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With Callum back for Reading Week, we took advantage and spent a day with Janine and the boys. We decided to head to Swindon and do the Park, Centre & Heritage Treasure Trail. Janine and I thought we may be pushing our luck as the trail centred on the Swindon Designer Outlet (shopping!).
I’d been to the retail outlet about 10 years ago … and about 10 years before that previously. Being honest, then the outlets featuring in the shopping centre were no more than glorified jumble sales … even having that “charity shop smell”. No longer. The place was transformed. Each was similar to a high street shop but stock was old season. Nothing crammed on rails, but neatly displayed. No bun fights trying to snaffle that bargain ahead of the person stood next to you.
In the Castore store, Callum bought a Lando Norris shirt, a bag of odd-shapes chocolate from Cadbury’s and something for Callum’s stocking in the Haribo shop! Am confident Jon wouldn’t mind the odd visit here … may be next season once the Newcastle kit appears discounted in the Adidas shop!
Swindon became synonymous with the Railway Industry and GWR established their engine sheds, repair works and manufacturing sites within the town and this resulted in the town expanding rapidly. Housing sprung up to house the thousands of workers.
The first clues were dotted around the shopping centre – elements of the town’s heritage were incorporated into the outlet and these were the bits we needed to find. We then headed outside and wandered around the old Railway centre of Swindon. Much was on display and the museum looked quite interesting and something to interest Jon.
The trail took us back into the shopping centre for the last few clues. Time for lunch in the food court before wandering around the shops the boys wanted to go to. All the main sports shops had outlets here.
Great to catch up and am sure we’ll be back to shop and explore further.
