I’m horrified to see, via our own Newsblog, that Swindon has been included in the new Idler book of crap holidays. What could be a better place to spend a weekend than this fine railway town? The author simply lacked the imagination to deal with this town of contrasts.
Arrive Saturday AM, and go shopping in the outlet village, where designer labels go cheap, and which remains one of the few retail environments that doesn’t send me into a deep, irretrievable bad mood. It’s Europe’s largest covered retail outlet village, you know, and railway buffs will love the Great Western museum next door.
Afternoon arrives and the mighty Swindon Town FC beckons, when they’re at home – and the County Ground really is the home of football (we’re about to sign someone called Ricky Shakes, you know). A few hours later, hoarse but happy, get changed and head out to the homely, but excellent, Waterfall Chinese Restaurant (still haven’t found anywhere as good in London). Wrap the day up with a taste of the excellent Arkell’s 3B, or the Summer Ale, at the GW Hotel just down the road (say hello to Keith, the landlord, from me).
Then, in the morning, head up to the Cotsworld Water Park, or over to the Old Bell in Malmesbury for a fantastic Sunday lunch (great suet puddings, btw).
Whaddya mean that doesn’t sound good? 
I agree! Quite miss the joys of a visit to Swindon now you’ve been seduced by the bright lights …..
Did you forget the irony tags?
The outlet village? Cough, sputter…
Swindon Town FC? Erm, yes. Time that they go bust.
You omitted the Magic Roundabout though. Hours of fun driving round and round and round and round…
(Yes, I live in Swindon. For now.)
The Gluepot!
As an occasional (partly willing) visitor to the County Ground with the missus, one of my conditions is that we visit the Gluepot before and after the match.
Mind you, with the price of South Stand tickets nowadays, I usually just stick with the fine pints of Hopback and let her endure… er, enjoy the football
Good grief – I had no idea so many Swindonians read the site (OK – well, two) – we’ll have to have some kind of Arkell’s fuelled meetup at the start of the new football season
A shame Lincoln didn’t make it up a flight, Adrian – I’d much prefer that as a trip away than Southend.
It’s weird… since the other half and I first met (1990), Lincoln and Swindon have never played each other. What’s particularly odd is that they’ve both spent plenty of that time a division apart, but have never converged at the right time. Ah well, it’s good for domestic harmony, I guess…