Lydiard Park

Lydiard Park is a 260-acre country park in West Swindon featuring formal gardens, woodlands, and open spaces surrounding an 18th-century Palladian mansion. The entire site holds Grade II listed status and displays multiple periods of garden design.

The St John family owned the estate from 1420 until World War II, when it served as a military hospital for American and German forces. This period left its mark on the buildings and the park's subsequent development.

The grounds show different landscaping styles across centuries, from formal Renaissance designs to the naturalistic English Landscape Garden style of the 1700s. You can observe these shifts as you walk through different sections of the property.

The grounds offer several facilities including a café, restrooms, children's play areas, and extensive walking paths through landscaped sections. Multiple entrances make the site accessible, and it works well for a day visit with family or friends.

The site contains an 18th-century ice house and a walled garden featuring a bronze sundial from the original formal garden design. These smaller structures offer glimpses into historical garden practices.

Location: West Swindon

Website: https://lydiardpark.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.56137,-1.85161

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:43