Activities in Swindon

A popular retreat for kids where they can involve themselves in over 50 different activities, the PGL Liddington site is a holiday centre for kids aged seven to 17. The newest of the PGL sites around the country, the Liddington centre is a 150-acre site that offers everything from abseiling to sailing, and fencing to mountain biking. There are a range of holidays and options to choose from, ranging from three- to seven-night stays.

Another child-orientated activity is the Jungle Parc Adventurer Course at Lydiard House and Park. Open to children three and above, there are over 50 activities to choose from, including monkey bridges, zip lines and even rocket launchers. Older kids – and even adults – can get involved in the Xplorer Course, where you can explore a tree-top canopy with trapeze swings, wobbly bridges and cargo nets.

A more relaxed family day out can be had at Roves Farm, which can be found a few miles to the north-east of the town centre. With soft play, sandpits, arts and crafts, bouncy castles, tractor rides and plenty of farm animals, it’s a great day out – and it has plenty of indoor activities too, if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

While the kids are off learning a host of new activities, you could find yourself down at the Basset Down Golf Course and Driving Range. This is a relaxed nine-hole course equipped with a floodlit driving range and Swindon’s only 12-hole football golf course.

If you’re after something a little more adrenaline-fuelled, try Combat Splat Paintball. Open daily for combatants aged 10 and over, the paintball site was set up in 2008 and offers a range of packages, from the Sharp Shooter all the way to the action-packed Rambo package. The site is about five miles from our Swindon North hotel near Ashton Keynes.

The region’s strong rail history was given a further boost when 2.5 miles of railway line were reopened in 1978 as part of the Swindon and Cricklade Steam Railway. Volunteers have lovingly restored several vintage steam and diesel trains and now run a service every Saturday and Sunday between four stations. And, excitingly for real trainspotters, they even have several driving experience packages throughout the year where you get to drive your own steam engine.

Don’t worry if the sun isn’t shining, as there are plenty of fun indoor activities in and around Swindon. Based in Eastleaze, several miles to the east of our Swindon Central hotel, Laser Quest Swindon is a multi-player, multi-level laser tag arena for children and adults. Open for kids six and older until 10pm daily, each session lasts around 20 minutes with points awarded for successful shots and taken away if you get hit.

To the south of Swindon on the Wroughton Airfield, you’ll find the Swindon Karting Arena with over 15 years of experience. The 45 mph karts are open to kids eight and older – either book a 20- or 30-minute arrive and drive session, or plan ahead with a big group to experience a Grand Prix-style race with qualification.

A state-of-the-art skateboard park – and, indeed, Swindon’s only skateboard park – the ATBShop Skate Warehouse and Park is perfect for skateboarders, scooters, inline skaters and BMX riders. There are a range of sessions through the week, while you can also hire equipment and sign up for lessons.

Perfect for kids up to 10 years old, Jungle Kingdom is a sprawling indoor soft play arena, which is open from 9.30am-6pm daily. Kids will love the slides, ball pits and puzzles, while grown-ups will appreciate the Explorers Café that dishes up hot meals, snacks and plenty of coffee.

If trampoline parks are your go-to activity, head to Freedog Urban Activity Centre which combines wall-to-wall trampolines, indoor climbing, family and toddler sessions, as well as keep-fit classes. It’s also so close to our Swindon Central hotel that you could almost bounce there and back.

For dedicated indoor climbing thrills, look no further than Rockstar Climbing. From junior sessions to free climbing and bouldering, you’ll find it all here. Plus, there’s also free Wi-Fi and a rather good café serving up a range of teas, coffees, sandwiches and cakes.

Just a mile from the town centre, Croft Country Park is perfect for families, as well as those who fancy a few thrills and spills. Families and adventurous beginners will love the Blue trail, while the Red trail is a more technical route with jumps, ramps and banked turns – in other words, a lot of fun! The trails are free to use and open daily.

Another great way to explore Swindon is by using the Swindon Rounds, a series of popular traffic-free routes that take in most of the area’s sights. A circular route that uses 70% cycle paths, the Haydon Wick Round is a great way to explore the northern edge of Swindon, taking in Mouldon Hill Country Park and Hayden Meadow. At just seven miles, it’s an easy route for most cyclists, but there are several small climbs on the route.

Alternatively, take the West Swindon Round, which guides you through a number of parks including Shaw Forest and Lydiard Park. The largely flat route is around seven miles long and takes in several pubs and cafés on the way for refreshments and a quick break.

With walks every weekend, the Wiltshire & Swindon Ramblers offer a great way to explore the countryside with friendly, expert guides. Walks take place every Sunday and some Saturdays, while there are also weekday evening sessions in the summer that end up at a local pub for dinner.

Walks cover most of the county, including Marlborough Downs, the Cotswold Water Park and world heritage park Avebury.