What to do in Sherborne | Visiting Dorset

Sherborne is a beautiful town in the county of Dorset, just a stone-throw away from Somerset. My in-laws live nearby and we always make sure we have a day out here when we visit. There is a long list of what to do in Sherborne and this blog post takes you through some of my favourites. I hope that you enjoy it.

What to do in Sherborne | Visiting Dorset

Sights to See in Sherborne

Sherborne is of significant importance historically. Perhaps most famously there is Sherborne Abbey. With records dating back 1300 years, this beautiful abbey is a must-see when in the area. In the abbey itself, you can enjoy the beautiful stained glass windows and unique architecture. You can also see the tombs in the northernmost point, believed to be of the elder brothers of Alfred the Great.

Another famous sight is of course Sherborne Castle. During the early middle ages in the anarchy, the castle was thought to be the “key to the whole kingdom”. Nowadays though the old castle is in ruins and there is instead a Tudor manor. This was built by Sir Walter Rayleigh during Elizabethan times. Inside the manor there is plenty to see, but the true highlight are the gardens. During the summer, it is lovely walking around the colourful and scenic gardens.

In the town there are also a few more things to see. There is Sherborne School, one of Britain’s most famous public schools. You could also visit the Sherborne museum, or simply enjoy walking around the old streets.

Food and Drink in Sherborne

Sherborne for me is synonymous with excellent coffee and cakes. We always seem to visit a cafe whilst we are there. What I love is that there are so many little independent places, something you don’t see everywhere anymore. Cafe D’Urberville, Oliver’s and Kafe Fontana are all excellent places to visit. Many of them offer tasty light lunches too.

If you are after something a bit more substantial, then there are plenty of restaurants and pubs around. I am always a sucker for an Italian dinner, so I obviously would suggest Tamburino Gold. However, if you would rather have some tasty pub grub then The Plume of Feathers or the Cross Keys are good shouts.

Shopping in Sherborne

If you wonder what to do in Sherborne, head to Cheap Street. My favourite thing about Sherborne is the shopping. There aren’t many high street shops, but instead there are lots of cute boutiques. Our house is filled with charming trinkets we have collected from here over the years. I’m sure you will be the same once you visit!

A lot of the main shops are on Cheap Street, the main street in the town. Caroline Nicholls is one of my favourite shops to browse. In fact, I bought some lovely Christmas decorations here last year. The dresses that they stock are also tasteful and perfect for an occasion. You also have the Melbury Gallery and Diva if you want to continue browsing.

There are also a healthy number of brands here too. Crew Clothing, White Stuff and Fat Face all have shops here. Once again, they are all on Cheap Street, so you can stay in one place.

Day Trips

I might write a blog post focussing on specific day trips from Sherborne. However, in the meantime, here is a short list.

Firstly, the Cerne Giant is only a 20 minute drive from the town centre. This historic landmark is well known and it is definitely worth a visit. In that direction, you also have the Jurassic Coast.

Lyme Regis is an obvious choice for a day trip, but I would also recommend Bridport. If you want something similar to Sherborne, then Ilminster and South Petherton are excellent options.

For longer day trips, the cities of Taunton, Bournemouth and Exeter are not too far away. I particularly like Exeter, although Taunton is probably better for shopping.

Final Thoughts

Sherborne is a cute and quaint little town. You won’t find buckets to do here, but you will enjoy walking around and the quieter life. I hope my post on what to do in Sherborne has helped you plan your day. If you would like to ask me any questions about this post, please fire away!