Things to Do in Shaftesbury: 10 Highlights You Should Not Miss
Perched 215 metres up on a greensand hill, Shaftesbury is one of England’s oldest towns and one of its most photogenic. Founded by King Alfred the Great in 888 AD, it packs an enormous amount into a compact, walkable centre: a world-famous cobbled street, the ruins of a once-mighty abbey, independent shops and cafes, and views that stretch for miles across the Blackmore Vale. Here are the ten things we would not want you to miss.
1. Walk down (and back up) Gold Hill
Gold Hill is the reason many people first hear of Shaftesbury. The steep, cobbled street lined with cottages was made famous by the 1973 Hovis bread advert directed by Ridley Scott, and it remains one of the most photographed views in England. Take your time on the way down, then earn your cream tea on the climb back up.
2. Explore Shaftesbury Abbey and its gardens
Founded by King Alfred in 888 AD, Shaftesbury Abbey was once the richest Benedictine nunnery in England and the burial place of King Edward the Martyr. The abbey was lost during the Dissolution, but the tranquil ruins and walled garden are now a museum where you can trace the footprint of the great church and enjoy one of the best-kept secret gardens in Dorset.
3. Visit the Gold Hill Museum
Right at the top of Gold Hill, this free, volunteer-run museum tells the story of the town through local artefacts, including the original Byzant ceremonial object and Dorset’s oldest fire engine. The terraced garden behind it offers another superb viewpoint.
4. Take in the view from Park Walk
Park Walk is a tree-lined promenade along the edge of the hilltop with uninterrupted views over the Blackmore Vale, the patchwork of fields Thomas Hardy called the Vale of Little Dairies. It is the perfect spot for a sunset stroll.
5. Browse the independent High Street
Shaftesbury has resisted the identikit high street. Expect independent bookshops, galleries, delis, butchers and homeware stores, alongside long-standing family businesses. It is a genuinely good place to shop for something you will not find anywhere else.
6. Catch a show at Shaftesbury Arts Centre
This vibrant, community-run venue on Bell Street hosts cinema, live theatre, music, comedy and exhibitions throughout the year. Check what is on during your visit — there is almost always something.
7. Time your visit for the Snowdrop season or a town festival
Shaftesbury’s calendar is full. The snowdrops along the abbey walls draw visitors in February, while the Gold Hill Fair, food festivals and Christmas events fill the rest of the year. Our events page is the easiest way to see what is on when you are here.
8. Sample local food and drink
For a small town, Shaftesbury eats very well. You will find everything from relaxed cafes and traditional pubs to the kind of restaurant worth planning a trip around. Dorset cheese, local ales and produce from the surrounding farms feature heavily.
9. Discover St Peter’s Church and the old town
At the top of Gold Hill, the medieval St Peter’s Church is one of the few buildings to survive from the town’s monastic heyday. The lanes around it reward slow wandering.
10. Use Shaftesbury as a base for North Dorset and Wiltshire
Some of the South West’s finest days out are within easy reach: Old Wardour Castle, the gardens at Stourhead, Longleat Safari Park, and the cathedral city of Salisbury are all a short drive away. Stay a couple of nights and you can see far more than the town alone.
Tip: Shaftesbury is hilly. Wear comfortable shoes, and if you are driving, the main car parks at Bell Street and Coppice Street put you within a short walk of everything.
Make a trip of it
Shaftesbury richly repays an overnight stay — the town is at its best early in the morning and in the golden hour, long after the day-trippers have left. Browse our pick of places to stay below, or see every option on our where to stay page.
