The Sun, Coate, Swindon
What's Nearby
A pretty good place to call home...
One of the things we love about The Sun is our location.
We're in Coate, on the southern side of Swindon, with Coate Water right on our doorstep, easy access to the M4 and plenty to see and do across Swindon and the surrounding Wiltshire countryside.
Whether you're staying with us for work, visiting family, bringing the children away for a few days or simply looking for somewhere new to explore, The Sun makes a great base.
And when you've finished exploring, there's a pint, dinner and a comfortable bed waiting for you back here.
It doesn't get much more nearby than this (see pic above!).
Coate Water Country Park is right on our doorstep, and is one of Swindon's best-known green spaces.
At its heart is the lake, surrounded by woodland and open spaces with plenty to discover along the way. It's popular with walkers, runners, families, nature lovers and, of course, plenty of dogs.
You'll find children's play facilities, a splash park, miniature railway, nature reserve, bird hides, fishing and plenty of space to simply enjoy being outside.
It's ideal for an hour before lunch, somewhere to tire the children out or a morning adventure before heading back to The Sun.
Muddy boots, tired children and thirsty dogs are all welcome.
Just beside Coate Water you'll find one of Swindon's lovely hidden pieces of history.
The Richard Jefferies Museum celebrates the life and work of the Swindon-born Victorian nature writer and is based at his former home and birthplace.
Explore the old farmhouse, thatched cottage, gardens and orchard while discovering more about Jefferies, his writing and his connection with the landscape around Coate.
It's incredibly close to The Sun and well worth discovering while you're here.
If you've enjoyed an Arkell's pint at our bar, you can actually go and see where it came from.
The Sun is proudly part of the Arkell's Brewery family, and across Swindon in Kingsdown you'll find the brewery that has been producing beer in the town since 1843.
Arkell's remains a family brewery today, with its beers still produced at its historic Victorian tower brewery.
Every Wednesday at 2pm, Arkell's runs a guided tour of the brewery.
Taking approximately 1½ hours, you'll get to look behind the scenes of one of the country's remaining operational Victorian tower breweries and discover how the beer in your glass at The Sun goes from grain to pint.
If you're staying with us on a Wednesday and enjoy your beer, this one is definitely worth putting in the diary.
Advance booking is recommended.
You don't have to take a brewery tour to pay Arkell's a visit.
At the brewery you'll also find The Grape & Grain Wine & Brewery Warehouse, where you can pick up Arkell's beers alongside a wide selection of wines and spirits.
Upstairs you'll also find the Brewery Archive, exploring the story of the Arkell family and more than 180 years of brewing history in Swindon.
Opening Times
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Excluding Bank Holidays
And once you've seen where the beer is made, you can always head back to The Sun and conduct a little further research at the bar...
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway
You can't really tell the story of Swindon without talking about the railway.
The Great Western Railway transformed the town, and STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway tells that story from inside the beautifully restored former railway works.
With historic locomotives, interactive exhibits and stories of the people who built and operated the railway, it's well worth a visit for families, railway enthusiasts or anyone wanting to understand a little more about the town they're staying in.
Conveniently, there's something else right next door to STEAM.
Set within Swindon's historic former Great Western Railway works, Swindon Designer Outlet brings together a huge collection of top brands under one roof.
So if exploring the shops sounds more appealing than exploring a museum, you're covered.
There's also a perfectly respectable weekend itinerary to be had here:
Shopping. Back to The Sun. Dinner. Drinks. Bed. Breakfast.
We're quite fond of that one.
If you'd like to see a little more of Swindon, head across town to Lydiard Park.
The historic estate covers around 260 acres of parkland, with woodland, a lake and plenty of space to explore.
You'll also find historic Lydiard House, the beautiful Georgian Walled Garden, St Mary's Church and children's play facilities.
Pack the walking shoes, take your time exploring and then head back to us when you're ready for dinner.
Stay a little longer and The Sun also gives you a great starting point for exploring further afield.
Swindon's location means some beautiful parts of Wiltshire and the Cotswolds are within reach, so there's plenty to fill a couple of days if you're making more of your stay.
And sometimes the best days aren't particularly complicated.
Explore somewhere new, find a nice village, stop for a coffee and see where the road takes you.
Visiting for Work, Family or the Hospital?
Of course, not everyone staying with us is here for a weekend away.
We're conveniently located for The Great Western Hospital, Swindon and the surrounding area, with straightforward access to Junction 15 of the M4.
So whether you're working locally, visiting friends or family, attending an event or need somewhere comfortable while visiting the hospital, you don't have to stay somewhere that feels like just another hotel.
Our 10 rooms are nestled behind The Sun in our garden, with the pub just a few steps away whenever you fancy something to eat, a drink or simply somewhere comfortable to sit.
And remember:
Book your room directly with The Sun and breakfast is included.
Ask Us Where to Go!
We're still discovering Swindon ourselves.
Since arriving in 2026, we've found plenty of places we love — and we're always happy to share them.
So if you're staying with us and need an idea for entertaining the children, somewhere to walk the dog, something to do on a rainy afternoon or you're wondering where to explore next, come and ask us or one of the team.
We'd much rather have a conversation and help you make the most of your stay than point you towards a rack of tourist leaflets.
And wherever your day takes you, we'll be here when you get back.
Explore Swindon. Discover Wiltshire. Come home to The Sun.
Richard, Sarah & The Sun Inn Team
