There are many towns across Britain that are known for something quirky, whether it’s a strange name, a unique landmark, or an unusual claim to fame. But one town in Wiltshire stands out for something really unexpected. It’s not just famous for one of the UK’s most complicated road junctions, but also for being twinned with Walt Disney World in Florida.
Back in 2009, a 21-year-old local woman named Rebecca Warren entered her hometown into a Disney competition. She told the company all the reasons it deserved to be recognised, including its famous roundabout, football stadium and railway history. She won, and the following year, the town became the first in the world to be twinned with Disneyworld for an entire year.
The town is, of course, Swindon. Located in the heart of Wiltshire, it beat more than 500 other entries to win the Disney prize.
In 2010, Rebecca, her family and Swindon’s then-mayor, David Wren, were flown to Florida for a special ceremony.
A plaque near the Magic Kingdom was unveiled that read: “Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, the Walt Disney World resort, sharing the magic 2010.”
There was even an exhibition about Swindon added to Epcot’s UK pavilion, giving thousands of visitors the chance to learn about the town’s story.
Swindon also got its fair share of Disney magic that year. Mickey, Minnie and Goofy turned on the Christmas lights, and characters appeared at the Old Town Festival. A launch party was held for invited guests.
David Renard, the council leader in 2021, marked Disneyworld’s 50th anniversary by saying: “Swindon being twinned with Walt Disney World in Florida was something really special for the town.
“It helped draw global attention to our part of the world. It’s something magical that will live on in the history of the town.”
Arguably, the town’s most famous landmark is the Magic Roundabout.
It’s a complex junction made up of five mini-roundabouts arranged around a central circle.
Built in 1972 and designed by Frank Blackmore, it allows traffic to move both clockwise and anticlockwise depending on the route taken.
While it has been called one of the “worst” and “scariest” roundabouts in the country, it’s actually known for being safer than many simpler layouts.
Swindon also has plenty to do for families and visitors. There’s the STEAM Museum, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, Wyvern Theatre, Lydiard Park, and Butterfly World, not to mention access to the nearby Cotswolds.