10 fun things to do in and around Swindon - rain or shine

2 No list of visitor attractions ideal for a rainy day – or any day, for that matter – would be complete without Steam. The museum of the Great Western Railway, whose website is www.steam-museum.org.uk, is full of fascinating exhibits. The most spectacular are some of the most famous locomotives built during the period which put Swindon on the world map. Visitors can walk around the magnificent machines, and in some cases stroll beneath them and sample the view from the cab. There is an ongoing programme of special events and exhibitions.

3 Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is perhaps best known as home to the town’s magnificent collection of 20th century art, which is generally reckoned to be the finest outside London. The collection is so extensive that it has to be displayed in an ongoing cycle of instalments planned by the expert curators. The building at the junction of Bath Road and Victoria Road also houses a fascinating collection of objects which trace the history of the Swindon area from pre-Roman times to the modern era. Details of opening times can be found at swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk

4 Tenpin Swindon at Shaw Ridge - www.tenpin.co.uk/our-locations/swindon - caters to a British enthusiasm for this most American of sports which dates back to around the 1950s. Easy to learn but challenging to become an expert at, it is popular among many Swindon families. Tenpin Swindon has plenty of lanes and a variety of special deals allowing concessions and unlimited bowling. Children’s and family parties can be arranged.

5 If the outdoor world offers nothing more attractive for now than chilly rain, why not opt for a more attractive summer experience involving water? The Oasis Leisure Centre - www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/swindon/oasis-leisure-centre-swindon - has been a popular draw for families since it opened many years ago, and the recent extensive revamp has made it more attractive than ever.

6 Boscombe Down Aviation Collection - boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk - at Old Sarum Airfield near Salisbury has exhibits covering much of the history of powered human flight, and is often described as a hidden gem among Britain’s aircraft museums. Extra family appeal is added by the fact that many of the machines in display have open cockpits which visitors are welcome to sit in.

7 Crofton Beam Engines near Marlborough - www.croftonbeamengines.org - offers visitors the chance to see the hugely powerful steam mechanisms without which the Industrial Revolution would never have happened.

8 The Fox Talbot Museum - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock-abbey-fox-talbot-museum-and-village - chronicles and celebrates the life and work of the inventor generally regarded as the creator of the earliest reliable form of photography. Exhibits include relics of the pioneering experiments which revolutionised the way in which people saw and recoreded the world. Visitors can even gaze from some of the vantage points the inventor used when composing his images.

9 The Link Centre - www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/swindon/the-link-centre - is best known for its competition -class ice rink, but has many other facilities including a gym, a swimming pool, a static cycle studio, an ongoing series of fitness classes. A particular favourite among people of all ages is its trampoline park, where the choice of trampolines ranges from beginner friendly to expert.

10 ATB Shop Skate Warehouse and Skatepark - www.atbshop.co.uk - is Swindon’s only indoor skatepark, and caters for skaters and scooter users. There are safe instruction sessions for newcomers and advice on purchasing suitable equipment.