Summer Special 2009
When the weather's not so good...
Swindon Museum and
Art Gallery
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery are housed together in a building on Bath Road, Old Town.
Swindon's collection of 20th Century British art is considered one of the finest outside of London.
Swindon Museum has displays of local history, archaeology and geology. The museum displays tell the story of Swindon's Jurassic past, its connections with the Roman Empire.
Exhibitions Running Throughout Summer
Presentation of Self
Open until Saturday 9 January 2010
Portraits which conceal and reveal the nature of artists and their subjects. Featuring Gilbert and George Four Knights 1980, courtesy of Southampton City Art Gallery.
Admission free
Necessary Pots:
29 May 2009 - 30 January 2010
Studio Pottery in the South West Ceramics by artists with strong links with the West Country such as David Leach, Hans Coper and Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie.
If Shoes Could Speak
1 August - 26 September 2009
Shoes and their stories, old and new, from football boots to dancing pumps. In partnership with Blaylocks Shoe Shop.
Children's Summer Holiday Activities
Design your own T-shirt
Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 August
2.00pm-4.00pm
Paint a face, become a Pop Artist or make up your own abstract design. Three one-day workshops, with a different theme each day. For ages 5 -11. Tickets £7.50 per workshop (includes all materials). Booking advised.
Go Potty!
Until 29 August 2009
Drop in activity. Summer holiday trail for children. Try the fun holiday trail around the museum and art gallery. Cost: £1 per child (including small prize).
Heritage Open Day
Artist in Residence
Saturday 12 September, 10.00am-5.00pm
Meet archaeological illustrator Jennie Anderson (pictured, left) as she works in the museum interpreting ancient finds and sites.
Admission free.
For more information please see: Swindon Museum and Art Gallery Events.
Swindon Libraries
Quest Seekers
Swindon Libraries from 18 July to 5 September 2009
Be a Quest Seeker this summer on an exciting reading challenge.
Your adventure starts at your local library. Pick up your amazing ‘moving image’ membership card and fold-out adventure poster. Cadmus the gatekeeper challenges you to bring back a golden book. There are 3 stages to your quest: Firebird Rising, Mountain Mission and Dragon's Lair. Read six books, collect 6 stickers and be rewarded with a medal, certificate and fabulous dragon model.
For more information, see: Quest Seekers
STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway
The museum is housed in a beautifully restored Grade II railway building in the heart of the former Swindon railway works.
STEAM tells the remarkable story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on 'God's Wonderful Railway'.
Historic, fun and unforgettable!
Visit the STEAM website to find out more.
What's on at STEAM
Steam Events and Exhibitions
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September
The Swindon Railway Festival
Some of the UK’s biggest and best GWR and BR (W) model railway layouts, featuring Pete Waterman. Call 01793 466626 or visit www.swindon.gov.uk/steam for more details.
Make the most out of your local Leisure Centre...
The Oasis
The Oasis Leisure Centre offers a lagoon swimming pool, three giant water slides, an indoor open-topped water slide as well as hydro-slides, wave machine and water cannon, for under 8's there is also the pirate ship interactive play feature and elephant slide, all under the unique dome. There is also a gym, eight-court sports hall, indoor bowling green and two squash courts
See: Oasis Leisure Centre
The Link Centre
The Link Centre in West Swindon has an International sized ice rink, 25m swimming pool, climbing wall and well-equipped gym, as well as an eight-court sports hall, two squash courts, a health suite, three 3G outdoor football pitches and catering/bar provisions.
See: Link Centre
Delta Tennis Centre
The Delta Tennis Centre is a specialised facility for those that want to learn or play tennis. It has four indoor and three outdoor courts.
See: Delta Tennis Centre
Your local leisure centre:
School Holiday Camps and Courses
Sports Camps
Sports camps for children aged 8 to 13 years old are run at a number of Swindon’s recreation and leisure centres. These sessions range from 2 hours, up to 8 hours. They are not a childcare provision but do include a range of sporting activities to keep your child interested. Please note: Camps must be pre-booked.
For information see the Holiday Activities page.
Hi5 Holiday Camps
The Hi5 Holiday Camps offer parents fully trained childcare facilities for children aged from 4 (at school full time) to 12 years old, from Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). These camps are registered and inspected on a regular basis by Ofsted. Please note: Hi5 Holiday Camps must be pre-booked.
Please download the Hi5 Guidelines for details. Further information is available on the Holiday Activities page.
Holiday Sports Courses
Take advantage of the range of courses for children aged 3 to 15 years old. There’s a whole range of activities from which they can choose and we’re confident that there’ll be something to interest everyone. Download the Holiday Activities Guide for course and contact details. Please note: All courses must be pre-booked.
Smiley Cats Kidz Club
Run at the STEAM Museum in Kemble Drive, the Smiley Cats Kidz Club is for children aged from 5 to 11 years.
Kids will love to join the fun at Smiley Cats this summer where they will be busy creating aliens, robots, fairies, pirates and creatures from under the sea! These popular arts, crafts and games sessions take place every Wednesday and Thursday morning of the school summer holidays, from 29 July through to 27 August.
For further details please visit the Smiley Cats Kidz Club page.
Join in the fun!
Wednesday 5 August 11am - 3pm Buckhurst Field in Park North
Playday is a free event for the whole family including games, Arts and crafts, Face Painting and much more.See: www.playday.org.uk