Swindon is a proper pub town, with two very different heartlands: the historic Railway Village around Emlyn Square, and the independent circuit up the hill in Old Town. Here are some of the town's most characterful, long-established pubs. (All the pubs below hold a 5-star food hygiene rating at the time of writing — always check current opening hours before setting out.)
The Glue Pot, Railway Village
Tucked into the Grade II listed GWR Railway Village at Emlyn Square, The Glue Pot is a piece of Swindon history in its own right — a small, traditional real-ale pub at the heart of Brunel's model village, a short walk from STEAM and the Designer Outlet.
The Beehive, Old Town
Up on Prospect Hill in Old Town, The Beehive is a long-loved, characterful pub with a reputation among real-ale drinkers. It's the kind of unpretentious local that regulars are fiercely fond of.
Hop Kettle Tap & Brew, Devizes Road
Devizes Road is Old Town's pub street, and the Hop Kettle Tap & Brew is its craft-beer anchor — the tap outlet of the local Hop Kettle brewery, serving a rotating range in a relaxed micropub setting.
The Goddard Arms, Old Town High Street
The Goddard Arms is a historic former coaching inn on the Old Town High Street, now a pub and hotel — a grand old building with plenty of character and rooms if you're staying over.
The Savoy, Regent Street
Down in the town centre, The Savoy is worth a mention for the building alone: a large Wetherspoon pub housed in a former cinema on Regent Street, known for its big range of real ales at keen prices.
Make an evening of it
Because Old Town's pubs are clustered along Devizes Road, Victoria Road, and Wood Street, they make an easy walking circuit — pair a couple of pubs with dinner at one of the district's independent restaurants for a classic Swindon night out.