Wareham was an important and prosperous south coast port in Saxon times and its accessibility also attracted regular Viking raids - Canute captured it in 1016, and earthen walls were raised around the town on three sides for protection. Those grassy banks remain a haven for wildlife now, and enclose a thriving market town with a Saxon street plan and more than 200 buildings of historic and architectural interest.
Follow the signposted ‘Walls Walk’ for fine views over the meandering River Piddle, or take the ‘Town Walk’ to explore Wareham's heritage and shop-lined streets. Be sure to see the parish church of Lady St. Mary with its magnificent stained glass. In Dorset's oldest church, St. Martins in North Street, see the life-size stone effigy of Lawrence of Arabia. His cottage Cloud’s Hill, is now owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
There are also plenty of other attractions in town and nearby; the Town Museum outlines the history of the town from pre-historic times and the World of Toys is home to a collection of antique and collectors toys including musical boxes and automata. Maybe you would prefer to join a river cruise at the picturesque Quay, hire your own boat perhaps, and when evening comes, enjoy a film at Britain's only gas-lit cinema, The Rex. Purbeck Sports Centre offers a first-class facility with an indoor swimming pool especially for those days when the weather doesn’t quite hold out!
The best way to discover Wareham and Purbeck is by foot and, as well as the two town walks, there are four ‘waymaked’ routes that help you to experience the wonderful scenery and fascinating wildlife for yourself. Call into Purbeck Information & Heritage Centre on South Street for the Four Walks Pack (Four Walks Pack including The Purbeck Way, The Purbeck Way West, The Two Rivers Walk and Wareham Forest Way @ £1.50).
There are plenty of places to eat and drink in town, from tearooms and traditional fish and chip shops to English and continental restaurants as well as a variety of pubs offering traditional fare. Don’t forget the numerous events including Wareham Carnival (25th July – 01st August), Purbeck Aware (15th May – 13th June) and Dorset Art Weeks (29th May – 13th June), as well as the Farmer’s Market (every fourth Friday of each month), the Home Producers Market (every Thursday in the URC Hall) and the Town Market (every Thursday in East Street).
To learn more about Wareham and its special events visit the Purbeck Information and Heritage Centre in the former Holy Trinity Church on South Street. Population 8,000
Accountant
Anglebury Finance
Hendersons
White House Services Ltd
Attraction
Blue Pool
Clouds Hill
Corfe Castle Model Village and Gardens
Corfe Castle Museum
Lulworth Castle
Margaret Green Foundation Trust Animal Sanctuary
Monkey World
Purbeck Toy and Musical Boxes and Vintage End of Pier Museum
Tank Museum
Wareham Town Museum
Camping
Birchwood Tourist Park
East Creech Camping & Caravan Park
Lookout Holiday Park
Manor Farm Caravan Park
Ridge Farm Camping & Caravan Park
Wareham Forest Tourist Park
Woodlands Camping Park
Cinema
Classes
Council
Dentist
The Dental Practice
Wareham Dental Practice
Doctor
Sandford Practice
Wareham Practice
Wool Practice
Estate Agent
Booth & Corben
Bullock & Lees
Connell Estate Agents
Goadsby & Harding
Osbornes Estate Agents
Farmers Market
Golf Club
Holiday Park
Pub and Bar
Antelope Inn
Black Bear Hotel
Horse & Groom
Kings Arms
Quay Inn
Railway Tavern
Restaurant
Antelope Inn
Bishops Cottage
Coppers
Kemps Country House
Old Granary
Priory Hotel
Quay Inn
Rose Mullion
Trattoria Rialto
Self-Catering
Culeaze Holidays
Dream Cottages
Lookout Park
Solicitor
Taxi
A Class Cars
Garrison Cars
Mikes Taxis
Station Cars
Vet
Sports Clubs
Wareham CC (Cricket)
Shops
Wareham Wren Bookshop
Woolbridge Florist
Holme Nurseries Ltd
Roberts Chemist Ltd
Shaylers Vision Centre
A F Joy
Solemate Shoes Ltd
Peter Hedley Gallery
Wessex Fine Art & Ceramics
Trident Cafe
Harrys Cafe Bar
Clavells Cafe & Farm Shop
B Curtis Ltd
Hallett Butchers
Prezzies
The Tank Museum Shop
Sibley Pottery
The Creative Gallery
Richard Harvey Wines Ltd
Antiques
Sibley Pottery Antiques
The Living Room
Activities
Lulworth Equestrian Centre(Riding)
Purbeck Shooting School(Shooting)
Places to Stay near Wareham
Priory Hotel (0.22 miles)
The beautiful, historic, 16th century Priory Hotel with its riverside setting, is somewhere very special indeed. A perfect place to relax and unwind, where peace and tranquility prevail.
With open views of the abounding countryside, ... More
Springfield Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa (1.70 miles)
Family owned 67 bedroom hotel offering Standard, Superior and Executive Bedrooms. Ideally positioned for visiting Monkey World, Bovington Tank Museum, Corfe Castle & The World Heritage, Durasic Coastline.
The hotel has extensive Leisure & Spa ... More | visit website
Kemps Country House (2.75 miles)
Kemps Country House is situated in unspoilt Dorset countryside. Facing south, the hotel overlooks the Valley of the Frome and has wonderful views of the Purbeck Hills. Once a Victorian Rectory built in 1874, the house ... More | visit website
Rollington Farm House (4.23 miles)
Gloriously located in the heart of the Purbeck countryside, there’s a luxury bed and breakfast experience awaiting you at Rollington.
Within a recently converted building next to our farmhouse we have created two spacious ... More | visit website
Mortons House Hotel (4.28 miles)
Mortons House was built from Purbeck stone circa 1590 in the shape of an ‘E’ to honour Queen Elizabeth I and was formerly linked by underground tunnels to Corfe Castle. Traditional bedrooms make good ... More | visit website
Bradle Farmhouse (4.32 miles)
Alford House (4.55 miles)
Bona Vista Bed and Breakfast (4.70 miles)
Kimmeridge Farmhouse (4.89 miles)
Botany Farmhouse (5.03 miles)
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