Dominating Sherborne is the Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin with its delicate fan vaulting and stained glass windows. Sherborne castle is a 16thC Tudor Mansion built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and has been the home of the Digby family since 1617. Set in 40 acres of glorious landscaped grounds and gardens the castle contains a splendid collection of art, furniture and porcelain. Within these grounds are the ruins of the 12thC Sherborne Old Castle. Sherborne with its abundance of medieval buildings has much to offer holiday visitors. Located on the Dorset and Somerset border, Sherborne is ideally situated for visiting the surrounding area. Sherborne was the home of the very distinctive Morris dancing tradition giving the dance an elegant and quite reserved character. Sherborne dances are very widely performed today.
Beaches are approximately 45 minutes drive on the south coast with resorts of Lyme Regis, West Bay and Weymouth offering sandy beaches and excellent water sports facilities.
With a huge array of high street shops you’ll find the shopping centre has a large choice of handcrafted goods and elegant fashions. It has also become an important town in the region for Art and Antique dealers with a host of celebrated antique shops and art galleries. Bustling markets normally take place on Thursday & Saturday. There are lots of places to eat with a wide range of pubs, restaurants, bistro’s & cafes and even a choice of takeaways.
In May the annual Arts & Music Festival takes place and in October, a moveable feast known as Pack Monday Fair – when street traders change the face of the town by day and night, and the Council ensures that the town is spotlessly clean the next morning.