On Tuesday 8 September 2026 Swindon Borough Council announced the Golden Age Festival at STEAM, the Museum of the Great Western Railway, for Saturday 26 September. The one-day event was billed as a celebration of the style and music of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, the golden age of rail travel and wartime Britain, with 20 per cent off standard admission.
What was on the programme?
- Live music from The Mary Lou Revue, Midwest Big Band and other vintage performers
- Second World War object handling
- Giant floor games and marble games
- Footplate visits
- Hands-on science experiments inspired by the former Swindon Works laboratory
The air raid shelter
The museum's reconstructed air raid shelter, normally closed to the public, was to open for the festival, with the museum's Air Raid Warden sounding a genuine siren before leading visitors into the darkened shelter to hear how people kept their spirits up during the Blitz. The council said: "Spaces are limited and advance booking is recommended."
A new gallery
Festival visitors were promised an early look at Go Great Western, a new permanent gallery about how the Great Western Railway became the country's holiday line and about its buses, boats and air services.
Councillor Matthew Vallender, Cabinet Member for Culture, Planning and Regeneration, called the festival "a wonderful celebration of the rich heritage" of the museum.
Source: Swindon Borough Council.