Car Hire Swindon

Swindon’s location – as well as its good road links – makes driving here a real pleasure. The town doesn’t suffer much from congestion, while the motorway and A-roads that serve Swindon mean you have easy access to the surrounding areas.

The main motorway here is the M4, which brushes the southern edge of the city. Take it west for a short drive to Bristol and the coast. Alternatively, head east to pass through the North Wessex Downs, stopping off at Reading on your way into the bustling capital, London.

Meanwhile, the A419 runs along the eastern side of town, taking you north to Cirencester, the gateway to the Cotswolds. The university city of Oxford is around a 50-kilometre drive heading north-east along the A420.

Driving rules in England will be similar to those at home. You’ll be driving on the left and overtaking on the right. It’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving and the use of seatbelts is compulsory.

All distances and speed limits are shown in miles and miles per hour. The speed limit in built-up areas is usually 30mph (48km/h), although this may drop to 20mph close to schools and in some residential areas.

While driving in Swindon is straightforward, some of the older town streets are narrow, and the heart of the town, where the shopping area is located, is pedestrianised. There’s plenty of parking nearby, with major car parks at Villett Street, Brunel West, Spring Gardens and various other points dotted across the centre.

There is limited free on-street parking in the centre of town, however, with many areas reserved for residents only.

Wiltshire is a wonderful county, with plenty of the green and pleasant land of English lore. Swindon sits at its heart, a place that grew from a small market town (one mentioned in the Domesday Book) to a thriving business centre.

There’s no shortage of things to see and do, while some of the country’s finest nature reserves are right on its doorstep.

The Steam Age

While Swindon may have deep historical roots, it only became a significant town in terms of size and stature after the Great Western Railway was built in the 1830s and 1840s.

The area became the home of steam-train manufacturing, and you can explore this fascinating story at the STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway in the town centre.

This former railway building was open until 1986, but its early story intertwines with that of the legendary mechanical engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. This place isn’t just for steam train enthusiasts – although the vintage locomotives are beautifully preserved and presented – but for anyone with an appreciation for modern history.

For something more contemporary, travel to the computer age at Swindon’s Museum of Computing. This treasure trove of vintage computers – most still in working condition – is the perfect way to show today’s tech-savvy children just what it was like to play on a ZX Spectrum.

An echo of Venice

Swindon might seem an unlikely place to chance upon a fine example of Palladian architecture – named for the 16^th century Venetian architect Palladio – but Lydiard House is one of the area’s finest visitor attractions

Many come for the beauty that surrounds it, a 260-acre estate including a walled garden with succulent fruit trees, woodlands and a lake. Stunning all year round, it really comes to life in summer, when live music and theatre performances are held in the grounds, and film screenings are hosted under the canopy of stars.

The house itself is Grade I-listed, with an architectural style from the 17^th to mid-18^th centuries. It opens to the public during summer, when you can admire the fine stuccowork, painted wall panels and marble fireplaces.

Strike out from Swindon

Take the A4361 and A360 south and you’re just over an hour from the enigmatic Stonehenge. These prehistoric stones are fierce protectors of their own secrets but are a place of pilgrimage for many.

Oxford, to the north-east, is more than just a seat of learning, although many of its finest buildings are part of the university. Follow in the footsteps of royalty, prime ministers and famous authors as you visit the Bodleian Library with its ancient manuscripts or wander the Ashmolean Museum for Renaissance art and Anglo-Saxon jewellery.

Take the road north for the gorgeous Cotswolds, studded with picture-postcard villages and breathtaking views. The old Roman town of Cirencester is your perfect starting point, although it’s the fine Victoria-era buildings that strike you when you arrive.

Whether you’re visiting Swindon for business or for pleasure, ensure you make the most of your trip with car hire from Hertz.