Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire
David Wilmot
Volunteering and Community Services Officer
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Sharon Kirwan
Community Engagement and Training Officer
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Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire
Bath, Swindon, and Wiltshire form a fascinating triangle in the West Country, packing everything from ancient megaliths and royal escapes to revolutionary railway history and famous movie sets into a remarkably small area. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Bath (Somerset)
- Spas & Heritage: Bath is the only city in the UK designated in its entirety as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It famously houses the UK's only natural hot springs, with nearly 1.2 million litres of heated water pouring into the Roman Baths every single day. [2, 4, 5, 6]
- Pop Culture: It hosted the very first UK farmers' market back in 1997. It is also famously the home of beloved author Jane Austen, whose Regency stomping grounds still attract period-costumed fans today. [7, 8]
Swindon (Wiltshire)
- The Magic Roundabout: Swindon's road network features the famous, utterly bewildering "Magic Roundabout"—a system of five mini-roundabouts arranged in a circle that has frequently been voted one of the scariest junctions in Britain. [9, 10]
- James Bond Connection: The town's futuristic, yellow-framed Spectrum Building served as the villain Max Zorin’s secret warehouse in the 1985 007 film A View to a Kill. [1, 9]
- Music & Literature: The rock band Oasis reportedly named themselves after the local Oasis Leisure Centre in Liam Gallagher’s hometown days. Additionally, Dr. Who and singer Billie Piper hails from the town. [1, 11]
Wiltshire
- Ancient Hub: Wiltshire contains more prehistoric monuments than any other county in England. Aside from the world-famous Stonehenge, it also encompasses the Avebury Stone Circle—the largest stone circle in Europe. [6, 12, 13]
- The "Moonrakers" Legend: Local folklore tells of Wiltshire smugglers caught hiding barrels of illicit brandy in a village pond by the excise men. When questioned, they played dumb and pointed to the reflection of the moon, claiming they were trying to rake up a "wheel of cheese". [14, 15]
- Hollywood Backdrops: The picturesque, land-locked village of Corsham became the setting for the BBC's hit show Poldark, doubling for the Cornish town of Truro. [16]