About Swarthmore & Philadelphia

CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Swarthmore College, one of the nation's finest institutions of higher learning, is located 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Swarthmore's idyllic, 357-acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with rolling lawns, creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails. From its state-of-the-art science complex to its new, environmentally friendly residence hall, Swarthmore's buildings and architecture stand as national models of curricular and co-curricular undergraduate facilities. The College web site is www.swarthmore.edu. For more information on the village of Swarthmore, visit http://www.swarthmorepa.org/.

The city of Philadelphia hardly needs any introduction as a site of major historical importance (a statement, the veracity of which is emphasized by the fact that the opinion is here being voiced by a joint British-US citizen!). It is a large East-Coast city, with a host of museums, art-galleries, theaters, cinemas, and shopping malls. The center of the city has been undergoing a rebirth (not least, architecturally), one pleasing feature of which is a large number of superb restaurants, and new book and music stores.

During the summer months, the Philadelphia Orchestra gives a series of open-air concerts at the Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park (the world’s largest city park).

Transportation from Swarthmore to Philadelphia

You don’t need a car to get to Swarthmore from the Philadelphia airport or 30th Street Station (Amtrak). Simply take the SEPTA R3 line to Swarthmore. The train station is at the foot of the campus.

If you should feel the need to leave such a splendid environment, take the R3 back to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia for easy connections to New York and Washington. For those who like to head for the hills or the shore, both the Poconos and the Jersey Shore are day-trips by car. Valley Forge National Park is a half-hour car-ride away.

For driving directions to Swarthmore, visit: http://www.swarthmore.edu/visitordash/visitors_content_directions. php. Philadelphia Airport is 15 minutes away from campus and 30th Street Station is approximately 30 minutes.