Entertainment in Swindon

Pub quiz fun fact: Britpop band Oasis are actually named after the Oasis centre in Swindon. Apart from shoehorning in that fact, Swindon has a lively music scene that revolves around a trio of venues.

MECA, a multi-purpose venue on Regent Circus, is the biggest in town, capable of holding up to 1,500 fans. Since opening in 1929, it has been used as a theatre and bingo hall. It now hosts everything from family roller discos to live music, with bands like The Christians and Big Country being recent guests.

If you’re looking for something a little more rock and roll, Level III is the oldest live music venue in town. A 350-capacity live music venue previously known as The Furnace, Level III is on Commercial Road near The Brunel Shopping Centre and largely hosts tribute acts, including The Absolute Stone Roses, Noasis and Kingz of Leon, as well as putting on regular indie, metal and Motown club nights.

Located on Victoria Road – one of the main entertainment streets in Swindon – The Victoria is another popular live music venue that books a range of tribute acts, original bands and comedy nights. A compact space that only holds around 200 people, there are often several events each week, with a choice of bars to choose from, serving a decent range of beers, ciders and spirits.

We’ve rounded up our favourite theatres, including the Wyvern Theatre and the Swindon Arts Centre in our Swindon theatre page.

Held on the last Thursday of every month, Chuckles Comedy Club takes place at MECA with a trio of comics charged with tickling your funny bones. The show starts at 8.30pm, featuring rising UK comics including Tim Clark and Kevin McCarthy. You can also take up their well-priced dinner and a show deal.

Alternatively, get your comic kicks at the Wyvern Theatre. As well as hosting shows from big-name comics like David Baddiel and Jason Manford, the theatre also hosts the regular Wyvern Comedy Club, which brings together three UK comics every month for a regular Saturday night comic throwdown.

Home to Swindon Town Football Club since 1896, the County Ground is a 15,728-capacity football ground near the town centre. As well as hosting Swindon Town, who have been a professional outfit since the 19th century and currently play in League Two, the ground has hosted several big pop concerts, including Bryan Adams and Elton John.

The club has tasted mainstream success when they were promoted to the Premier League in the 1992-93 season, with ex-England star Glenn Hoddle managing the team, but have bounced around the lower leagues ever since. And, pub quiz fact alert, The County Ground is the only football stadium in the world that has a Rolex as its main clock, which is built into the Stratton Bank stand.
 

If ice hockey is your passion, skate on down to see the Swindon Wildcats, who play their games in the National Ice Hockey League South Division 1 and play home games at the 2,800-capacity Link Centre. The ice hockey season runs from September to April, with several home games held each month.

Holding regular greyhound racing and speedway action, Swindon Stadium is located in Blunsdon, several miles to the north of the town centre and directly over the road from our Swindon North hotel. Greyhound races take part every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with free entrance to all but the Saturday event, while the Speedway season starts every March with races usually held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7.30pm. As well as watching trackside, you can head to the on-site bar and restaurant located at the start/finish line and catch all the action there.

Fast, dirty and loud, motocross is a hugely entertaining sport that has found a home at Foxhill Motocross Track, a somewhat legendary circuit set up in the late 80s that’s hosted some of the best riders in the world. The circuit, located several miles to the west of the town centre on Callas Hill, crosses steep valleys, mud banks and jumps, with thrills and spills guaranteed. Races and competition dates vary, so check ahead for your nearest race day.