A car is essential for heading out into the nearby Cotswolds region, one of the most beautiful areas of the UK and also one of the most quintessentially English. The market town of Cirencester, which sits on the eastern reaches of the Cotswolds, is a 30-minute drive from Swindon. Stratford-upon-Avon, roughly the furthest part of the Cotswolds from Swindon, is only 90 minutes away by road, which demonstrates just how easily accessible the Cotswolds are from Swindon. It's definitely worth the journey - the honey-coloured cottages and friendly country pubs are famed, as are the charming villages and towns of Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway and Chipping Camden. You can also visit the national arboretum at Westonbirt, or explore English history at attractions such as Sudeley Castle.
To the west, you can drive to Bristol in around 45 minutes, where outdoor art, cool bars and museums entice visitors. In less than an hour from Swindon you could also be exploring the gorgeous Georgian architecture of Bath - a small city of wondrous beauty and home to the famed Roman baths. Go on, take a dip while you're there.
To the north east of Swindon is the stunning university city of Oxford, while slightly to the north west you'll find Gloucester and Cheltenham. The latter is famed as a regency spa town and home of one of the horse racing world's most eagerly-anticipated events - the Cheltenham Festival.
Swindon sits on the upper border of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so you don't have to go far to see England's splendour sprawling away in front of your eyes.
Wiltshire is a large county and you'll need to drive for an hour from Swindon to reach the county's most famous attraction - Stonehenge. The mysterious prehistoric ring of standing stones is a big draw for many overseas visitors and just one of the many reasons that car hire in Swindon is a great idea.
