Swindon news, July 2026: day by day
41 stories from July 2026, under the day each one is about. Stories marked Looking back were written later from the published source and show the date Swindo published them.
Friday 31 July 2026
- Looking backFour new public defibrillators installed across West Swindon
Looking back, 31 July 2026: West Swindon Parish Council installed four new 24-hour public defibrillators and bleed control kits at Grange Park Way, Middleleaze Drive, Shaw Ridge and Sparcells Drive.
Community · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backSYLA, a Ukrainian-inspired pale ale, launched at Drink Valley in Old Town
Looking back, 31 July 2026: SYLA, a limited edition Ukrainian Pale Ale brewed in Swindon by Drink Valley to mark the town's friendship with the city of Rivne, was launched at a packed Drink Valley bar in Old Town.
Food and drink · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Thursday 30 July 2026
- Looking backSecond council Community Hub opens at Swindon Central Library
Looking back, 30 July 2026: Swindon Borough Council opened its second Community Hub, a drop-in support centre at Central Library, after more than 200 residents had used the scheme.
Community · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backSoBe Burger opens at 29C Wood Street in Old Town
Looking back, 30 July 2026: smash burger chain SoBe Burger was due to open its first Swindon restaurant officially at 29C Wood Street, Old Town, with free burgers promised for the first 100 customers.
Food and drink · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Looking backPlans to remove half of Commercial Road's free 20-minute parking bays
Looking back, 29 July 2026: proposals backed by Reform UK and Swindon Borough Council's Conservative administration would remove the free 20-minute parking bays on the northern side of Commercial Road in Swindon town centre.
Transport · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Tuesday 28 July 2026
- Looking backHaydon Wick Parish Council opens solar-powered depot for its grounds team
Looking back, 28 July 2026: Haydon Wick Parish Council opened a purpose-built depot with solar panels and rainwater harvesting, the first permanent base for the team that looks after the parish's green spaces and 26 play parks.
Council and services · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Monday 27 July 2026
- Looking backSpeed surveys approved for Ermin Street, Oxford Road and Stratton Road
Looking back, 27 July 2026: seven-day speed surveys were approved for Ermin Street, Oxford Road and Stratton Road in Lower Stratton and Coleview, Swindon, to run in September.
Transport · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Friday 24 July 2026
- Looking backTEKEVER's AR6 heavy-lift autonomous aircraft to be built in Swindon
Looking back, 24 July 2026: TEKEVER unveiled its AR6 heavy-lift autonomous aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow and confirmed it would be manufactured at its Swindon facility.
Business and economy · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backThree new free Active Trails open in Pinehurst, Wichelstowe and Stanton Park
Looking back, 24 July 2026: three new free Active Trails, walking routes of one to three miles, opened in Pinehurst, Wichelstowe and Stanton Park as Swindon's schools broke up for the summer.
Things to do · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Thursday 23 July 2026
- Looking backThames Water hosepipe ban starts in Swindon on 23 July 2026
Looking back, 23 July 2026: a Thames Water hosepipe ban came into force for households in Swindon and parts of Wiltshire after a very dry spring and three heatwaves.
Community · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backGreat Western Hospital trust upgraded to Good by the CQC
Looking back, 23 July 2026: the Care Quality Commission upgraded Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Swindon's Great Western Hospital, to Good, while maternity services stayed at Requires Improvement.
Healthcare · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Wednesday 22 July 2026
- Looking backPermanent XTC tribute unveiled in Queens Park, Swindon
Looking back, 22 July 2026: XhibitA, a permanent public tribute to Swindon band XTC paid for by fans, had been unveiled in Queens Park on Saturday 18 July, followed by a sold-out EXTC concert at the Town Gardens Bowl.
Arts and culture · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking back£2 bus fare cap to return in Swindon from 1 January 2027
Looking back, 22 July 2026: the Government confirmed that single bus fares on participating services, including routes in Swindon, would be capped at £2 from 1 January 2027, down from £3.
Transport · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Tuesday 21 July 2026
- Looking backAlternative Angels appeals for support as it feeds more than 100 people a night
Looking back, 21 July 2026: Swindon charity Alternative Angels, which serves hot meals at the Pilgrim Centre in Regent Circus, appealed to the public and businesses for help as it fed more than 100 people in an evening.
Community · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Monday 20 July 2026
- Looking backNorth Wiltshire Crematorium near Royal Wootton Bassett rated Outstanding
Looking back, 20 July 2026: North Wiltshire Crematorium, near Royal Wootton Bassett, was rated Outstanding by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities after a June inspection.
Community · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Sunday 19 July 2026
- Looking backSt Joseph's Catholic College rated Outstanding in every area of Catholic schools inspection
Looking back, 19 July 2026: St Joseph's Catholic College in Swindon was graded Outstanding in every category by the Catholic Schools Inspectorate, up from Good at its previous inspection.
Education · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Saturday 18 July 2026
- Looking backWorld championship motocross returns to Foxhills near Swindon
Looking back, 18 July 2026: thousands of spectators were at Foxhills, near Wanborough, for the opening day of the MXGP of Great Britain, the circuit's first world championship motocross in more than two decades.
Sport and fitness · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backSummer in Swindon: free bus travel for children in August and £1 museum entry
Looking back, 18 July 2026: Swindon Borough Council's Summer in Swindon campaign offered free bus travel for children aged five to 15 throughout August and £1 entry for children at STEAM and Lydiard House.
Things to do · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Friday 17 July 2026
- Looking backAgents report unprecedented demand for offices at 1 Newbridge Square
Looking back, 17 July 2026: property agents reported unprecedented demand for office space at 1 Newbridge Square in Swindon, with more than 75,000 sq ft let in 12 months and work starting early on 2 Newbridge Square.
Business and economy · Source: The Ink · Published on Swindo
Thursday 16 July 2026
- Looking backSeven Fields footbridge reopens after council refurbishment
Looking back, 16 July 2026: the refurbished footbridge at Seven Fields Nature Reserve in Swindon was officially reopened by residents, councillors and the Seven Fields Conservation Group.
Parks and nature · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Wednesday 15 July 2026
- Looking backThreads Textile Festival 2026 returns to The Brunel in Swindon
Looking back, 15 July 2026: The Threads Textile Festival was back at The Brunel shopping centre in Swindon with two weeks of exhibitions and workshops on the theme Threads of Empowerment, running to 25 July.
Arts and culture · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking back£8m redevelopment of 2 Newbridge Square, Swindon announced
Looking back, 15 July 2026: FI Property Group brought forward an £8 million redevelopment of the 2 Newbridge Square offices in Swindon after letting more than 75,000 sq ft next door in 12 months.
Business and economy · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Monday 13 July 2026
- Looking backXTC tribute XhibitA approved for Queens Park, Swindon
Looking back, 13 July 2026: South Swindon Parish Council approved XhibitA, a permanent, fan-funded tribute to the Swindon band XTC, for Queens Park, with the unveiling set for Saturday 18 July.
Arts and culture · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backBushey Fox swing bridge installed on the canal at Wichelstowe
Looking back, 13 July 2026: A six-metre swing bridge, Bushey Fox Bridge, was craned into place on a new 600-metre stretch of the Wilts & Berks Canal at Wichelstowe in Swindon.
Neighbourhoods · Source: Swindon Borough Council · Published on Swindo
Sunday 12 July 2026
- Looking backLishkara Punjabi restaurant opens on Havelock Street in Swindon town centre
Looking back, 12 July 2026: Lishkara, a Punjabi restaurant with a traditional clay tandoor, opened in a previously empty unit on Havelock Street in Swindon town centre, with the Mayor at the opening.
Food and drink · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Saturday 11 July 2026
- Looking backUniversity of Bath trainees complete year with Swindon's Society Without Abuse
Looking back, 11 July 2026: Swindon domestic abuse charity Society Without Abuse marked the end of a year-long placement for two University of Bath forensic psychology students on its Open2Change behaviour change programme.
Community · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Friday 10 July 2026
- Looking backJohn Piper in the South Country opens at Museum & Art Swindon
Looking back, 10 July 2026: The touring exhibition John Piper in the South Country had opened at Museum & Art Swindon in the Civic Offices, running until 26 September 2026.
Arts and culture · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backNew Eastern Villages schools: £55.3m gap after Government withdraws funding
Looking back, 10 July 2026: Swindon Borough Council said it faced a £55.3 million shortfall after the Department for Education decided not to fund two planned free schools at Great Stall East and Lotmead in the New Eastern Villages.
Education · Source: Swindon Borough Council · Published on Swindo
Thursday 9 July 2026
- Looking backBrighter Futures charity bus launched by Swindon's Bus Company
Looking back, 9 July 2026: Swindon's Bus Company unveiled a bus in Brighter Futures branding to raise money for the Great Western Hospital charity, at the start of a 24-month charity partnership.
Healthcare · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Wednesday 8 July 2026
- Looking backDorcan Academy cancels detentions and plans early finish in July heat
Looking back, 8 July 2026: Dorcan Academy in Swindon cancelled all detentions for the rest of the week and said pupils would finish at 1pm on Friday 10 July because of forecast high temperatures.
Education · Source: Wiltshire 999s · Published on Swindo
- Looking backBig Town Centre Clean-Up announced for Swindon in August 2026
Looking back, 8 July 2026: Swindon Borough Council announced The Big Town Centre Clean-Up for the last two weeks of August, with graffiti removal, jet washing, new paving and a plan to raise the fly-tipping fine to £1,000.
Council and services · Source: Swindon Borough Council · Published on Swindo
Tuesday 7 July 2026
- Looking backSwindon South MP Heidi Alexander visits Japan and China to study rail
Looking back, 7 July 2026: Swindon South MP and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander had visited China and Japan to look at their transport systems as the UK prepared to create Great British Railways.
Transport · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Monday 6 July 2026
- Looking backPartners Theatre Company rehearses for Signal Festival as Swindon readies City of Culture bid
Looking back, 6 July 2026: Swindon's deputy council leader visited Partners Theatre Company, an inclusive group rehearsing Night at the Gallery for Signal Festival, a month before the town's UK City of Culture 2029 bid was due.
Arts and culture · Source: Swindon Borough Council · Published on Swindo
Sunday 5 July 2026
- Looking backSwindon Balloon Festival 2026: wind grounds balloons at Lydiard Park
Looking back, 5 July 2026: Thousands went to the Swindon Balloon Festival at Lydiard Park on 3 and 4 July, but strong winds meant the balloon launches and night glows were cancelled.
Things to do · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backWRDE Up 2026 ends in Highworth as organiser confirms a year out
Looking back, 5 July 2026: Thousands attended the WRDE Up music festival on Swindon Road, Highworth, and organiser Tom Falding confirmed the festival would not run in 2027.
Things to do · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Saturday 4 July 2026
- Looking backSwindon Carnival 2026 draws thousands to the Polo Grounds
Looking back, 4 July 2026: Thousands of people went to the second Swindon Carnival at the Polo Grounds, a celebration of Goan culture with live music, food and stalls organised by UK Visionary Events.
Community · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backFirst Longevity Relay held at Moredon Sporting Hub with 104 taking part
Looking back, 4 July 2026: The first Longevity Relay took place at Moredon Sporting Hub in Swindon, with 104 runners and walkers in teams of up to six. It was due to return on 3 July 2027.
Sport and fitness · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Friday 3 July 2026
- Looking backSwindon summer 2026 road resurfacing: the 18 roads and dates
Looking back, 3 July 2026: Swindon Borough Council announced more than £1m of road resurfacing at 18 sites, starting on Monday 13 July and running to the end of August.
Transport · Source: Swindon Borough Council · Published on Swindo
Thursday 2 July 2026
- Looking backShadowlink becomes ninth defence technology firm to set up in Swindon
Looking back, 2 July 2026: Fibre optic specialist Shadowlink opened a 200 square metre innovation and integration facility in Swindon, the ninth defence company to announce a base in the town.
Business and economy · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
- Looking backTyre marks at Barbury Castle prompt concern over whether gates are locked
Looking back, 2 July 2026: A Swindon councillor raised concerns after seeing fresh tyre marks at Barbury Castle Country Park. The council said the gates were still locked every night, but later in summer.
Parks and nature · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo
Wednesday 1 July 2026
- Looking backVaughan Williams Way footpath in Redhouse repaired after residents' complaints
Looking back, 1 July 2026: Swindon Borough Council relaid a brick footpath on Vaughan Williams Way in Redhouse after tree roots had pushed up the paving and residents complained it was a trip hazard.
Neighbourhoods · Source: Swindon24 · Published on Swindo