation days = 13.3
| year precipitation days =131.7
|Jan sun = 60.6
|Feb sun = 78.9
|Mar sun = 124.5
|Apr sun = 172.9
|May sun = 210.9
|Jun sun = 205.2
|Jul sun = 215.2
|Aug sun = 192.7
|Sep sun = 154.1
|Oct sun = 112.9
|Nov sun = 70.7
|Dec sun = 54.4
|year sun = 1653.0
|source 1 = Met Office<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcnsfxv5m |title=Climate Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=MetOffice |access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref>
| source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php 
|title= Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature, Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature
|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather
|access-date= 16 December 2024
}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
The 2011 census recorded a population of 209,156 people in the Swindon unitary authority area (including the town's urban area, [[Highworth]], and other nearby parishes), with a 50/50 balance of males and females.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Swindon population estimate by equality groups (from 2011 census) |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/religion/religion-tb/no-religion?lad=E06000030 |website=Swindon Borough Council}}</ref> By mid-2019, the estimated population of the unitary authority area was 222,193.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population Estimates and Projections |url=http://www.swindonjsna.co.uk/dna/population-estimates-projections |website=Swindon's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment |publisher=Swindon Borough Council |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2011, 57.5% of Swindonians identified themselves as [[Christians]], a reduction from 70% in 2001. This was followed by those of [[Irreligion|no religion]] (31%), [[Muslims]] (1.7%), [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] (0.6%), [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (1.2%), other (0.5%) and [[Judaism]] (0.1%).<ref name="auto"/>

As of 2021, 46.6% of Swindonians identify themselves as Christians. This is followed by those of no religion (40.5%), Muslims (2.7%), Sikhs (0.6%), Hindus (2.5%), other (0.6%) and Judaism (0.1%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion - Census Maps, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/religion/religion-tb/no-religion |access-date=17 April 2024 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Public Health England]] found that 70.4% of the population was either overweight or obese with a [[Body mass index|BMI]] greater than 25.<ref name=bbc_4Feb2014>{{cite news |title=Revealed: the fattest towns and cities in England |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10617126/Revealed-the-fattest-towns-and-cities-in-England.html |access-date=16 September 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026075252/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10617126/Revealed-the-fattest-towns-and-cities-in-England.html |archive-date=26 October 2015}}</ref>

In 2011, the area of the town was {{convert|46.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |title=South West England (United Kingdom): Counties and Unitary Districts & Settlements - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |access-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514141414/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |archive-date=14 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and there were {{convert|3949|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic Groups !! Swindon Town 2011 !! Borough of Swindon 2011
!Borough of Swindon 2021
|-
| White British || 83.3% || 84.6%
|74.2%
|-
| Asian || 7.0% || 6.4%
|11.6%
|-
| Black || 1.5% || 1.4%
|2.6%
|}

In 2011, 16.7% of the population of Swindon were non-White British compared with 15.4% in the surrounding borough. There was also little difference between the percentages of Black and Asian residents. Swindon is one of the most ethnically diverse towns in [[South West England]]: 4.6% of the population registered themselves as 'Other White' and 2.5% of the population was either mixed race or of another ethnicity.

There are several definitions of the town for statistical purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Population – Site Search |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/search.html?q=Swindon+%22maps%22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427235129/https://www.citypopulation.de/search.html?q=Swindon+%22maps%22 |archive-date=27 April 2018 |website=City Population}}</ref> The smallest extent is the former [[unparished area]], now covered by the parishes of [[West Swindon]], [[Central Swindon North]], [[South Swindon parish|South Swindon]], and [[Nythe, Eldene and Liden]]; thus it omits suburbs to the east and north, namely the parishes of [[Covingham]], [[Stratton St Margaret]] and [[Haydon Wick]]. At the 2011 census, the population of the unparished area was 122,642.<ref>{{cite web |title=E43000245: Swindon (Unparished Area, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-parishes-southwestengland.php?adm2id=E43000245 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224173522/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-parishes-southwestengland.php?adm2id=E43000245 |archive-date=24 February 2018 |website=City Population}}</ref> The 2011 census also recognised a Built Up Area Subdivision with a population of 182,441.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=E35001437: Built-up Area Subdivision: Swindon |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810212016/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |website=City Population |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

At the 2021 census, the only area covering most of the town was the Built Up Area, which had a population of 183,638.<ref>{{Cite web |title=E63004848: Swindon Built Up Area |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/swindon/E63004848__swindon/ |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=City Population}}</ref> Excluded from this were the parts of [[Wichelstowe]] lying in [[Wroughton]] parish, the whole of [[Stratton St Margaret]] parish, and northern parts of [[St Andrews, Swindon|St Andrews]] parish.

===St Helena community===
By 2018, Swindon had a concentration of people originating from [[Saint Helena]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Angelini, Daniel |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/16597150.st-helena-expats-from-swindolena-to-gather-for-sports-day-this-weekend/ |title=St Helena expats from 'Swindolena' to gather for sports day this weekend |work=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=24 August 2018 |access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref>

===Polish community===
After the end of World War II, Polish refugees were temporarily housed in barracks at [[RAF Fairford]], about {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the north. Around 1950, some settled in Scotland and others in Swindon<ref>[http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/5/31/244211.html/  ''Community celebrates its golden anniversary'', Swindon Advertiser, 31 May 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015523/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/5/31/244211.html/ |date=30 September 2007 }}.Retrieved on 23 July 2007.</ref> rather than stay in the barracks or hostels they were offered.<ref name=":1">[http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/search/display.var.1300645.0.polish_club_closes_doors_for_last_time.php/ ''Polish club closes doors for last time'' – Swindon Advertiser, 1 April 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012215/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/search/display.var.1300645.0.polish_club_closes_doors_for_last_time.php/ |date=27 September 2007 }}. Retrieved on 24 July 2007</ref>

The 2001 UK Census found that most of the Polish-born people had stayed or returned after serving with British forces during World War II. Swindon and Nottingham were parts of this settlement.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/countries/html/poland.stm/  ''Born Abroad'', BBC News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217084012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/countries/html/poland.stm |date=17 February 2007 }}.Retrieved on 23 July 2007.</ref> Data from that census showed that 566 Swindonians were Polish-born.<ref>[http://www.multicultural-matters.com/polish_community.htm/ – ''Polish Community Focus'' Multicultural Matters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711162236/http://www.multicultural-matters.com/polish_community.htm |date=11 July 2007 }}.Retrieved on 23 July 2007</ref> Notes to those data read: "The [[Polish Resettlement Act 1947|Polish Resettlement Act of 1947]], which was designed to provide help and support to people who wished to settle here, covered about 190,000 people ... at the time Britain did not recognise many of the professional [qualifications] gained overseas ... [but] many did find work after the war; some went down the mines, some worked on the land or in steelworks. Housing was more of a problem and many Poles were forced to live in barracks previously used for [[Prisoner of War|POW]]s ... The first generation took pains to ensure that their children grew up with a strong sense of Polish identity".

[[National Health Service|NHS]] planners devising services for senior citizens estimated in 1994 that 5% of Swindon's population were not 'ethnically British',<ref>[http://www.agwsha.nhs.uk/board/july04/Agenda_Item_6.1_Vic_SOC_Final_10_June_20041.pdf/ ''Modernising Services for Older People in Swindon''– Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Swindon Primary Care Trust and Swindon Borough Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006212155/http://www.agwsha.nhs.uk/board/july04/Agenda_Item_6.1_Vic_SOC_Final_10_June_20041.pdf |date=6 October 2007 }}.Retrieved on 24 July 2007.</ref> and most of those were culturally Polish.

The town's Polish ex-servicemen's club, which had run a football team for 45 years, closed in 2012. Barman Jerzy Trojan blamed the decline of both club and team on the children and grandchildren of the original refugees losing their Polish identity.<ref name=":1" />

===Goan community===
Swindon has a large community of [[Goans|Goan]] people. Estimates for the total number of Goans in Swindon range from 8,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/SwindonGoans.htm|title=From Siridao to Swindon|first=Selma|last= Carvalho|publisher=Goan Voice|access-date=17 January 2025}}</ref> to 25,000;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goa-swindon-association-uniting-supporting-goans-in-swindon/92708.html|title=Goa Swindon Association: Uniting, supporting Goans in Swindon|website=The Goan EveryDay}}</ref> in 1999 there were estimated to be only 40 Goan people in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7312648.queueing-up-for-a-new-life/|title=Queueing up for a new life|date=15 July 2003|website=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald}}</ref> In 2013, Swindon was reported to have the highest concentration of Goans anywhere in the world outside of [[Goa]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Carvalho |first=Selma |date=4 May 2013 |title=Siridao to Swindon |url=http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/SwindonGoans.htm |access-date=23 February 2025 |website=Goan Voice UK}}</ref>

The Goan population is concentrated in Swindon's New Town area, around Manchester Road.<ref name=":7" /> Most of the Goan community are [[Goan Catholics]] and have Portuguese nationality due to their ancestry in [[Portuguese Goa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-05-12 |title=Adding more of a Goan touch to Swindon |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/GOA-ALLEGRETTO/Adding-more-of-a-Goan-touch-to-Swindon-/146078 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-11-27 |title=Goans help put life back into London’s churches |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goans-help-put-life-back-into-londons-churches/articleshow/66818111.cms |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The Catholic community is served by [[Holy Rood Church, Swindon|Holy Rood Catholic Church]] in the town centre and St Peter's Church in [[West Swindon]], and supported by the Goan Chaplaincy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Godinho |first=Lui |date=10 February 2023 |title=Tiatr fraternity comes together in UK |url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/tiatr-fraternity-comes-together-in-uk/95087.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en}}</ref> Services are regularly carried out in Konkani.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goanchaplaincyswindon.com/mass-center-2/|title=Mass Centers - Goan Chaplaincy Swindon|date=27 November 2024}}</ref> The [[Anglican]] St Luke's Church also carries out Mass in Konkani, believed to be the only Mass regularly carried out in this language in the [[Church of England]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Robert |date=10 January 2022 |title=New regular bilingual Mass in Swindon |url=https://seeofoswestry.org.uk/news/new-regular-bilingual-mass-in-swindon/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |website=See of Oswestry}}</ref>

The Goa Swindon Association supports members of the community. It is involved in promoting and introducing [[Goan culture]], such as ''[[tiatr]]s'' ([[Konkani language|Konkani]] theatre), the annual Goan Summer Festival, and Konkani musical shows, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Godinho |first=Lui |date=16 December 2022 |title=Goa Swindon Association: Uniting, supporting Goans in Swindon |url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goa-swindon-association-uniting-supporting-goans-in-swindon/92708.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en}}</ref>

Among the notable Goans based in Swindon is Imtiyaz Shaikh, who has served as Mayor of Swindon since 2024. He is a two-term [[Eastcott (ward)|Eastcott]] councillor on [[Swindon Borough Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-06-28 |title=Vasco man Imtiyaz Shaikh is Mayor of Swindon |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/goa/vasco-man-imtiyaz-shaikh-is-mayor-of-swindon/222967 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref>

==Places of worship==
[[File:Parish Church of St Mark, Swindon New Town - geograph.org.uk - 710358.jpg|thumb|St Mark's Church (Church of England)]]
[[File:Christ church swindon with st marys.jpg|thumb|Christ Church (Church of England), designed by Sir [[George Gilbert Scott]]|alt=]]
There are numerous places of worship in Swindon, some of which are [[listed building]]s.<ref>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/swindon/swindon Swindon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235114/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/swindon/swindon |date=4 March 2016 }} from British Listed Buildings, retrieved 9 January 2016</ref> Until 1845, the only church in Swindon was the Holy Rood Church, a Grade II listed building.<ref name=bho>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol9/pp144-159 Swindon: Churches] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235533/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol9/pp144-159 |date=4 March 2016 }} in ''A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 9'' from ''[[British History Online]]'' (London: Victoria County History, 1970), 144–159.</ref> That year, [[St Mark's Church, Swindon|St Mark's Church]] was built. In 1851, Christ Church was built. Later in the year, the first Roman Catholic chapel was opened in the town and was also named [[Holy Rood Church, Swindon|Holy Rood]]. In 1866, Cambria Baptist Chapel was built. In the 1880s, Bath Road Methodist Chapel was built. In 1885, St Barnabas Church was built followed by the Baptists Tabernacle (1886–1978). In 1907, [[St Augustine's Church, Even Swindon|St Augustine's Church]] in [[Even Swindon]] was built. Various churches and places of worship were built in the town by other denominations and faiths.<ref>[http://www.totalswindon.com/catlist.asp?catID=344 Places of Worship] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144351/http://www.totalswindon.com/catlist.asp?catID=344 |date=5 March 2016 }} from ''Total Swindon'', retrieved 9 January 2016</ref> Pattern Church was launched on Christmas 2018, on the site of the former Pattern Store.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Bristol {{!}} Pattern Church, Swindon |url=https://www.bristol.anglican.org/swindon_resourcing_church/ |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=www.bristol.anglican.org}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:swindon.train.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|Hagley Hall, a Swindon-built locomotive, on display in the eating area of the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Swindon]]
[[File:Brunel Statue 12th may 2019.jpg|alt=|thumb|Havelock Square, near the Brunel Centre]] Major employers in the town include [[BMW]]/[[Mini]] (formerly Pressed Steel Fisher) in Stratton, [[Dolby Labs]], international engineering consultancy firm [[Halcrow Group|Halcrow]], and retailer [[W H Smith]]'s distribution centre and headquarters. Electronics company [[Intel]], insurance and financial services companies such as [[Nationwide Building Society]] and [[Zurich Financial Services]], the energy companies [[RWE|RWE Generation UK plc]] and [[RWE npower|Npower]] (a company of the [[Innogy]] group), the fleet management company [[BNP Paribas|Arval]], pharmaceutical companies such as Canada's [[Patheon]] and the United States–based Catalent Pharma Solutions and French medical supplies manufacturer [[Vygon (UK)]] have their UK divisions headquartered in the town. 

Swindon also has the head office of the [[National Trust]] and the head office of the [[UK Space Agency]]. Other employers include all of the national [[UKRI|Research Councils]], the [[British Computer Society]], and [[TE Connectivity]].

From 1985 to 2021, Japanese car manufacturer [[Honda UK Manufacturing|Honda]] had its sole UK plant at [[South Marston]], just outside Swindon.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |date=30 July 2021 |title=Swindon Honda Plant closes down with loss of 3,000 jobs |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-30/swindon-honda-plant-closes-down-with-loss-of-3000-jobs |work=ITV News}}</ref> In March 2021, it was announced that logistics firm [[Panattoni]] would move to the former Honda site.

Swindon was for a time a centre of excellence for [[3G]] and [[4G]] mobile telecommunications research and development for [[Motorola]], [[Lucent Technologies]] (later [[Alcatel-Lucent]]), [[Nokia Networks|Nokia Siemens Networks]] and [[Cisco]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}} The factory built in 1998 for Motorola's GSM division at Groundwell, north Swindon, has been described as "striking and futuristic".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Motorola Building, Swindon |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?c=1175&m=8&s=115&ss=462 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=SwindonWeb}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Swindon}}

===Railway===

[[File:Swindon Station.jpg|Swindon station|thumb]]

Swindon is an important [[railway town]]. [[Swindon railway station]] opened in 1842 as ''Swindon Junction'' and, until 1895, every train stopped for at least ten minutes to change locomotives. As a result, the station hosted the first recorded railway refreshment rooms.<ref>LTC Rolt, Isambard Kingdom Brumel, Penguin 1957.</ref>

The station is served by frequent inter-city trains to [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]] eastbound, and westbound to {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}}, {{rws|Cheltenham Spa}} and {{rws|Cardiff Central}}, along the [[Great Western Main Line]] and [[Golden Valley line]]. There is also a local service to {{stnlnk|Westbury}}, via the [[Wessex Main Line]]. All services at Swindon are operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web |work=Great Western Railway |title=Train Times |date=21 May 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |url=https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times |quote=}}</ref>

On 8 October 2019, [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|GWR]] posted a modern speed record when an [[British Rail Class 800|Intercity Express Train]] took 44 minutes to travel from Swindon to London Paddington.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GWR sets new Cardiff to London record |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17988621.gwr-sets-new-cardiff-london-record/ |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=23 October 2019 |language=en |access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref>

===Road===

[[File:Swindon Magic Roundabout.svg|Swindon's Magic Roundabout|thumb]]

Located at the junction of two Roman roads, the town has developed into a transport hub over the centuries. It is accessed by two junctions (15 and 16) on the [[M4 motorway]].

The town's [[Magic Roundabout (Swindon)|Magic Roundabout]], at the junction of five roads, contains five mini-roundabouts and has a contra-rotational hub at its centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.563003,-1.7710829&z=18&t=h&hl=en-GB |title=Google Maps |website=Google Maps}}</ref> It is built on the site of Swindon Wharf on the abandoned [[Wilts & Berks Canal]], near the [[County Ground (Swindon)|County Ground]]. The official name was ''County Islands'', although it was known colloquially as the ''Magic Roundabout'' and the official name was changed to match its nickname.

===Bus and coach===

Swindon bus operators are [[Swindon's Bus Company]] (formerly Thamesdown) and [[Stagecoach West]]. Key routes link the town with [[Cheltenham]], [[Chippenham]], [[Cirencester]], [[Devizes]] and [[Trowbridge]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Bus Services |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/swindon-swindon |quote=}}</ref> National Express coaches use the bus station in the town centre.

Stagecoach's former bus depot on Eastcott Road was approved for development as a housing site in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swindon parish backs revised Stagecoach depot housing plans |url=https://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/16244711.swindon-parish-backs-revised-stagecoach-depot-housing-plans/ |website=This is Wiltshire |date=23 May 2018 |access-date=16 July 2020}}</ref>

===Cycling===

[[National Cycle Network]] Route 45 runs through the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 45 |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-45 |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=Sustrans |language=en}}</ref>

==Tourism and recreation==
===Events===
[[File:Swindon Mela, Town Gardens, Swindon (2) - geograph.org.uk - 508277.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Swindon Mela in the Town Gardens]]
Annual events in Swindon include:
* The [[Swindon Festival of Literature]], held over two weeks in May.
* The Swindon Mela, an all-day celebration of [[South India]]n arts and culture in the Town Gardens, which attracts up to 10,000 visitors each year.<ref name=":6">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207104659/http://swindonmela.com/ Swindon Mela]}}.</ref>
* The Children's Fete, a town-wide event in celebration of Swindon's children, community, culture, and heritage, is usually held the first Saturday in July in the GWR Park on Faringdon Road, with 8,000 attending in 2016.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
* The [[Summer Breeze Festival UK|Summer Breeze Festival]] has been held annually in the town since 2007<ref>{{cite news |title=Family fun at Summer Breeze festival |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/9119105.Family_fun_at_Summer_Breeze_festival/ |access-date=19 December 2012 |newspaper=Swindon Advertiser |date=3 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913235315/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/9119105.Family_fun_at_Summer_Breeze_festival/ |archive-date=13 September 2017}}</ref> with headliners including [[Toploader]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Toploader to headline Swindon's Summer Breeze festival |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/9004405.Toploader_to_headline_Swindon_s_Summer_Breeze_festival/ |access-date=19 December 2012 |newspaper=Swindon Advertiser |date=3 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913233303/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/9004405.Toploader_to_headline_Swindon_s_Summer_Breeze_festival/ |archive-date=13 September 2017}}</ref> and [[KT Tunstall]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Catch the Breeze |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/music/news/9813697.Catch_the_Breeze/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505120815/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/music/news/9813697.Catch_the_Breeze/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |access-date=19 December 2012 |newspaper=Swindon Advertiser |date=12 July 2012}}</ref> The family-friendly music event is run by volunteers on a non-profit basis with any funds raised going to charity.
* An annual [[Gay Pride Parade]] called Swindon And Wiltshire Pride is held in the town. The parade has been held in the Town Gardens since 2007. Swedish DJ [[Basshunter]] performed in the 2012 celebrations, with around 8,000 people attending.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
* The Swindon [[Beer festival|Beer Festival]], Organised by the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale ([[CAMRA]]), is held at the STEAM museum in October each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Beer Festival - Swindon and North Wiltshire CAMRA |url=https://swindon.camra.org.uk/viewnode.php?id=23556 |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=swindon.camra.org.uk}}</ref> There is also an Old Town Beer Festival held in Christ Church.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Town Beer Festival 2021 |url=https://oldtownbeerfestival.com/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=Old Town Beer Festival 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*Swindon Open Studios, held over two weekends every September; local [[artist]]s open their studios to visitors or take part in group exhibitions around the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Open Studios {{!}} Swindon {{!}} Community Art Event |url=https://www.swindonopenstudios.org/ |access-date=12 November 2021 |website=swindonopenstudios |language=en}}</ref> 
*The Swindon [[Half marathon|Half Marathon]] is held in September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Swindon Half Marathon |url=https://www.newswindonhalf.co.uk/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=New Swindon Half Marathon |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Arts venues ===
* The Shoebox Theatre is a fringe theatre and producing house with a focus on contemporary performance and new work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shoebox Theatre Swindon |url=https://www.shoeboxtheatre.org.uk/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=shoeboxtheatre |language=en}}</ref>
* Live music venues such as The High Street Club, The Kings Arms, The Castle, The Beehive, Level III, and The Victoria attract local acts as well as touring national acts; collectively they host an annual music festival, the Swindon Shuffle.<ref name="shuffle07">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2007/07/04/swindon_shuffle_2007_feature.shtml |title=Swindon Shuffle 2007 – A Retrospective |access-date=26 July 2007 |publisher=[[BBC Wiltshire]] |last=Craven |first=Richard |date=26 July 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427235128/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2007/07/04/swindon_shuffle_2007_feature.shtml |archive-date=27 April 2018}}</ref> The [[County Ground, Swindon|County Ground]] is used for some major events. MECA is a 2,000-capacity music venue in the former Mecca bingo hall.
* The [[Swindon Arts Centre|Arts Centre]] is a theatre in Old Town which seats 200 and has music, professional and amateur theatre, comedians, films, children's events, and one-man shows.
* The [[Wyvern Theatre]] has film, comedy, and music.
* In 2012, ''[[Swindon: The Opera]]'' was performed at the [[Museum of the Great Western Railway|STEAM Museum]] in Swindon by the Janice Thompson Performance Trust,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jtptrust.org |title=Janice Thompson Performance Trust |website=www.jtptrust.org |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215032653/http://www.jtptrust.org/ |archive-date=15 December 2013}}</ref> after a successful 2011 Jubilee People's Millions Lottery bid. It charted Swindon's history since 1952 until the present day. The musical was written by Matt Fox, with music by composer [[Betty Roe]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/06/take-seats-swindon-the-opera/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Oasis Leisure Centre]] was used for events until its closure in 2020. Its name was claimed by some to be the inspiration for the name of the [[Oasis (band)|Manchester band]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |date=22 November 2020 |title=Leisure centre Oasis took their name from closes down |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/leisure-centre-oasis-took-name-from-closes-down-2822536 |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Shopping===
[[File:swindon.shopping.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|[[Swindon Designer Outlet|McArthur Glen Designer Outlet]], a shopping complex built within the disused Swindon railway engine works]]
[[File:David murray john from wharf green.jpg|thumb|The David Murray John Tower near The Brunel Centre]]

*[[Swindon Designer Outlet]] (opened in 1997) is an indoor shopping mall for reduced-price goods, mainly clothing, on the site of the former railway works. The outlet is adjacent to the [[Swindon Steam Railway Museum|Steam Museum]] (opened in 2000) and the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] headquarters (since 2005). The mall has around 100 retailers and restaurants, and once held the record of biggest covered designer outlet centre in Europe.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Swindon Designer Outlet - Factory Outlet in Swindon, West Oxfordshire - Oxfordshire Cotswolds |url=https://www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/things-to-do/attractions/swindon-designer-outlet-p952461 |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org}}</ref> It was enlarged in the mid-2010s.
*The Brunel Centre (opened in 1978) and The Parade (opened in 1967) are the two shopping complexes in the town centre, built along the line of the filled-in [[Wilts & Berks Canal]] (a canal milepost can still be seen). The Brunel Centre opened a food court called The Crossing in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SPECIAL REPORT: Crossing success for Brunel Centre |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/18245266.special-report-crossing-success-brunel-centre/ |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=19 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
*Greenbridge Retail and Leisure Park ([[Stratton St. Margaret]] (opened in 1964)), Orbital Shopping Park ([[Haydon Wick]] (opened in 2003)), and the [[West Swindon]] Shopping Centre / Shaw Ridge Leisure Park (opened in 1975) are the three major out-of-town facilities. There is also the Bridgemead Retail Park and Mannington Retail Park, both in West Swindon, in close proximity to each other.
*Regent Circus opened in October 2014 on the site of the former Swindon College building. As of October 2024, most units have now closed, leaving only [[Nando's]], Boom Battle Bar and a PrideHub shop selling [[LGBTQ]] paraphernalia that only trades on Saturdays.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISG wins £50m Swindon retail and leisure scheme |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/isg-wins-50m-swindon-retail-and-leisure-scheme |access-date=29 October 2023 |website=www.theconstructionindex.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-02 |title=Closing date for Swindon cinema confirmed |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/24623528.cineworld-makes-difficult-decision-close-swindon-cinema/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}}</ref>
'''Former'''
* Swindon Tented Market, in the Town Centre close to the Brunel Centre, was built in 1994. It reopened in October 2009, having been closed for two years, but closed again for good in August 2017. Demolition date is still to be confirmed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/8312009.stm |title=Tented market opens for business |date=17 October 2009 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='End of an era': Tented Market closes its doors |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/15503945.__39_End_of_an_era__39___Tented_Market_closes_its_doors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527120822/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/15503945.__39_End_of_an_era__39___Tented_Market_closes_its_doors/ |archive-date=27 May 2018 |access-date=26 May 2018 |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=30 August 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

===Green spaces===
Public parks include [[Lydiard Country Park]], Shaw Forest Country Park, [[Goddard family#The Lawns estate in Swindon|The Lawns]], Stanton Park, [[Queens Park, Swindon|Queens Park]], GWR Park, [[Town Gardens, Swindon|Town Gardens]], Pembroke Gardens and [[Coate Water Country Park|Coate Water]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Swindon Borough |title=Parks and open spaces in Swindon |url=https://www.swindon.gov.uk/directory/24/parks_and_open_spaces_in_swindon |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.swindon.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> Fishing for the Moon is a small urban [[sensory garden]] created in 1990 by Thamesdown Borough Council and renovated by South Swindon Parish Council in 2021. Its central feature is an artwork by Michael Farrell.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Duncan & Mandy's Website |url=http://www.oodwooc.co.uk/web_places/swindon/ph_sw_moonfishing-1.htm |access-date=25 February 2022 |website=www.oodwooc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='Fishing for the Moon' community garden gets a revamp |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/19416167.fishing-moon-community-garden-gets-revamp/ |access-date=25 February 2022 |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=3 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==Media==

=== Online ===
Swindon has many online media outlets with the largest being ''[[The Swindon Advertiser]]''. SwindonWeb was the first website dedicated to Swindon in 1997 followed by SwindonLink and The Swindonian with many other sites now available, including Total Swindon and ''The Swindon Post''.

=== Print ===
[[File:King George V pulling the Bristolian.JPG|thumb|right|King George V pulling the 'Bristolian' passenger train at the [[Swindon Steam Railway Museum]]]]

==== Newspapers and magazines ====
Swindon has a daily [[local newspaper|newspaper]], the ''[[Swindon Advertiser]]'', with daily circulation of about 4,000 with an estimated readership of 21,000. Other newspapers covering the area include [[Bristol]]'s daily ''[[Western Daily Press]]'' and the ''Swindon Advertiser''s weekly, the ''[[Gazette and Herald]]''; the ''Wiltshire Ocelot'' (a free listings magazine), ''The Swindonian Monthly Magazine''  ''Swindon Star'', ''Hungry Monkeys'' (a comic), ''Stratton Outlook'', ''Frequency'' (an arts and cultural magazine), ''Great Swindon Magazine'', ''Swindon Business News'', ''Swindon Link'' and ''Highworth Link''.

==== Literature ====
Swindon is the setting for the ''[[Thursday Next]]'' series of novels by [[Jasper Fforde]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=SwindonWeb - Swindon accommodation, jobs and hotels in Swindon, news, property, business, what's on, eating out, shopping and Swindon Town football club |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=9&ss=776&c=2646&t=Jasper+Fforde |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=www.swindonweb.com}}</ref> and ''[[The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time]]'' by [[Mark Haddon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time: Setting |url=https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/setting/ |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=SparkNotes |language=en}}</ref>

===Radio===
The first commercial radio station launched in Swindon was [[Wiltshire Radio]] in 1982, with [[BBC Radio Wiltshire|BBC Wiltshire Sound]] launched in 1989. Wiltshire Radio later changed to [[GWR FM]], then to [[Heart Wiltshire]], and is now [[Heart West]], broadcasting from studios in Bristol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heart |url=https://www.heart.co.uk/southwest/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=Heart South West |language=en}}</ref> An alternative commercial radio station, [[Brunel FM]], was launched in 2006 and replaced in turn by [[Total Star Swindon]], [[More Radio (Swindon)|More Radio]], [[Jack FM (Swindon)|Jack FM]] and [[Sam FM (Swindon)|Sam FM]]; the frequency is now used by [[Greatest Hits Radio Swindon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greatest Hits Radio - Latest Show Schedule |url=https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/schedule/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=Greatest Hits Radio |language=en}}</ref> Another independent station called [[Swindon FM]] was also on the air between 2001 and 2006.

Since 2008, the town has had its own 24-hour community radio station, [[Swindon 105.5]], which was given the [[Queen's Award for Voluntary Service]] in 2014, the highest award which can be given to a voluntary group.{{cn|date=October 2024}} In regards to the wider Wiltshire county, the public-sector station [[BBC Radio Wiltshire]] remains based in Swindon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiltshire - Listen Live - BBC Sounds |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_wiltshire |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Television===
The Swindon area is in the overlap between TV transmitters from two regions, [[Oxford transmitting station|Oxford]] (Thames Valley) and [[Mendip transmitting station|Mendip]], supplemented by a local relay transmitter in the town <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Seagry_Court |title=Seagry Court (Swindon, England) Freeview Light transmitter |date=May 2004}}</ref> (West of England). [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] regional news programmes come from [[ITV News Meridian]] (with offices at Abingdon) and [[ITV West Country]] (Bristol). On [[BBC One]], the area is served by both [[South Today]] (from Southampton) and [[BBC Points West|Points West]] (Bristol).

Between 1973 and 1982, the town had its own cable television channel called [[Swindon Viewpoint]]. This was a community television project run mainly by enthusiasts from studios in Victoria Hill, and later by Media Arts at the Town Hall Studios. It was followed by the more commercial [[Swindon Cable|Swindon's Local Channel]], which included pay-per-view films.<ref>[http://www.swindoncable.co.uk/ ''Swindon Cable — Swindon View Point — The Local Channel'', Swindoncable.co.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809025914/http://www.swindoncable.co.uk/ |date=9 August 2007 }}. Retrieved on 21 July 2007.</ref> NTL (later [[Virgin Media]]) took over the channel's parent company, ComTel, and closed the station.

==Education==
The borough of Swindon has many primary schools, 12 secondary schools, and two purpose-built sixth-form colleges. Three secondary schools also have sixth forms. There is one independent school, Maranatha Christian School at [[Sevenhampton, Wiltshire|Sevenhampton]].

===Secondary schools===
The secondary schools in the Borough of Swindon are:
*[[Abbey Park School]] (formerly Isambard School (ages 11–16))
*[[Commonweal School]] (11–18)
*[[Crowdy's Hill School]] (?–19)
*The Deanery CE Academy (11–15)
*[[The Dorcan Academy]] (11–16)
*Great Western Academy (11–18)
*[[Highworth Warneford School]] (11–16)
*The Kingfisher CE Academy (15–19)
*[[Kingsdown School]] (11–16)
*[[Lawn Manor Academy]] (11–16)
*[[Lydiard Park Academy]] (11–18)
*[[Nova Hreod Academy]] (11–16)
*[[The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College]] (11–18)
*[[St Joseph's Catholic College]] (11–16)
*[[Swindon Academy]] (3–19 which is a post-nursery, primary and secondary school within Swindon)
*[[Uplands School (Swindon)|Uplands School]] (11–19)
*[[UTC Swindon]] (14–19)
[[Bradon Forest School]] (ages 11–18) is at Purton, near the west side of Swindon.

===Further education===
[[New College, Swindon|New College]] and [[Swindon College]] cater for the town's [[further education]] and higher education requirements, mainly for 16 to 22-year-olds. Swindon College is one of the largest FE-HE colleges in southwestern England, at a purpose-built campus in North Star, Swindon.

===Higher education===
Swindon is the UK's largest centre of population without its own university (by comparison, there are two universities in nearby [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], which is half Swindon's size). In March 2008, a proposal was made by former Swindon MP, [[Anne Snelgrove]], for a university-level institution to be established in the town within a decade, culminating in a future 'University of Swindon' (with some{{who|date=March 2021}} touting the future institution to be entitled 'The Murray John University, Swindon', after the town's most distinguished post-war civic leader).{{cn|date=May 2023}}

[[Oxford Brookes University]] has had a campus in Swindon since 1999. The campus offers degrees in Adult Nursing and Operating Department Practice ([[Operating Department Practitioners|ODP]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brookes.ac.uk/studying-at-brookes/living/our-campuses/swindon/ |title=Swindon Campus – Oxford Brookes University |website=www.brookes.ac.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110234533/https://www.brookes.ac.uk/studying-at-brookes/living/our-campuses/swindon/ |archive-date=10 January 2018}}</ref> The Joel Joffe Building<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/oxford-brookes-opens-it-s-new-campus-in-swindon/ |title=Oxford Brookes opens its new campus in Swindon |date=16 August 2016 |website=Oxford Brookes University |language=en |access-date=10 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114251/https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/oxford-brookes-opens-it-s-new-campus-in-swindon/ |archive-date=10 November 2017}}</ref> opened in August 2016 and was officially opened<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/15069530.New_Oxford_Brookes_campus_to_officially_open_next_week/ |title=New Oxford Brookes campus to officially open next week |last=Yilmaz |first=Tanya |date=3 February 2017 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en |access-date=10 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110174634/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/15069530.New_Oxford_Brookes_campus_to_officially_open_next_week/ |archive-date=10 January 2018}}</ref> in February 2017 by [[Joel Joffe, Baron Joffe|Lord Joel Joffe]], a long-time Swindon resident and former human rights lawyer. From 1999 to 2016 the Ferndale Campus was based in north-central Swindon. The main OBU campus is about {{convert|27|mi|km|0}} northeast of Swindon. The university also sponsors [[UTC Swindon]], which opened in 2014 for students aged 14–19.

Between 2000 and 2008 the [[University of Bath]] had a campus in Walcot, east Swindon.

The [[Royal Agricultural University]] has its Cultural Heritage Institute in the former railway carriage works.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 July 2019 |title=Cultural Heritage Institute |url=https://www.rau.ac.uk/cultural-heritage-institute |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=Royal Agricultural University |language=en}}</ref>

==Museums and cultural institutions==

* The [[Richard Jefferies]] Museum, near [[Coate Water Country Park]], is dedicated to the memory of one of England's most individual writers on nature and the countryside.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.richardjefferies.org/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |website=www.richardjefferies.org}}</ref>
* [[Museum of the Great Western Railway|STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway]] is on part of the site of the former [[Swindon Works|railway works]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway |url=https://www.steam-museum.org.uk/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |website= |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* Lydiard House, at the centre of [[Lydiard Country Park]], is a [[Palladian architecture|Palladian]] house with staterooms containing collections of furniture and art.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=Lydiard House |url=https://www.lydiardpark.org.uk/info/8/lydiard-house-0/1/lydiard-house |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=www.lydiardpark.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>
*The Local Studies Collection at Swindon Central Library is an extensive local studies and family history archive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Swindon Borough |title=Local Studies: local history and genealogy |url=https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20026/libraries/302/local_studies_local_history_and_genealogy |access-date=30 November 2021 |website=www.swindon.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Swindon Arts Centre]] is a 212-seat entertainment venue in the Old Town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Arts Centre |url=https://www.totalswindon.com/entertainment/swindon-arts-centre/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.totalswindon.com}}</ref>
* The [[Wyvern Theatre]] is the town's principal stage venue.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17620588.big-interview-new-wyvern-theatre-director-laura-james/ |title=BIG INTERVIEW: New Wyvern Theatre director Laura James |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=6 May 2019 |language=en |access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref>
* [[Museum & Art Swindon]] has collections related to [[local history]], [[archaeology]] and [[natural history]], as well as an important collection of [[Modern art|modern British art]] and [[Studio pottery|studio ceramics]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=THE Homepage |url=https://www.swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |website=www.swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Museum of Computing]] was the first computer museum in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum of Computing - Home |url=https://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |website=www.museumofcomputing.org.uk}}</ref>
*The [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]]'s [[National Collections Centre]] is nearby at [[Wroughton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Collections Centre |url=https://www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/about-us/collection/national-collections-centre/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=Science Museum Group |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*The [[Bodleian Library]]'s Book Storage Facility is at [[South Marston]] on the edge of Swindon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collections management |url=https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/about/libraries/our-work/collections-management |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bodleian Libraries Book Storage Facility |url=https://librarytechnology.org/storagefacility/12 |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=librarytechnology.org}}</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:STFC-County-Ground-Stratton-Bank.JPG|thumb|upright=1.25|The Stratton Bank at the [[County Ground (Swindon)|County Ground]]]]

===Football===
[[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] are based at the [[County Ground (Swindon)|County Ground]] near the town centre.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=6 February 2020 |title=Major milestone reached in purchase of the County Ground |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/major-milestone-reached-in-purchase-of-the-county-ground/ |access-date=6 March 2022 |website=Swindon Town |language=en-gb}}</ref> They play in [[EFL League Two|League Two]], the fourth-highest tier of the English football league system, after being relegated from League One in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 April 2021 |title=Swindon relegated after loss at MK Dons |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56781901 |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> The affiliated club, [[Swindon Town W.F.C.|Swindon Town Women]], play in Division One South West of the [[FA Women's National League]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=The FA Women's National League: Division One South West |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?selectedSeason=307003017&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0&selectedDivision=539269006&selectedCompetition=0 |access-date=6 March 2022 |website=The Football Association}}</ref> their first team play home games outside the town at [[Fairford Town F.C.|Fairford Town]]'s Cinder Lane ground.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Town Women FC |url=https://fairfordtownfc.co.uk/swindon-town-ladies/ |access-date=6 March 2022 |website=Fairford Town Football Club |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The town also has a non-league club, [[Swindon Supermarine F.C.|Swindon Supermarine]], playing in the Premier South division of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Premier South Teams 2021/2022 |url=https://southern-football-league.co.uk/teams/Southern%20League%20Premier%20South/2021/2022 |access-date=6 March 2022 |website=Southern League}}</ref> at their [[South Marston]] ground. [[New College, Swindon|New College Swindon]] run a football academy for both sexes, usually alongside academic courses;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Football Academy |url=https://www.newcollege.ac.uk/course/football-academy/NC804 |access-date=6 March 2022 |website=New College Swindon}}</ref> until the summer of 2020 they fielded [[New College Swindon F.C.|a football team]], which played in Division One of the [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] and was based at Supermarine's ground.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canning |first=Tom |date=29 June 2020 |title=Hellenic League club withdrawals confirmed but Division Two expands |url=https://www.footballinbracknell.co.uk/news/football-news/47132/hellenic-league-club-withdrawals-confirmed-but-division-two-expands/ |access-date=6 March 2022 |website=Football in Berkshire |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Rugby===
Swindon has three rugby union teams, Swindon Rugby Football Club, Swindon College Old Boys Rugby Football Club, who play at Nationwide Pavillion[sic], and Supermarine Rugby Football Club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supermarine RFC |url=https://supermarinerfc.rfu.club/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=supermarinerfc.rfu.club |language=en-GB}}</ref>

[[Swindon St George]] are a rugby league team playing in the West of England Rugby League. The kit consists of black and red shirts with black shorts and socks. It was founded in 2007.

English Rugby player [[Jonny May]] lived in [[Chiseldon]] and attended [[The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College]] located in [[Wroughton]], both nearby villages to Swindon.

===Ice hockey===

The [[Swindon Wildcats]] play in the second-tier [[English Premier Ice Hockey League]]. Since their inception in 1986, the Wildcats have played their home games at the 2,800-capacity [[Link Centre]] in West Swindon.

===Motor sports===
[[Swindon Robins]] is a [[Speedway in the United Kingdom|speedway]] team competing in the top national division, the [[SGB Premiership]], where they were champions in the [[SGB Premiership 2017|2017]] and [[SGB Premiership 2019|2019]] seasons. The team was based at the [[Abbey Greyhound Stadium|Abbey Stadium]], [[Blunsdon]] from 1949, but has not been able to race there since the end of the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Premiership speedway: Swindon Robins confirm withdrawal from 2021 season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/speedway/55617728 |website=BBC Sport |date=11 January 2021 |access-date=18 May 2025}}</ref>

[[Foxhill motocross circuit]] is {{convert|6|mi|km}} southeast of the town and has staged Grand Prix events.

=== Athletics ===
Swindon has two athletics clubs affiliated to [[England Athletics]], Swindon Harriers (running, track and field)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Harriers {{!}} The home of Athletics in Swindon. |url=http://www.swindonharriers.com/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.swindonharriers.com}}</ref> and Swindon Striders (running).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Striders |url=https://www.swindonstriders.co.uk/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> There is also a group called Swindon Shin Splints.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Running Group Ready to Welcome New Beginners |url=https://www.totalswindon.com/lifestyle/running-group-ready-to-welcome-new-beginners/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.totalswindon.com}}</ref> Two [[Hash House Harriers|Hash House Harrier]] running groups are centred on Swindon, North Wilts Hash House Harriers (who run every Sunday) and the Moonrakers Hash House Harriers (who run every other Wednesday evening).<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Wilts Hash House Harriers, NWH3 |url=http://www.nwh3.net/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.nwh3.net}}</ref> There is a [[parkrun]] held every Saturday at Lydiard Country Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=home {{!}} Lydiard parkrun {{!}} Lydiard parkrun |url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/lydiard/ |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.parkrun.org.uk |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Climbing ===
Swindon Mountaineering Club is affiliated to the [[British Mountaineering Council]] and organise meets for [[walking]], [[rock climbing]] and [[mountaineering]] in the UK and abroad. Members train on an indoor [[climbing wall]] at the Rockstar Climbing Centre in Swindon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Mountaineering Club |url=https://sites.google.com/site/swindonmountaineeringclub/home |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=sites.google.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
{{For|a complete list|:Category:People from Swindon}}
*[[Dean Ashton]], former [[England national football team|England]] international footballer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersA/BioAshtonD.html |title=Dean Ashton |date=22 October 2020 |publisher=England Football Online}}</ref>
*[[Julian Clary]], stand-up comedian who lived in [[Rodbourne]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comedian Julian Clary steps back to school in Cricklade |url=https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/8378806.comedian-julian-clary-steps-back-to-school-in-cricklade/ |access-date=5 October 2021 |website=Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard |date=8 September 2010 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Rick Davies]], vocalist and keyboardist from the rock band [[Supertramp]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rick Davies {{!}} Swindon-born founder of Supertramp {{!}} SwindonWeb People |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=9&ss=1098&t=Rick+Davies |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.swindonweb.com}}</ref>
*[[Diana Dors]], actor<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=9&ss=220&t=Diana+Dors |title=From Kent Road to Cannes |publisher=Swindon Web}}</ref>
*[[Mehdi Hasan]], British-American political journalist of Indian-origin<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/22/mehdi-hasan-interview-trump-biden-fox-news-msnbc |title=‘Biden’s the most impressive president of my lifetime’: Mehdi Hasan on Fox News, tough questions and post-Trump politics |publisher=The Guardian}}</ref>
*[[Justin Hayward]], lead singer and guitarist in the band [[The Moody Blues]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Charles |date=4 December 2014 |title=Justin Hayward, York Barbican, July 9 |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/music/11646569.justin-hayward-york-barbican-july-9/ |access-date=26 May 2021 |website=York Press}}</ref>
*[[Nick Hewer]], businessman and TV presenter<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wiltshirelive.co.uk/whats-on/film/apprentice-nick-hewers-swindon-roots-6480852 |title=The Apprentice: Nick Hewer's Swindon roots, net worth and why he left the boardroom |date=12 January 2022 |publisher=Wiltshire Live}}</ref>
*[[Mark Lamarr]], comedian, TV presenter and radio host<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/19522078.swindons-mark-lamarr-pays-tribute-comedian-sean-lock/ |title=Swindon's Mark Lamarr pays tribute to comedian Sean Lock |date=19 August 2021 |publisher=Swindon Advertiser}}</ref>
*[[Electronic music]] group [[Meat Beat Manifesto]], originally formed in 1987 in Swindon<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2010 |title=Jack Dangers Of Meat Beat Manifesto Interviewed |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/05135-jack-dangers-interview-meat-beat-manifesto |access-date=26 May 2021 |website=The Quietus}}</ref>
*[[Melinda Messenger]], TV presenter and former glamour model<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wiltshirelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/melinda-messenger-swindon-roots-net-6487143 |title=Melinda Messenger - Swindon roots, net worth and where she is now |date=13 January 2022 |publisher=Wiltshire Live}}</ref>
*[[Edith New]], suffragette 
*[[Rachel Shelley]], actor
*[[Gilbert O'Sullivan]], Irish-born singer-songwriter who grew up in Swindon<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=9&ss=227&t=Gilbert+O%27Sullivan |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan |publisher=Swindon Web}}</ref>
*[[Billie Piper]], actor<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=9&ss=10&t=Billie+Piper |title=Billie Piper |publisher=Swindon Web}}</ref>
*[[Jon Richardson]], stand-up comedian who used to live in the town<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/sep/13/jon-richardson-grows-up-ocd |title=Jon Richardson: 'I didn't have any sex, I didn't do any drugs' |date=13 September 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
*[[Ben Thatcher]], former [[Premier League]] footballer who played internationally for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.millwall-history.org.uk/BenThatcher.htm |title=Ben Thatcher |publisher=The Millwall History Files}}</ref>
*Post-punk band [[XTC]] was formed in Swindon in 1972. Three of the band's singles reached the UK top 20, gaining them a [[cult following]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-mn0000678339/biography |title=XTC biography |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=10 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710064123/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-mn0000678339/biography |archive-date=10 July 2017}}</ref>
*[[Max Cook]], motorcycle racer<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Max – Max Cook Official |url=https://maxcook30.com/about-max/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*[[Fraser Rogers]], motorcycle racer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fraser Rogers |url=https://www.britishsuperbike.com/riders/2024/fraser-rogers |access-date=18 April 2024 |website=www.britishsuperbike.com}}</ref>

==Twin towns==
* [[Salzgitter]], Germany
* [[Ocotal]], Nicaragua
* [[Toruń]], Poland
* [[Disney World]], United States<ref name="disney">{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/swindon-twinned-with-disney-world-1835889.html |title=Swindon twinned with Disney World |access-date=30 September 2021 |work=The Independent |author=Peter Woodman |date=7 December 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211114121/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/swindon-twinned-with-disney-world-1835889.html |archive-date=11 December 2009}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[History of Swindon]]
*[[History of local government in Swindon]]
*[[List of people from Swindon]]
*[[List of schools in Swindon]]
*[[Transport in Swindon]]
*[[Swindon Civic Trust]]
*[[Economy of Wiltshire]]
*[[Healthcare in Wiltshire]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist|30em}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''Swindon in 50 Buildings,'' Angela Atkinson, Amberley Publishing, 2019, paperback, 96 pages, {{ISBN|978 1 4456 9047 6}} (print), {{ISBN|978 1 4456 9048 3}} (ebook)   
* ''Secret Swindon'', Angela Atkinson, Amberley Publishing, 2018, paperback, 96 pages, {{ISBN|978-1445683386}}   
*''Swindon'', Mark Child, Breedon Books, 2002, hardcover, 159 pages, {{ISBN|1-85983-322-5}}
* ''Francis Frith's Swindon Living Memories (Photographic Memories S.)'', Francis Frith and Brian Bridgeman, The Frith Book Company Ltd, 2003, Paperback, 96 pages, {{ISBN|1-85937-656-8}}
* ''An Awkward Size for a Town'', Kenneth Hudson, 1967, David & Charles Publishers (no ISBN)

==External links==
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Swindon}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* [https://www.swindonweb.com SwindonWeb]

{{Wiltshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Swindon| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Borough of Swindon]]
[[Category:Railway towns in England]]
[[Category:Polish communities]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Wiltshire]]