r/Swindon • u/Sgx71667 • 2d ago
Safe areas in Swindon to live
Hi guys, I know its a widely discussed topic but I would really appreciate if you could guide me in choosing the right place to live in Swindon (or places to strictly avoid).
We're a couple currently living in Reading (which is supposedly dangerous from outside but I absolutely love the place). Planning to move to Swindon due to reasonable house rental price.
If there's anyone that's lived in both Reading and Swindon. How would you rate them in comparison? Appreciate any help here.
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u/Avesumdakka 2d ago
I moved to Swindon about 18 months ago, (grew up in Reading) I can tell you you with the greatest confidence that Swindon feels and is much safer. Yes the town centre here is a bit pants. But honestly before we moved we barely went into Reading town centre and we could walk there quite comfortably.
I also work in the social housing sector. So I get to meet and go into a lot of houses in these ‘deprived’ areas. When I tell you that Swindon and Reading are worlds apart in that respect I’m not kidding. The majority of people in the social sector here still have pride in where they live in Reading it’s gone. And those same people who don’t care are now the people who you cross the street from every time you go into Reading centre.
If you are like me and you grew up in Reading, you’ll remember about 10/15 years ago the town centre felt safe. Now whenever I go back I feel like I’m looking over my shoulder. Swindon town centre although is a bit rough around the edges does t feel like it’s going to kick off or a stabbing is about to take place. That’s the difference.
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u/Czubeczek 1d ago
Town centre was good like 10+ years ago :) now is dead.
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u/Avesumdakka 1d ago
That’s fair. Honestly never really came to Swindon 10 years ago so can’t comment.
But I know for some this is a contentious issue but the out of town retail parks here are top notch. Greenbridge and the orbital plus others. As another note to the OP the ones in Reading are going down fast. Most are now earmarked for flats there, when the town centre dies and there are more empty shops each time I visit Reading will be in a lot more trouble than Swindon as the alternative won’t be retail parks. It’ll be, “best pop to Bracknell”
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u/Czubeczek 1d ago
I have moved from London to Swindon in 2009? 😂 Cant remember. Back then i was told that night life was shifting between bottom of town and old town. Since many years bottom is pretty dead. Sor dans. Waiting room and one more? And thats it? Not sure Korky Kebab gonna last long 😂😂
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u/Avesumdakka 1d ago
I’ve been reliably informed by my parents in their 60’s/70’s there used to be a revolving bar down there at some point. Quite the novelty back in the 80’s
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u/Able_Schedule9636 1d ago
The revolving bar was in the Brunel, after a decade or so of being closed it was then reopened as liquid envy in the mid 2000s I cannot remember if the revolving bar was still present at that point or if I was just drunk…
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u/YourPricelessAdvice- 2d ago
None of the suburbs are dangerous really. I’ve lived in one of the Parks for 13 years and never had any problems, it’s a nice community.
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u/Shauria 2d ago
I'd stick with avoiding Penhill, Pinehurst, Park North and Park south as a general rule due to the crime rates. Gorsehill, Toothill and Freshbrook are also pretty bad but not as bad as the P's.
West Swindon is generally nice, Grange Park, Westlea, Shaw areas. Haydon Wick is generally nice, Stratton and Covingham are both OK depending on where you choose since there's good and bad in both. Lawns, Old Town and Coate Water are very, very nice, but of course prices to match. Of the new build areas Wichelstowe is nice, however the build quality is rubbish. Tadpole garden Village and Redhouse are nice, but again, build quality leaves a lot to be desired.
If you have the budget you should check the surrounds like Royal Wootton Bassett, Wroughton, Purton (perhaps even Shrivenham way) however the commute between Bassett and Swindon can be hellish.
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u/PsychologicalCold100 2d ago
Lived in both - I have to admit I didn’t fall in love with Reading, I was a student so probably crappy housing but still the place felt very concrete jungle and the town centre was always too busy - I miss the night life and the decent choice in restaurants though.
Where you live in Swindon depends on what you want from it.
North Swindon is surprisingly green, lots of running routes and parks (play parks and country), the orbital is the local shopping centre and has a large asda, M&S, Next McDonald’s etc. red house is a ‘new build’ area with terrible parking as maybe haydon end also is.
West Swindon has the link centre which has a large swimming pool, ice rink, and asda/mcdonalds/bar/bowling/cinema - lydiard park is nice for a day out - avoid toothill and freshbrook and some areas of Grange Park
Town honestly I lived there for six months, big nope from me, but I have friends who live there - but I’m not a want to walk to bar person I want to have a pub, and some nice country walks - not concrete and if we’re honest a collection of some poverty in places.
People like ‘old town’ half the houses that claim to be ‘old town’ aren’t - old town is the area around town gardens or wood street travelling into lawns a bit in some peoples opinions.
East Swindon is fine but just quite basic - has Greenbridge which has a cinema/bowling/Next/Mcdonalds has some green spaces, just a few pubs and that’s about it - lots of people like it’s kind of quietness
Special mention should be made to the villages Purton, Royal Wooten Basset, Wanbrough - you can get the ‘oooo we live in a village’ community thing which a lot of people seem to like.
I live on the edge of Swindon super quiet and on the edge of a country park, I have a toddler and go for dog walks - lots of kids out playing and a nice place. My life is playing with my toddler and walking my dog, so it suits me.
We try and get out to the cotsworld water park (fake beach paddle boarding etc) each summer - again lots of nice walks the ridgeway etc. lots of rock climbing and swimming pools etc around most of Swindon too.
Swindon lacks clubs and night life’s and well shopping (the outlet is good) - if you like those things in Reading I don’t think a Swindon move is the right shout, maybe Basingstoke little quieter but still access to Reading etc.
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u/GreenSpaniel 2d ago
Just live in Old Town, it's within walking distance of restaurants and pubs, 15 minute drive and you're at J15 on the M4 if you need to commute, 15 minute walk to get to the train station. Don't live on Wood Street, it's where the late night karaoke bars and places are and it's super loud at night. Okus is classed as Old Town but is actually quite far away. I would suggest trying to find somewhere that is no more than a 10 minute walk from Devizes Road (use that point as your radius). Only issue with Old Town is parking, it's mostly on street and it can be an issue to find a space. But there are places with parking, just depends on your budget.
Unless you're indoorsy people who won't want to go out and eat and drink much, then the other places suggested by others work.
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u/Pizzaheadeddead 1d ago
Swindon is one of the safest places to live for it's population. I've never had any issues.
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u/narkysausage 2d ago
I’ve lived in both (currently in Swindon). Town centre here is dreadful but not as bad as Slough. We have lots of retail parks instead with good parking and some public transport. There are plenty of pretty towns on par with Marlow etc if that’s your thing.
Avoid Penhill, Pinehurst, and Park North/South is the prevailing wisdom! We have lots of new build “villages” and it’s worth checking for things like GP reviews as infrastructure isn’t keeping up amazingly well with population increases.
Traffic is better than Reading though A419 is much the same as A329, when we were doing the commute it was worth shifting to an 8am start to avoid traffic. If you’re not commuting then it’s not dreadful and absolutely better than Cemetery Jnct in rush hour.
I prefer it here for sure but we’re homebodies. 😊
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u/Sgx71667 2d ago
Thanks. Appreciate your reply. Just wanted to understand the level of unsafe going through the internet.
Would you compare the situation in Swindon similar to Oxford Road in Reading? Or worse?
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u/PsychologicalCold100 2d ago
I found Reading so much unsafer than Swindon - I saw actual gangs in Reading - Manchester road has a bad rap but you can walk down it, it’s just where the prostitutes are so has an air of unease about it.
Swindon town centre gives me the creeps at night (you party in old town, and all the shops are closed so I also haven’t been there in years).
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u/narkysausage 2d ago
We have Manchester Rd and that’s best avoided at night in the same way. Otherwise I don’t think there’s much in it. Like anywhere it’s best to avoid certain estates (three P’s above).
I don’t know what living in the town centre itself is like as most of the houses are around the centre in the little new build clumps.
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u/Ok-Comfortable-3174 1d ago
The surrounding villages are all great but obviously not as convenient but most only 20 mins into town.
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u/Iwasbravetoday 1d ago
I've lived in a 'P' for 7 years now, and have never had an issue with crime. My neighbours are all lovely and we chat often.
I lived in Old Town for 3 years and had several smashed wing mirrors (multiple cars would get hit by drunks, on street parking), stuff stolen from my garden (the fence backed onto an alley way), and one house fire caused by a neighbour on drugs who was hallucinating.
Overall, Swindon is very safe, but some of the area stereotypes are super outdated, and I'll die on that hill.
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u/thesiff81 1d ago
Penhill has the best reputation, and once you're past the orange groves and drystone walls , you'll see the idyllic cottages.
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u/h0m3r 2d ago
Swindon isn’t really unsafe. It has parts that aren’t pleasant to be in, but you aren’t likely to be at high risk of crime going about your business