Places to Visit
TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN AND AROUND BRIDPORT
Here’s just a few ideas and suggestions of some of the many places in the Bridport and surrounding area to visit.
Throughout Bridport
(5 minute walk)
Bridport’s large street market has a good selection of stalls selling foodstuffs, clothing, hardware, flowers, plants, pictures, paintings, books …and much more! They take place weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays and line Bridport’s three main streets throughout the year.
Abbotsbury
(10 miles )
Abbotsbury Swannery is the world’s only managed colony of nesting mute swans and is one of the top things to do in the area. Just down the road is the Sub-Tropical Gardens,where numerous new, exotic and unusual flowers can be seen.
Chard, Somerset
(12 miles)
Forde Abbey is home to the stunning Mortlake tapestries, woven from the internationally famous Raphael cartoons which are now housed in the Victoria and Albert museum. The Abbey has a rich and varied history spanning 900 years and in 2019, the garden was nominated ‘Garden of the Year’ for Historic Houses.
Near Beaminster
(6 miles by car)
Mapperton House was the winner of the Historic Houses Garden of the Year in 2020 and was the location of the 2015 film ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. The glorious Jacobean manor is the home of the Earl and Countess of Sandwich, and overlooks 15 acres of garden with orangery, topiary and borders, descending to ponds and arboretum.
Ilchester
(26 miles by car)
The Fleet Air Arm Museum is devoted to the history of British naval aviation. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, aero engines, models of aircraft and Royal Navy ships, and paintings and drawings related to naval aviation.
West Lulworth
(28 miles by car)
Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular beauty spot, situated just along the coast from Lulworth Cove, known for its unique geology and landforms.
Bovington
(28 mile drive)
The world’s finest collection of armoured fighting vehicles at Bovington Camp in Dorset. The collection traces the history of the tank.
Salway Ash
(4 mile drive)
Furleigh Estate, situated near Salway Ash, near Bridport, was established in 2005 and produces award-winning still and sparkling wines from a variety of Dorset grapes. Visitors are welcome for tours, tastings and cellar door shop.
South Street
(10 minute walk)
Home to captivating stories of Bridport’s past housed within an early 16th century building known as the Castle, located on South Street.
Sidmouth Devon
(23 miles by car)
The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare and rescue charity transforming the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people worldwide. Situated near Sidmouth. A lovely place to volunteer for the day.
Weymouth
(23 miles by car)
Historic sea fort in Weymouth situated at the end of the Nothe Peninsula, which juts eastwards from the town of Weymouth, and Weymouth Harbour, into the sea to the north of the ex-military Portland Harbour. The fort is located next to Nothe Gardens.
Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne
(38 miles by car)
National Trust’s Kingston Lacy, Dorset, is an elegant country mansion set in attractive formal gardens and extensive parkland.