Map of Swindon & surrounding area

Swindon's town centre covers an area just under 1.5 square kilometres and is commonly referred to as "New Town". (Swindon "Old Town" - the location of the original settlement - lies due south on a hill top.)

The town centre is the heart of Swindon's business, shopping and entertainment district. Compacted with public buildings, shops, cafes, bars and leisure centres, the town centre is surprisingly small with most facilities within easy walking-distance.

The train and bus stations are close to each other and are excellent meeting points for new-comers. The main taxi rank can also be found infront of the bus station on Manchester Road.

Manchester Road flourishes with a wave of young people from diverse backgrounds making it a popular, up-and-coming area for the town. The town's 24-hour TESCO hypermarket is just 3 minutes walking distance away.

Behind the Regent Street, you'll find the newly built Main Post Office. If you need to exchange foreign money, go here: there's 0% commission!

Most high-street name shops can be found on Regent Street or in the Brunel Shopping Centre. The street is pedestrianised so it's easy to browse from shop to shop. Try to avoid weekend shopping if you can - the area gets very congested and queues can be long at the pay check-outs

At the top of Regent Street is where you'll find the Tourist Information Centre. The endless shelves filled with the Council's hype-filled, publicity broshures can make it difficult to know where to start! The friendly staff are a better source of information, so try to grab their attention: they are always happy to point you in the right direction and can give you local tips for your stay.

Havelock Street joins Regent Street to Commercial Street. Unlike other town centre shops which are mostly large chains, here you'll find many local sole-traders. Charity shops located here preserve the heart and spirit of the local community. If you get the opportunity, chat to the shop staff - many of whom have lived in Swindon all their lives - to get a better understanding of the town's history.

Commercial Road is home to the main banks (e.g Natwest, Lloyds) and estate agents. If you're looking for a job, it's also where you'll find many employment agencies offering work from hotel catering to computer programming.

To the south of the town centre located on a hill top is Old Town. Home to the town's late-thirtysomething crowd, Old Town houses beautifully designed buildings crammed along tradionally narrower streets. Worth visiting on a quiet Sunday afternoon, especially to have lunch at one of the many tradional English pubs located here.

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