Railway Village Museum

A Victorian Kitchen Extension with a table topped with utensils, a range and a mangle.

A Victorian Living room with a dining room table sitting at the centre with 4 places made. An oval mirror hangs above the fireplace.

A Victorian bedroom with period furniture.

The cottage at 34 Faringdon Road sits among a sheet of snow.

The Museum team of volunteers stand proudly in front of the cottage. The team are happy after a day of opening to the public.

Railway Village Museum, 34 Faringdon Road, Swindon, Wiltshire. Copyright Historic England Archive 2020

34 Faringdon Road

Step back in time at this Swindon Railway Village cottage where you can discover Victorian traditions.

Witness the sights, sounds and smells of local community life, and learn how a Great Western Railway worker would have lived with their family.

We are open regularly to the public, and host a variety of seasonal and themed events for whole family to enjoy.

Private Visits

We offer a range of unique experiences for your corporate team or private group. Whether it is a team building quiz or cream tea and tours, come and explore Swindon’s historic Railway Village with us…

School Visits

We offer a variety of packages that support learning and development through education. We have produced a number of resources, and can cater for a range of topics from Victorian life to local history.

Walking Tours

Explore Swindon’s Historic Railway Village with a local heritage expert and museum volunteer. Our free walking tours consist of many themes and topics, covering health, industry and social history.

The Museum Team

It’s thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers that we are able to host events and other activities all year round.

We are always looking to expand our team, and welcome anyone who can spare a little time to consider join us.

It is an exciting time to join the Museum team, and you will meet new people, learn new skills and gain practical experience within the heritage sector. Full training will be provided.

A visitor leaflet produced by J. Arkell & Sons Ltd. The Ark logo shown was mostly used in the 1970s and 1980s. In October 1989, Arkell’s was renamed Arkell’s Brewery Ltd.

Opening Times

The Railway Village Museum is open weekly to the public on: Wednesdays from 4pm-7pm*

*Please note we are only open weekly during the warmer months of April through to August. In 2024, our last weekly opening is Wednesday 28th August.

In addition to our weekly opening, we host a variety of seasonal and themed events throughout the year for the whole family to enjoy.

Resource Pack for Schools

This free resource pack contains several different resources taken from the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre’s archives and local studies collections.

The main resources are photos, maps and census returns. Together they provide a detailed picture of life in the Railway Village from its foundation in 1843.

It’s FREE to visit our museum, but we appreciate any donation contributions you can spare. The Railway Village Museum relies heavily on donations and volunteer contributions to remain open.

It is thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers that we are able to host a range of events and other visits all year round, including private, corporate and school bookings.