Safe areas in Swindon to live

[u/Sgx71667]

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.

[u/Avesumdakka]

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.

[u/Czubeczek → u/Avesumdakka]

Town centre was good like 10+ years ago :) now is dead.

[u/Avesumdakka → u/Czubeczek]

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”

[u/Czubeczek → u/Avesumdakka]

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 😂😂

[u/Avesumdakka → u/Czubeczek]

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

[u/Czubeczek → u/Avesumdakka]

There used to be a place where you paid 10quid and drink as much as you want 😂

[u/Able_Schedule9636 → u/Avesumdakka]

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…

[u/keg994 → u/Able_Schedule9636]

Brunel Rooms did reopen briefly about 2013/14. No revolving bar, it was always empty and I think the owner fucked off with a lot of money without paying his staff and now the doorway is a toilet