Car hire Swindon

Exploring Swindon by hire car is a great way to get around and see all the best bits of the town. It’s well sign-posted and simple to navigate, making it prime for exploring by car.

There are a few things to be aware of when driving in Swindon, however. These include the bus lane regulations which are only open to drivers outside of their operation times. In some areas, this could be 24 hours a day, so be alert and check the details to avoid any fines.  

Swindon is also where you’ll find the notorious ‘magic roundabout’. This junction is next to Swindon Town Football Club and marks the intersection of the B4289, A4312, A4289, Fleming Way and Shrivenham Road together. This unusual junction is a combination of seven roundabouts - with mini roundabouts circling the central roundabout - and can be daunting on approach.  But, once you get over the novelty, the clear signs and markings make it simpler than it may seem at first.

Parking in Swindon is plentiful with many of the most central car parks operated by the council. Bath Road car park and Bristol Street car park are both central with charges ranging from around £1 per hour to around £8 per hour for 24 hours.

When you hire a car from Swindon you can use it to travel beyond the town to the historic city of Bath, which is only an hour’s drive away. Head west along the M4 through the southern edge of the Cotswolds until junction 18 and then take the A46 into the city. Immerse yourself in the Roman heritage in the famous baths and explore the city’s famous cobbled streets. 

In the opposite direction from Bath, heading east along the A420 from Swindon, is Oxford. Less than an hour away, you can enjoy this world-famous and quaint university city, known as the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ due to its beautiful buildings.

Rich in culture and industrial heritage, Swindon is not often thought of for its natural surroundings. But, there’s plenty of nature to explore with garden parks and the North Wessex Downs south-east of the town centre. Here are some of the highlights:

Explore the outdoors

Get a breath of fresh air on your travels and enjoy the multitude of charming parks dotted around the area. With 260 acres of sprawling parkland, Lydiard Park is the most notable of all. The historic estate features a regal stately home filled with art that’s just waiting to be explored.

If you fancy sitting down for a picnic with the little ones, Coate Water Country Park is a great option. It’s situated about three miles southeast from the centre of Swindon via the M4, to reach the park exit at junction 15. Take time away from the bustling streets to enjoy strolling through the large nature reserve. You can also play a round of golf, fish in the lakes and spot birds among the wild from the designated twitcher huts.

The sprawling North Wessex Downs is less than a 15-minute drive from the town centre and is perfect for a family day out. Within the 2750 acre park are the picturesque bluebell woods and the eye-catching chalk streams in the Letcombe Valley. The iconic Bronze Age, White Horse carved into the landscape on White Horse Hill is not to be missed. 

Enjoy arts and culture

Opened by the Queen and Prince Phillip in 1971, the prestigious Wyvern Theatre is worth a visit, if only for its exceptional programme of shows. Comedy, theatre, music and dance performances regularly grace the stage here.

If you visit this town in spring you can enjoy the Swindon Fringe Festival which showcases the best of comedy, theatre and literature. It’s best to plan ahead for all performances at the Wyvern Theatre to avoid disappointment.

With your evenings mapped out, spend the day perusing the designer labels at the popular Swindon Designer Outlet. With more than 100 well-known brands, from Calvin Klein, Fossil and Guess to Jaeger, Ralph Lauren and Kurt Geiger - there are plenty of bargains to be had. For even greater shopping, the famous Bicester Village designer shopping outlet is just 1hour and 30 minutes’ drive away, where plenty of goodies await.

Discover Swindon’s rail history

One of Swindon's most famous attractions is the STEAM Museum. Located opposite the Swindon Designer Outlet. The museum showcases the history of the Great Western Railway. From its humble beginnings to the ingenious engineering talent of famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, learn about how this pioneer propelled the industry ahead of its time.

Enjoy the interactive museum where you can see more than 400,000 artefacts, including rolling stock carriages, fine art and oil lanterns on display. Marvel over the real steam locomotives on the 19th-century style platform. The museum is located in a grade II building on the old Swindon Railway Works that first opened in 1843.

 If Swindon is your next destination to visit, a hire car from Hertz will help you see all the sights and navigate around this town with ease.