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Search for the best car hire deals in Swindon
This Wiltshire town comes with good shopping, plenty of history – particularly in rail and engineering – and two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the doorstep. Whether you're here on leisure or business, book a rental car in Swindon to see the best of the town, the Cotswolds and beyond.
Hiring a car in Swindon town centre
There are several car hire options in Swindon, including major international brands such as Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt. These are mostly found just north of the town centre in the retail parks and trading estates, and also in the Cheney Manor area.
Driving in Swindon town centre
Getting around Swindon in your hire car won’t be too much of a hassle. Sandwiched between the M4 to the south and the A419 to the north, it's easy to drive off towards the Cotswolds and the West Midlands.
Once a small market town, the original Swindon is called Old Town, while New Town is the pedestrianised shopping area. Outside of the old centre, main roads are wide and well signposted.
Swindon is known for its roundabouts, including the famous Magic Roundabout. This complex system is made up of five small roundabouts set around a larger one, which runs anticlockwise. It's worth bringing your satnav to simplify this rather complex traffic system… or avoid it altogether.
Parking is plentiful in Swindon. In New Town, it's largely limited to multi-storey and short-stay car parks. There are also acres of free parking at Swindon Designer Outlet if you're shopping there. As a popular commuter town, Swindon railway station offers plenty of pay-and-display parking.
If you're coming in from the M4 to the south of Swindon, it might be worth using the Park and Ride system at Wroughton. Parking is free with users only paying for the bus ride into the town centre.
Recommended day trips from Swindon
Bath
Driving time: One hour 15 minutes
Famous for its hot springs, Roman baths and glorious Georgian architecture, Bath is one of the UK's premier tourist destinations. See the sweeping Georgian townhouses in Royal Crescent, visit the ancient Roman Baths or mug up on your classic literature at the Jane Austen Centre. Don't forget to pick up a traditional Bath Bun from Sally Lunn's, Bath's oldest house and bakery.
The Cotswolds
Driving time: One hour
A big draw to hiring a car in Swindon is its close proximity to the beautiful Cotswolds. From Swindon, drive north towards Cirencester and visit market towns such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Tetbury, where nearby Highgrove House is the residence of Prince Charles. Stop for a cream tea in quaint villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water and Broadway, and don’t miss a peek at Broadway Tower, the castle-like folly once home to the father of the Arts and Crafts Movement, designer and poet William Morris.
STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway
Driving time: 10 minutes
Although a must-see for Britain's many railway enthusiasts, the STEAM museum is a cracking day out for all the family. Set in a Grade II-listed former railway works, it tells the story of the men and women who built the great railway. See famous locomotives – including Queen Victoria's Royal Saloon – drive a train simulator or work the signals in a genuine GWR signal box.