A-Z Of Towns In Dorset

Ever wondered how many towns there are in Dorset? There are many towns in Dorset, each one well worth a visit, as they each offer something different. Dorset is one of the only counties in England to have no motorways, but there are plenty of historic towns and pretty places to visit.

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Beaminster

The town of Beaminster dates back to the 7th Century when it was known as Bebingmynster. Located just a few miles away from Dorchester, near the river Brit.

The town sits in a pretty valley, and is home to historic gardens and museums to visit.

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Blandford Forum

One of the market towns in Dorset, Blandford Forum is close to the river Stour. Famous for its Georgian architecture, the town was famously rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in the early 18th Century.

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Annually the town is home to the Great Dorset Steam Fair which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors during the late Summer bank holiday weekend.

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Bournemouth

The largest town in Dorset sits with Bournemouth, one of the most popular coastal towns in Dorset. Bournemouth was once a heathland before being founded in the early 1800’s. It was a popular spot for smuggling.

Bridport

Another market town in Dorset, Bridport is probably most famous for West Bay. A small fishing harbour, and also showcasing in the popular TV series Broadchurch.

Parking in Bridport and West Bay

Close to both Charmouth and Lyme Regis, Bridport offers stunning walks along the Jurassic Coast.

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Christchurch

Adjoining Bournemouth is Christchurch. Home to the Christchurch Priory, it was once a monastery given to the town by Henry VIII in the 1500’s.

Parking in Christchurch

Christchurch in Dorset has plenty to see and do, including a natural harbour. The New Forest National Park is also very close by offering great places to explore for everyone.

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Dorchester

Located between Poole and Bridport, Dorchester is a market town on the banks of the river Frome.

Gillingham

Located in the Blackmore Vale area of Dorset, Gillingham is the most northern town in Dorset. A small town close to Shaftesbury, there are great rail links to London. The town looks very similar today as it did in past times.

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Lyme Regis

Joining the border of Dorset and Devon, Lyme Regis is a pretty seaside town in Dorset. Famous for its fossils, the town was once home to Mary Anning, a famous fossil collector.

Poole

Poole is home to the second largest natural harbour in the World. The town is also home to some great beaches, parks and open spaces, including the famous Sandbanks.

Shaftesbury

Near the Wiltshire border this historic town in Dorset was once the site of Shaftesbury Abbey, founded by King Alfred before it was destroyed in the 1500’s. Shaftesbury is probably most famous for Gold Hill, a cobbled street once used in the Hovis adverts in the 1970’s.

Related post – where to park in Shaftesbury

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Sherborne

A Dorset town on the river Yeo, Sherborne is a market town on the edge of the Blackmore Vale area in Dorset. It’s also one of the Dorset towns famous for its medieval abbey

Sherborne has featured in many films and TV series including Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Vinterberg’s adaptation of the novel.

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Stalbridge

Close to the Somerset border, Stalbridge is one of the smallest towns in Dorset. The town was home to the writer Douglas Adams who wrote much of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy whilst living in the town.

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Sturminster Newton

The town of Sturminster Newton is made up of two parts separated by a river. The largest area of Sturminster sits to the north of the river Stour, and the smaller Newton is on the south side of the river.

The town is in the heart of the North Dorset Trailway network, a safe off road route between Sturminster Newton and Spetsbury.

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Swanage

Swanage has its home in the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. Historically Swanage began as a small fishing village, before being a quarry port. It then became a seaside resort for the rich. Today it’s a pretty seaside town in Dorset with plenty to see and do.

Verwood

Close to Bournemouth, Poole and Wimborne, Verwood is on the Hampshire border and close to the New Forest National Park.

The town is close to Moors Valley Country Park, a popular visitor location for locals and tourists. This also links into the Castleman Trailway, an off road trail running between Ringwood and Poole.

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Wareham

A historic market town in Dorset, Wareham sits between the river Frome and river Piddle. Boasting over 2,000 years of history, there are also some great family days out including Monkey World, Bovington Tank Museum.

Weymouth

The third largest town in Dorset, Weymouth is a popular seaside town and tourist destination. Home to plenty of holiday parks, Weymouth Sealife Centre and plenty of beaches. You won’t be short of things to do in Weymouth, and it’s no wonder why it’s a popular place for a staycation in Dorset.

Wimborne Minster

Often referred to as just Wimborne, the town is a pretty market town in Dorset. The town sits on the banks of the river Stour, there is some great access to walks along the Stour Valley Way, and plenty of things to do, and cafes to watch the world go by.

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Wimborne is famously known for hosting the annual Wimborne Folk Festival which attracts thousands of visitors every year.

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