The walk starts from Queen's Park Cafe, but may also be started (or ended) at the Central Library (way point 4 on the map) where there are bus stops for many Swindon Destinations.
[1] Start from the Cafe (seasonal) and toilets in Queens Park which are adjacent to the York Road entrance of the park. With the park entrance behind you, head into the park and after 10 meters take the footpath to the right which leads down a slight slope to a lake on your left (see photo 1). (Caution - the lake is unfenced and although not deep at the edge, the bottom is very uneven). Continue along this path with the lake on your left going up a short incline to the park entrance in front of you.
[2] Exiting the park turn immediately right and follow the road to the junction with Groundwell Road. Turn left and cross over to the Church side of the road and cross Groundwell Road at the pedestrian crossing. After crossing Groundwell Road turn left and continue up a slight incline until reaching another pedestrian crossing.
[3] Cross the road and continue straight ahead passing a number of food outlets on your right to the next crossing point.
[4] On reaching the pedestrian crossing cross to the island and then cross again towards the new Central Library. Keeping the library on your left continue until you reach the main entrance. At this point you will see a pedestrianised road leading (slightly down hill) towards the Cenotaph and the main shopping area [see Photo 2].
(A) Adjacent to the new Central Library is the old Town Hall of New Swindon, which is now the home of "Swindon Dance" studios.
Continue down the full length of this street passing The Savoy (Wetherspoons on your right), HMV (on the right) and Marks & Spencer (on the left) until you reach the water feature in the centre of the cross streets.
[5] At the water feature continue straight ahead until you reach the Wilkinson store on your left.
[6] At the Wilkinson store turn left and passing the modern "Sir Daniel" public house on your right, you will reach Holbrook Way.
[7] Holbrook Way is the major through road that joins from the right. Turn right following the edge of the "Sir Daniel" and in less than 10 metres, cross this road at the pedestrian crossing. Having crossed the road proceed ahead keeping Faringdon Road on your left, whilst on your right you will notice some well maintained cottages of stone [see photo 3].
(B) These cottages bult in the 1840s are part of the Railway Village that was created by the engineer I.K.Brunel, to house his workers that were employed at the Great Western Railway Works.
Continue ahead until you reach the "Platform" a building which now houses facilities for the youth of Swindon.
(C) This grand looking building was originally built as a hostel for railway workers. Subsequently it became a Methodist Chapel and then the GWR Museum before that moved to larger premises in the old railway works adjacent to what is now the Outlet Village. For more information and histories of the Railway Village and its buildings visit www.swindonweb.com and look at the History of Swindon section.
[8] Turn right at the corner of the "Platform" building and continue along Emlyn Square until you reach the Glue Pot Inn. Crossing at the pedestrian crossing you will notice a road to your front - Exeter Street. Walk down the full length of Exeter Street (see Photo 4) until you come to an entrance to a park.
(D) GWR New Swindon Park or known locally as Faringdon Road Park.
At the park entrance turn left into Church Place and continue to Park House, a large three story building on your left. In front of you is Faringdon Road - turn right to the pedestrian crossing.
[9] Cross over Faringdon Road turn right and very shortly turn left into Maxwell Street. Continue to the end of Maxwell Street and crossing the road enter a path to your front. To the right you will see a childrens play area and an open area to your front.
[10] Having walked along the side of the house on your left and its garden fence you will see some steps at the top of which is a wide tarmac footpath. Turn left and follow the footpath with the grassed area on your right and the ends of the gardens on your left. (To avoid the steps turn right and follow the path past the play area to the ramp before the bridge. Turn left up the ramp and then turn left again at the top to rejoin the route).
(E) The grassed area is the original line of the Berks & Wilts Canal and you will pass under one of the old canal bridges.
[11] On reaching the bridge pass under [see photo 5] and continue to the road which you will find crosses your path. Cross this road. (Caution - this is a busy three-lane road. Traffic flows in one direction - from the left).
[12] In front of you is a tunnel through the Brunel Car Park - proceed through the tunnel and continue directly ahead, passing The House of Fraser on your left and McDonalds on your right, until you reach the bridge and entrances to the Brunel Shopping Centre.
(F) The large open area after the Car Park tunnel is Wharf Green and the pedestrianised road in front is Canal Walk - so called because the Berks & Wilts Canal use to run through this area and continue through the centre of Swindon. Behind you on the side of the multi-story car park is a large TV screen, which is used for news and special events.
[13] Under the bridge you will see the entrances (left and right) to the Brunel Shopping Centre. Take the entrance on your right and walk right through the ground floor of the shopping area and leave by the exit in front of you. A statute of I. K. Brunel is immediately in front of you [see Photo 6].
[14] Walk diagonally right across this small square and enter Havelock Street. Proceed to the end of this street.
[15] At the end of Havelock Street turn left into Commercial Road and follow this road until you reach the pedestrian crossing by the Central Library. Cross the road to the island.
The Central Library also houses the Tourist Information Office and has a cafe on the ground floor. (There are also toilets on the ground floor). If you wish you may terminate your walk at this point, as near the Library there are bus stops which service a large number of Swindon destinations.
[16] From the island take the crossing in front of you towards the car park and having crossed turn left. Follow the pavement until you reach the "The Giant Party Shop" on the corner.
[17] At the Party Shop use the crossing to cross over Victoria Road and turn right. (Use extreme caution when crossing here, as traffic from the left and right is almost constant). Pass "The Jewel in the Crown" and continue a short distance until you reach "Machine Mart". At this point cross the road and enter Durham Street with Machine Mart on your right. Continue along this road until the road turns sharply left at which point you will see the entrance to Queens Park. In Queens Park follow the path in front of you, which bears to the left and then passes the lake on your right. Continue along this path back to the cafe. This is the end point.