Shindig Festival

Bristol Airport (BRS) is the nearest regional airport, about 45 miles away (roughly an hour’s drive). It offers many domestic and European flights. London Heathrow (LHR) is around 90 miles east (about 1.5–2 hours by car); from Heathrow you can take a train (“HX Express” to Paddington and then Great Western Railway to Chippenham or Swindon) to get closer. Cardiff (CWL, ~1.5 hours by road) and Birmingham (BHX, ~2–2.5 hours) airports are also options, but Bristol and Heathrow are generally easiest. Renting a car or taking a combination of train and taxi from the airport will get you to Malmesbury efficiently.

The closest mainline train station is Chippenham (about 7 miles south of Malmesbury) on the GWR line. Trains run frequently here from London (Paddington), Bath, Bristol and Cardiff. Typically, visitors take the train to Chippenham, then switch to a local bus or taxi into Malmesbury or directly to Charlton Park Estate. Shindig often provides a shuttle bus from Chippenham station to the festival grounds on event days (check the festival website for schedules). Another nearby station is Kemble (on the Golden Valley line), slightly closer but with fewer services. From either station, Stagecoach buses (for example route 55 via Malmesbury) or local taxis can complete your journey.

Driving is straightforward: Charlton Park is reached via the M4/M5 network. From London or the west, exit M4 at junction 17 (Chippenham) and head north on the A350 to Malmesbury. From the Midlands or north, use M5 to junction 14 (near Almondsbury) and then the A417/A433 through Cirencester to Malmesbury. For precise directions, plug the postcode SN16 9LL (Charlton Park Estate) into your satnav. The festival provides on-site parking for attendees (often signposted to color-coded areas) but spaces can fill up on busy days, so car-sharing is recommended. Plan for extra travel time as local roads can be busy. Malmesbury also has a small public car park if you need it for town visits.

Malmesbury is a charming market town with only a few hotels, inns and B&Bs, so accommodations book up early during festival weekends. Nearby Chippenham (a 10-minute drive) has larger hotel chains and a supermarket for supplies. Many visitors opt to camp either on-site or at local campsites; Shindig offers camping and glamping packages (from basic tent pitches to furnished bell tents and yurts) that can be booked in advance. Off-site, local buses (such as Stagecoach 55 which stops in Malmesbury) and taxis provide connections to Charlton Park. If you arrive early, take time to enjoy Malmesbury’s shops, restaurants and famous abbey before the music begins.