Holy Rood Church, Swindon

Swindon ( (listen)) is a town in Wiltshire, England. At the 2021 Census the population of the town was 201,669, making it the largest settlement in the county. Located in South West England, Swindon lies between Bristol, 35 miles (56 kilometres) to its west, and Reading, equidistant to its east. Recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Suindune, it was a small market town until the mid-19th century, when it was selected as the principal site for the Great Western Railway's repair and maintenance works, leading to a marked increase in its population. The new town constructed for the railway workers produced pioneering amenities such as the UK's first lending library and a 'cradle-to-grave' healthcare centre that was later used as a blueprint for the NHS.After the Second World War, the town expanded dramatically again, as industry and people moved from London to designated New or Expanded Towns such as Swindon. One of the fastest growing towns in Europe during the second half of the 20th century, its economy diversified, attracting large international companies as the railway works declined and finally closed in the 1980s.Served by the M4 motorway and Great Western Main Line, today, Swindon has the head offices of organisations such as English Heritage, Intel, Nationwide, all of the National Research Councils, the National Trust, UK Space Agency, WHSmith, and Zurich Insurance Group. It also houses the Bodleian Library's Book Storage Facility, the Historic England Archive, and the Science Museum's National Collections.The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet and STEAM Railway Museum are both housed in the renovated former railway works, with the currently closed Oasis Leisure Centre (claimed by some to be the inspiration for the name of the Manchester band), and infamous Magic Roundabout also notable points of interest. The Cotswolds lie just to the town's north and the North Wessex Downs to its south. Avebury, the largest megalithic stone circle in the world, is also nearby. The town has one professional football team, Swindon Town F.C., who play in League Two at the 15,000-seat County Ground in the town centre. Other teams in the town include the Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey side and five-time British speedway champions the Swindon Robins.

Swindon Town Hall is a former municipal building in Swindon, England which was built in to be a centrepiece of New Swindon. It is currently used by Swindon Dance, a National Dance Agency. It is a Grade II listed building.

Queens Park is a public park in the centre of the town of Swindon, England, east of the Regent Circus area. It is about 12 acres (49,000 m2) in size, with a lake of around 2 acres (8,100 m2), and contains a diverse range of ornamental trees and shrubs. The park has a Garden of Remembrance, officially opened by Princess Elizabeth on 15 November 1950, which commemorates those who died in World War II. Queens Park is a suitable place for running and other recreational activities.

South Swindon is a constituency in the Borough of Swindon, Wiltshire, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Sir Robert Buckland, a Conservative, who previously served as Justice Secretary and Welsh Secretary.

BBC Radio Wiltshire is the BBC's local radio station serving the English county of Wiltshire. It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios at Prospect Place in Swindon. According to RAJAR, the station had a weekly audience of 64,000 and a 1.5% share as of December 2022.

Swindon Law Courts, also known as Swindon Combined Court Centre, is a Crown Court venue which deals with criminal cases, as well as a County Court venue, which deals with civil cases, in Islington Street, Swindon, England.

The Museum of Computing in Swindon, England is dedicated to preserving and displaying examples of early computers. It was the first United Kingdom museum exclusively dedicated to the history of computing and opened in February 2003.

The Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, opened in 1971. It is managed on behalf of Swindon Borough Council by Wyvern Theatre Ltd, a subsidiary of HQ Theatres Ltd. The auditorium has 635 seats, all designed to be within 70 feet from the stage.

Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is a mothballed museum in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, which is currently closed while a new venue is sought.

Apsley House is a 19th-century house in Swindon, England, standing on the north side of Bath Road in what is now known as the Old Town.It was built c.1830–1840 and faced in ashlar Bath stone. The house has two storeys at the front and three at the rear; a modernist extension was added to the right in the late 20th century. The house was for a long time the home and business headquarters of the Toomer family, who ran a local coke and coal business. From 1930 until 2021 it housed the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery but the museum vacated the building and the house was put on sale when its owners, Swindon Borough Council, decided it was no longer suitable and required major repairs.Apsley House was designated as Grade II listed in 1951.

Christ Church is a grade II* listed church in Cricklade Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It was built in 1851 to a design by George Gilbert Scott. The church is one of two major buildings in Old Town, the other being the old town hall, only a few minutes walk away. Christ church is also a part of a parish, the other church to this parish is St Mary's, a small church near Commonweal School. The interior of the building was remodeled in 2017 to provide better access, a gas heating system and LED lighting. The nave pews were retained and secured with an innovative fixing system allowing them to be removed on occasion to provide more space for large events. The church grounds also house a modern Community Centre which hosts a wide variety of events and activities.

Swindon Arts Centre is a 212-seat entertainment venue located in the Old Town area of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It opened in 1956. The Swindon Arts Centre is situated at the heart of Swindon's Old Town on Devizes Road. The venue hosts a varied programme of entertainment all year round made up of both professional and amateur productions.