Recreation, leisure and culture news

First phase of Fleming Way rejuvenation to get underway with car park demolition

A town centre car park will be demolished later this month to help pave the way for a major £33m scheme to improve Swindon town centre.

Published: Friday, 10th September 2021

Swindon’s rich history celebrated with Heritage Open Days this weekend

Over the weekend (11 and 12 September) residents are invited into some of Swindon’s most interesting historic buildings free of charge.
Published: Monday, 6th September 2021
Online consultation launched for new Coate Water play area

Plans for a new children’s play area at Coate Water Park are making progress, and Swindon Borough Council is keen to hear residents’ thoughts.
Published: Tuesday, 17th August 2021
Swindon fans encouraged to do their bit to tackle COVID-19 ahead of County Ground return

Thousands of fans will return to the County Ground tomorrow (14 Aug) to welcome their new-look Swindon Town side in their first League Two home fixture following relegation last season.
Published: Friday, 13th August 2021
Lydiard House Museum to reopen on 5 August

The Swindon Borough Council-owned and operated Lydiard House Museum will reopen its doors to the public this Thursday (5 August).
Published: Thursday, 5th August 2021
STEAM launch two special exhibitions celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the GWR Hospital

This year, STEAM is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the Great Western Railway Hospital on Faringdon Road with two new special exhibitions.
Published: Tuesday, 27th July 2021
Faringdon Road planters given new lease of life thanks to volunteers

An enthusiastic team of volunteers have spruced up Swindon’s Heritage Acton Zone.
Published: Friday, 23rd July 2021
Art on Tour offers another dose of art for staff and volunteers at COVID vaccination centre

An art exhibition, which aims to give staff and volunteers a boost at STEAM’s COVID vaccination centre, has been expanded after receiving rave reviews.
Published: Friday, 30th April 2021
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery launches virtual exhibition, ‘Optimism: Spring to summer

Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has announced the launch of a virtual exhibition, selected by the committee of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, to celebrate Spring and the prospect of bet
Published: Monday, 22nd March 2021
Historic Lydiard House given significant facelift by Council

A treasured Swindon landmark has been given a new lease of life following extensive renovation work.
Published: Saturday, 20th March 2021
Council launches vision to deliver one of the UK’s most ambitious cultural projects

A bold vision to deliver a Cultural Quarter in Swindon will be shared with major investors and funding bodies through a new prospectus which sets out a clear roadmap for its delivery.
Published: Thursday, 18th March 2021
Plan to rejuvenate the Oasis in balance after listing application

This is what a rejuvenated Oasis Leisure Centre could look like if plans to give it a multi-million pound upgrade come to fruition.
Published: Tuesday, 16th March 2021
Public invited to help develop plan to improve Swindon’s country parks

Members of the public are being encouraged to help shape an exciting plan to enhance Swindon’s country parks over the next four years.
Published: Tuesday, 16th February 2021
First tickets go live for the Festival of Tomorrow

Ticket booking went live this week for Swindon’s Festival of Tomorrow.
Published: Thursday, 28th January 2021
Rapper launches online challenge for Swindon’s Festival of Tomorrow

Science Rapper Jon Chase launched a challenge to young people across social media this week, in the lead up to next month’s Festival of Tomorrow.
Published: Monday, 18th January 2021
Swindon’s STEAM Museum now open for festive visits

Families and train buffs looking for a great day out over the festive period are being encouraged to take a trip back in time at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway.
Published: Friday, 18th December 2020
Swindon’s Festival of Tomorrow is back for 2021

A hugely successful science and technology festival, which was held for the first time in Swindon last February, will make a return in 2021.
Published: Wednesday, 16th December 2020
Full steam ahead for council services as latest lockdown comes to an end

Two Swindon Borough Council-run care homes have created special COVID-safe areas so family members can safely meet their loved ones.
Published: Tuesday, 1st December 2020
Ambitious plan to improve Swindon’s country parks to go before Cabinet

A new waterside restaurant and café at Coate Water could form an important part of a four-year strategy to improve Swindon’s much-loved country parks.
Published: Monday, 30th November 2020
Prints of artwork from the Swindon Collection now available to buy

It is widely regarded as one of the best collections of Modern British Art outside London, and now people have the chance to look at their very own version of the artwork on their wall at home.
Published: Thursday, 26th November 2020
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery launches a new virtual exhibition

Lockdown may have forced Swindon Museum and Art Gallery to close its doors, but people from across the country will still be able to view the town’s renowned Modern British Art collection thanks to a new exciting online exhibition.
Published: Monday, 23rd November 2020
Swindon’s STEAM Museum wins TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award

Hot on the heels of being praised for its virtual tour during lockdown, STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, has today announced it has been recognised as a 2020 Travellers’ Choice award-winner.
Published: Thursday, 8th October 2020
Gallery will use Swindon’s parks as a new art exhibition space

Four of Swindon’s beautiful parks have been chosen to host an autumn trail with a difference.
Published: Thursday, 1st October 2020
Families enjoy summer fun with Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

A team of superhero families recruited from every corner of Swindon have spent the summer completing creative challenges to help save the world with art.
Published: Thursday, 3rd September 2020
Council brings Coate Water back to life with £400,000 investment

Swindon Borough Council has received more than £400,000 in developer contributions to make improvements at Coate Water Country Park.
Published: Thursday, 6th August 2020
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery launches ‘Big Hitters’ virtual exhibition with ArtUK

Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has today (3 July) launched a virtual exhibition through ArtUK, the online home of the nation’s public art collections.
Published: Friday, 3rd July 2020
First Young Artist-in-Residence announced at Museum and Art Gallery

Seventeen-year-old New College student James Keel is the inaugural Young Artist-in-Residence at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.
Published: Wednesday, 24th June 2020
Prime’s Digital Youth Theatre to ‘take over’ Swindon’s STEAM Museum

Swindon’s STEAM Museum will hand over its social media channels to young people later this month as part of an initiative to engage a younger audience.
Published: Friday, 19th June 2020
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery launches project to store lockdown memories

The team at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery have launched a new project aimed at capturing people’s memories during the coronavirus pandemic.
Published: Thursday, 11th June 2020
Wiltshire’s beauty spots aren’t going anywhere

That’s the message from the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Resilience Forum (LRF), as people are urged to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Published: Thursday, 9th April 2020
Opinions sought on future of heritage conservation areas

We need your help...
Published: Wednesday, 19th February 2020
Swindon choreographer brings internationally acclaimed dance work back home

Swindon Dance star Adrienne Hart is now bringing her highly acclaimed ‘Puzzle Creature’ dance performance to Swindon’s iconic STEAM Museum at the end of the month
Published: Monday, 17th February 2020
Swindon Museum acquires new painting through Arts Council scheme

Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has successfully acquired its first work through the Arts Council England’s Acceptance in Lieu scheme.
Published: Tuesday, 26th November 2019
Festive afternoon tea and guided tours on offer at Lydiard House

Christmas will be coming early to Lydiard House thanks to a special festive treat on offer to visitors.
Published: Tuesday, 12th November 2019
Council’s Volunteer Rangers win awards for work in Swindon’s country parks

A collection of willow trees at Coate Water have been deemed ‘outstanding’ by judges from South West in Bloom.
Published: Thursday, 31st October 2019
Lydiard House prepares for festive frivolity ahead of Fawlty Towers dinner

There will be laughs aplenty at Lydiard House when an interactive Fawlty Towers-themed dinner show comes to the popular country park next month.
Published: Wednesday, 30th October 2019
Beat the Street Swindon enters final few weeks

Swindon’s six-week long Beat the Street challenge has reached a grand total of 187,000 miles as the game enters its ‘Go Active’ week.
Published: Thursday, 24th October 2019
Art tour’s success sees Civic welcome new exhibition

The Council’s Civic building has become a new home for a selection of items in Swindon’s prized art collection.
Published: Monday, 21st October 2019
STEAM Museum is first stop for Council’s new art tour

A new pop-up art exhibition has officially opened at the STEAM Museum today (19 Sept).
Published: Friday, 20th September 2019
Swindon’s iconic STEAM Museum prepares for 007 Christmas celebrations

It’s just 105 days until Christmas and staff at Swindon’s STEAM Museum are already jingling their bells.
Published: Tuesday, 10th September 2019
Take a trip down the rabbit hole as open-air theatre returns to Lydiard Park

Families can once again experience open-air theatre in the beautiful surroundings of Lydiard Park this Friday (2 August).
Published: Tuesday, 30th July 2019
Great Western Railway’s invention and innovation revealed in new exhibition

A brand new exhibition exploring the inventions and ideas that shaped the Great Western Railway will launch at STEAM on Friday (26 July).
Published: Tuesday, 23rd July 2019
All Aboard for Summer Holiday £1 Offer at STEAM

The school holidays are almost here and that can mean only one thing – that children can visit the STEAM Museum for just £1.
Published: Tuesday, 16th July 2019
Open-air theatre makes its return to Lydiard Park

Lydiard Park will kick-start a national tour of Shakespeare’s most magical and romantic comedy of them all, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Published: Wednesday, 19th June 2019
Dads go free this weekend at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway

Dads and grandads can celebrate Father’s Day in style with free entry to STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway this weekend (Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June).
Published: Thursday, 13th June 2019
Lydiard Park's Walled Garden opening for the National Garden Scheme this Sunday

Lydiard Park’s ornamental fruit and flower Walled Garden is open for charity this Sunday (June 9) from 11am to 4pm, as part of The National Garden Scheme.
Published: Friday, 7th June 2019
Speed into STEAM this Easter holiday

Children will be able to take part in some special activities to coincide with a new exhibition that is opening at STEAM over the Easter holidays.
Published: Friday, 5th April 2019
New exhibition at STEAM looks at the GWR’s race to become the world’s fastest

A brand new exhibition charting the Great Western Railway’s (GWR) drive to be the fastest railway in the world will launch at STEAM on Saturday (6 April).
Published: Thursday, 4th April 2019
Have an eggstremely cracking Easter at Lydiard Park

The Easter holidays are just around the corner and a whole host of activities for all the family will be taking place at Lydiard Park.
Published: Thursday, 28th March 2019
Lydiard Park celebrates 75 years of public ownership

Lydiard Park is building up to a special anniversary year with the launch of two new exhibitions.
Published: Monday, 18th March 2019
Council unveils bold proposals to protect town’s treasured artefacts

Swindon Borough Council can for the first time reveal exciting new plans to enable the town’s cultural sphere to grow and flourish.
Published: Wednesday, 13th March 2019
Council agrees deal in principle to sell freehold of County Ground to football club and supporters’ group

Swindon Borough Council has agreed a deal in principle to sell the freehold of the town’s football stadium.
Published: Tuesday, 5th March 2019
Cyclists are wheely pleased with slick Flyer routes

Significant upgrades to Swindon’s cycling and pedestrian routes have been completed, and local cyclists are delighted.
Published: Tuesday, 5th March 2019
Work to start on new Council-backed sports facilities at County Ground

Swindon Town legend John Trollope and the High Sherriff of Wiltshire Nicky Alberry broke ground on where state-of-the-art sports facilities will be built at the County Ground.
Published: Thursday, 31st January 2019
Time on Trial: new exhibition at STEAM explores the story of locomotive speed trials

A new railway exhibition is open at STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon which lifts the lid on the rivalry that drove the big four railway companies in the early 1900s to be the fastest.
Published: Wednesday, 30th January 2019
Step into Christmas at STEAM

Christmas will come early at Swindon’s STEAM museum with market stalls, musical entertainment and Santa bringing festive cheer to visitors next weekend.
Published: Thursday, 22nd November 2018
Park and Ride service to serve Outlet Centre and STEAM in run-up to Christmas

Shoppers visiting the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Centre Swindon in the run-up to Christmas will be able to take advantage of a new park and ride service, which has been introduced to help ease congestion in the local area.
Published: Thursday, 22nd November 2018
Lydiard House steps back in time for Christmas display

Visitors to Lydiard House will be able to step back in time and experience what the decorated halls would have been like in Georgian times over the festive season.
Published: Wednesday, 21st November 2018
Full Steam Ahead to Half-term

A whole heap of fun and educational activities are on offer at the STEAM Museum this October half-term.
Published: Wednesday, 24th October 2018
Council’s First World War Tommy statue goes on a tour of Swindon

People of all ages and from all parts of Swindon have the chance to pay their respects to the fallen now that a life-size soldier has begun a tour of the Borough.
Published: Thursday, 18th October 2018
Final week of Beat the Street could see Swindon set a new record

Swindonians have run to the moon, it has been confirmed.
Published: Thursday, 18th October 2018
LEGO® Adventures Coming to STEAM Museum

Swindon’s STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway will soon be opening its doors to a weekend full of LEGO® action and adventure at the Great Western Brick Show.
Published: Friday, 28th September 2018
Access work for new County Ground sports facility underway

A new state-of-the-art £2.2m Community ‘Club Hub’ facility on the County Ground recreational ground has moved a step closer with the start of access road improvements leading on to the site.
Published: Friday, 14th September 2018
Museum and Art Gallery exhibition to mark special centenary

A hundred years after the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is hosting a new exhibition exploring the impact of the conflict on the landscape and people of Wiltshire.
Published: Tuesday, 11th September 2018
Swindon to host a giant walking and cycling game this autumn

Thousands of residents will compete against each other to see if their school, community or business can walk, run or cycle the furthest as part of a Borough-wide game that will launch this autumn.
Published: Tuesday, 21st August 2018
It’s coming home! Edwardian locomotive to return to Swindon

A 113-year-old engine is to return home to the STEAM Museum this summer.
Published: Friday, 10th August 2018
New exhibition at STEAM explores the historic branding of the GWR

A brand new exhibition focusing on the history of the Great Western Railway has opened at STEAM for the summer holidays.
Published: Wednesday, 1st August 2018
Prestigious Green Flag Award places Lydiard Park among the very best open spaces

Lydiard park is among a record-breaking 1,883 parks and green spaces across the UK that have received a prestigious Green Flag Award.
Published: Tuesday, 24th July 2018
Open-air theatre returns to Lydiard Park

Lydiard Park will kick-start a national tour of one of Oscar Wilde’s wittiest comedies.
Published: Tuesday, 17th July 2018