To the south of the town a six arch stone bridge spans the slow-moving River Stour. One of the largest industries in the town is the Badger Brewery which supplies the renowned Hall & Woodhouse Badger Beer and ale to public houses across the region.
Shopping is in the thriving centre of Blandford and home to a variety of quality antique and craft shops, fascinating art galleries and local exhibitions, charming boutiques, second-hand bookshops and all manner of local sales and flea markets. And of course after your shopping, what could be better than a good cup of coffee and slice of Dorset Apple Cake or a cream tea to replenish your energies? Blandford boasts a fine selection of cafes and tea rooms, excellent restaurants and traditional pubs. There are a number of busy pubs such as the Three Choughs and the Greyhound. In addition The Railway, located near the old railway line in the town, was voted the seventh best pub in England in an independent poll.
Just 2km northeast is the home of the Royal Corps of Signals, the communications wing of the British Army. The base incorporates the National Signals Museum which is open to the public. The museum contains many items of interest including vehicles, uniforms, medals, signals equipment, (some of which is interactive) and not least, an Enigma cryptographic machine, famous for cracking the German High Level ciphers during World War 2.
Thousands of people attend the titularly Georgian Fayre which fills the town centre and is held in the first week of May each year. The Great Dorset Steam Fair is now in its 39th year and is ever popular with something for everyone with over 2000 working exhibits, 200 working steam engines and 100 fairground organs on the incredible 600-acre showground! Whether you are a collector, a steam fanatic, an exhibitor, a heavy horse fan, an avid camper, a music fan or just on holiday in the south of England at the end of August and fancy an excursion to what is described as the most remarkable show on earth!