Welcome to Shaftesbury
Discover England's most iconic hilltop town, home to the famous Gold Hill
Discover Shaftesbury
Explore our top landmarks and attractions
Gold Hill
England's most iconic cobbled street, famous for the Ridley Scott 'Hovis' advert.
Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Gardens
Benedictine nunnery founded by King Alfred in 888AD with virtual tour and herb garden.
Gold Hill Museum
Features Dorset's oldest hand-drawn fire engine and an award-winning garden overlooking Gold Hill.
Park Walk
High-altitude promenade with panoramic Blackmore Vale views across three counties.
Upcoming Events
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About Shaftesbury
Perched on a hilltop 700 feet above the Blackmore Vale, Shaftesbury is one of England's oldest and most historic towns. Founded by King Alfred the Great in 880 AD, the town has been a place of pilgrimage and commerce for over a millennium.
Today, Shaftesbury is best known for Gold Hill, the iconic cobbled street that starred in the famous Hovis bread advertisement directed by Ridley Scott. But there's so much more to discover in this charming Dorset town.
Learn Our History