Swindon: Area, History and Background
Riding are well acquainted with the United Kingdom, its cities and towns.
Below is some historic, cultural and background information about the area of Swindon in the United Kingdom.
- Swindon is a large town and unitary borough authority in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in south west England.
- It is midway between Bristol, 40 miles (64 km) west, and Reading, 40 miles (64 km) east.
- London is 81 miles (130 km) east.
- Its railway station is on the line from London, Paddington to Bristol.
- Swindon,s Borough Council, is a unitary authority independent of Wiltshire Council since 1997.
- It was named an Expanded Town under the Town Development Act 1952 and this led to a major increase in its population.
- Swindon was a small market town, mainly for barter trade, until roughly 1848.
- It is represented in the national parliament by two MPs.
- Swindon is notable for its roundabouts and there is a calendar featuring a different roundabout each month.
- The best-known is the 'Magic Roundabout'.
- Swindon was chosen to be the host of Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2009.
- The event was held in Lydiard Park over the weekend of 9 and 10 May 2009.
- It also has two web forum communities producing New Media for the inhabitants of the Borough.
- Swindon's is the UK's largest centre of population without its own university.