Shaftsbury.

[Trumptonagain]

A friend has a few hours work in Shaftsbury and has asked if I'd like to go along going for the ride.

As neither have been before I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are enough shops to look round/things to do to keep myself occupied for those couple of hours they'll be at a meeting?

Shaftesbury is a lovely little town but it's very small without many shops these days. It has a Lidl and big Tesco and a high street with some independent shops and a few galleries/craft shops. A couple of coffee places including Costa and a nice walk along the edge of town where you can admire the lovely countryside views. Gold Hill, famous from the old Hovis ad is there.
Hope that helps.

The abbey ruins are nice to walk around. There is a cafe/coffee shop right at the top of Gold Hill with outside tables so you have the gorgeous view. I'd sit there with a coffee and a book and just soak it up, weather permitting.

Used to visit there, absolutely gorgeous place.
Like many places it has unfortunately changed but you should be able to find plenty to do for a few hours.

There is (was?) a famous antique/junk shop that it was possible to spend a couple of days in on its own (think Auntie Wainwrights on steroids), had a model of Punch outside the front door.

I used to love that junk shop but I think it has gone now.

Shaftesbury isn't the greatest place for shopping and cafes (though there are some) but it's an absolutely charming place to spend a few hours and it's something I do myself as a treat now and then.

Things to do:

• visit the Abbey
• walk down Gold Hill
• Sit on a bench outside the abbey looking at the wonderful view. It's a hill town and you can see countryside all around
• Visit the museum
• See if there is something on at the Town Hall like a fair or sale

It's not posh west country like Sherborne but a proper rural town with a lots of charm.

There’s a lido there if you like a swim? It’s a cute little town to mooch about in and some nice independent shops/cafes. Tiny museum at the top of Gold Hill you could wonder round. I have a friend who lives there and there is enough to do for 3 hrs if you do a bit of research.

https://www.shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk/services/lido/

goldhillmuseum.org.uk

Thanks for the ideas.

I did go along and had plenty to keep me occupied with just mooching around the shops, museum and the little garden walk.

Had a lovely lunch sat outside the pub/restaurant at the top of Gold hill before making our way down.

Glad you enjoyed your visit.