Swindon is a large town in Wiltshire, South West England, lying between Bristol, 35 miles to the west, and Reading, the same distance to the east. The town is 71 miles west of London. The population of the Swindon built-up area was 185,600 in 2011.
The Town Development Act 1952 led to a major increase in its population.
Swindon railway station is on the line from London Paddington to Bristol. Swindon Borough Council is a unitary authority, independent of Wiltshire Council since 1997. Residents of Swindon are known as Swindonians. The town is home to the English Heritage National Monument Record Centre and the headquarters of the National Trust, and the head office of the Nationwide Building Society.