Swindon Museum

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Swindon Museum & Art Gallery The museum is situated in Bath Road in Old Town and has extensive displays covering local history, archaeology and geology. Visitors can follow the path of human history from the Stone Age, through the Bronze Age, Iron Age, the Roman Empire up to the medieval age. Among it's many artefacts are items found at the Roman Villa at Groundwell Ridge in Swindon. Amongst other items on display are a 4.5 metre crocodile and an Egyptian Mummy of a 12 year old  boy. Exhibitions change regularly The Art Gallery has a reputation as one of the best collections of British 20th century art outside of London. Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, Bath Road, Swindon SN1 4BA 01793 466556 Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Town Gardens The Town Gardens are attractive and well loved by the people of Swindon. The gardens are carefully and artistically laid out with pleasant tree lined walks & lawns bordered with a mass of colourful flowers. The aviary was built in 1994 as part of the gardens centenary celebrations and the birds that live here are popular with children and adults alike. During the summer months local bands & orchestras play in the delightful Victorian bandstand, while a series of concerts are held in the impressive Town Gardens Bowl. A number of festivals are also held here including the Indian Mela which attracts visitors in their thousands, while The Old Town Festival fills the gardens with stalls and entertainment. A refreshment kiosk feeds hungry humans while squirrels play on the grass and in the trees overhead. Adjacent to the gardens are some tennis courts and a children's play area. Town Gardens, Quarry Road, Old Town, Swindon 01793 490150

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Swindon Museum & Art Gallery

The museum is situated in Bath Road in Old Town and has extensive displays covering local history,archaeology and geology.

Visitors can follow the path of human history from the Stone Age, through the Bronze Age, Iron Age,the Roman Empire up to the medieval age.

Among it's many artefacts are items found at the Roman Villa at Groundwell Ridge in Swindon.Amongst other items on display are a 4.5 metre crocodile and an Egyptian Mummy of a 12 year old

boy.

Exhibitions change regularly

The Art Gallery has a reputation as one of the best collections of British 20th century art outside of London.

Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, Bath Road, Swindon SN1 4BA

01793 466556

Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm

Town Gardens

The Town Gardens are attractive and well loved by the people of Swindon.

The gardens are carefully and artistically laid out with pleasant tree lined walks & lawns bordered witha mass of colourful flowers.

The aviary was built in 1994 as part of the gardens centenary celebrations and the birds that live hereare popular with children and adults alike.

During the summer months local bands & orchestras play in the delightful Victorian bandstand, while aseries of concerts are held in the impressive Town Gardens Bowl.

A number of festivals are also held here including the Indian Mela which attracts visitors in their thousands, while The Old Town Festival fills the gardens with stalls and entertainment.

A refreshment kiosk feeds hungry humans while squirrels play on the grass and in the trees overhead.

Adjacent to the gardens are some tennis courts and a children's play area.Town Gardens, Quarry Road, Old Town, Swindon 01793 490150

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The Lawn

The Lawn is a glorious park in the Old Town area of Swindon covering over 86 acres which makes itone of the largest open spaces in the Town.

The Lawn originally had a natural spring that flowed from the top of the hill, this made the site idealfor settlement and Stone Age, Bronze Age, Roman & Saxon remains have been found here.

The lakes, meadows and avenues are a haven for wildlife with a wide variety of habitats.

Walking, Cycling and fishing can all be enjoyed here.

The Lawn has it's own ancient tree collection with species ranging from Yew, Walnut & Oak to moreunusual specimens such as Monkey Puzzle, Medlar & Wellingstonia.

The Lawn, Old Town, Swindon 01793 490150

Open dawn to dusk daily

Lydiard Park

Lydiard Park is situated to the west of the town.

Rolling lawns, shady trees, towering Lebanese cedars, ancient avenues &carriageways and wonderful lakes can all be found here.

Restored pathways have opened up 260 acres of the site, paradise for walkers, joggers, cyclists and wheelchair users.

A fantastic childrens play area offers plenty of choice for youngsters to use up anyexcess energy

The Parish church is one of England's finest small churches and is filled withmonuments to the St John family including the Golden Cavalier-a life size effigy of Edward St John in full battledress and the famous St John Triptych. (The key for thechurch can be collected from the Rangers Office at Lydiard Park)

Lydiard Park, Lydiard Tregoz, Swindon SN5 3PA 01793 770401

Open dawn to dusk daily.

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Coate Water Country Park

Coate Water is a man made reservoir constructed by The Wilts & Berks Canal Company in the early1820's to top up the canal which passed through Swindon at the time. Following the arrival of the GreatWestern Railway in the 1840's the canal gradually fell into decline, when the canal was closed thereservoir was no longer required and in 1914 Swindon Corporation acquired the site as a place for leisure for the people of Swindon

Today Coate Water is one of Swindon's most popular destinations. The nature reserve is ideal for birdwatching, Wildfowl live on the lake, while the numerous footpaths appeal to walkers.

Visitors can enjoy one of the many varied activities that the Swindon Rangers hold throughout the year,

there is a pitch & putt golf course, in the summer months there is a paddling pool as well as a train toride on. (Charges apply for events, pitch & putt, paddling pool & train rides)

Coate Water Country Park, Marlborough Road, Swindon SN3 6AA

01793 490150

Open dawn to dusk daily

Richard Jefferies was one of England's most individualwriters on nature and the countryside. He was born at Coatein 1848 and the house here is now a museum.

The Museum includes first editions of many of his writingsincluding the manuscript of 'Wood Magic'. It also contains

photographs and memorabilia.

A video produced by the Richard Jefferies Society can beviewed here, there is also a library of books for loan,

postcards and pamphlets.Richard Jefferies Museum, Coate, Marlborough Road,Swindon

01793 783040 or 01793 466556

Open 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month from May toSeptember 2pm-5pm, second Wednesday of each month10am-4pm

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National Monuments Record Centre

National Monuments Record Centre is English Heritage's public archive.

The collection has over 7 million photographs dating from the 1840's to the present day. It covers all parts of England and includes images of historic buildings, streetscapes, gardens and archaeologicalsites from the ground and from the air.

The centre has a database over a quarter of a million archaeological monuments & excavations inEngland as well as thousands of plans, drawings & reports.

The Centre is open to everyone. You are welcome to consult our records including our excellent

reference library. You can also place an enquiry by post, fax or online.

National Monuments Record Centre, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2GZ

01793 414600

Open Tues-Fri 9.30am-5pm

Barbury Castle Country Park

Barbury Castle is a 150 acre Iron Age hill fort alongside The Ridgeway NationalTrail.

The park offers spectacular views of the Marlborough Downs and Swindon.

It is an ideal place for walking, cycling, kite flying & to enjoy a picnic.

Swindon Rangers team organise regular events at Barbury Castle.

Barbury Castle, near Wroughton, Swindon

01793 490150

Open dawn to dusk daily