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We all need to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but sometimes it can be hard to fit in some ‘me time’ into our busy schedules.

Dorset Film and TV Locations With beautiful beaches, picturesque countryside, dramatic coastline and historic towns and villages, a holiday in Dorset is guaranteed to feature stunning scenery and its many charms have been winning over filmmakers for more than a century.

One of Britain’s most accessible and rewarding natural beauties, the Isle of Purbeck richly deserves its reputation as a first-rate holiday destination. The historic market town of Wareham is effectively the gateway to Purbeck and from its position on the River Frome was the region’s principal trading port until the rise of Poole in the 13th century. 

Spanning 185 million years of geology, the Jurassic Coast offers an unforgettable Dorset holiday in deep history! The 96-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches west from the cliffs that overlook Studland Bay and is unquestionably one of the most impressive natural wonders of the world.

Dorset’s quirky customs continue to baffle and bemuse those that live here, never mind the good people that come to visit, so here’s our handy guide to some of the more peculiar ones. Dorset Knob Throwing The Dorset Knob is a round savoury biscuit made by Moores of Morecombelake since 1880. The annual Knob Throwing festival also includes Knob Eating, Knob Painting, a Knob & Spoon Race, Guess the weight of the Big Knob and Knob Darts.

Famous as Thomas Hardy’s ‘vale of little dairies’ from his novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles, the Blackmore Vale lies at the heart of the Dorset AONB and the traditional dairy agriculture that for centuries flourished in the lush pastures of the Stour valley.

With so much to see and do on your holiday to Dorset, we have created our very own area visitor guides, to help you plan your next break to this beautiful county. Take inspiration from our guides written by the local team and discover the county's best hidden eateries and days out. To view the guides, simply click on one of the images below or select an area from the menu. Of course, if you do need a hand planning your next getaway to Dorset, our friendly team are always willing to help.

Whatever you bring to Bridport and West Dorset make sure to pack your healthiest appetite – it’s a gourmand’s heaven! Bridport itself is home to the almost routinely excellent Bull Hotel. Built in 1535 it was the scene of a murder during the ill-fated Monmouth Rebellion and played host to Princess Victoria in 1834, but these days is far more likely to welcome TV and film actors, as well as the many locals and visitors drawn by its superb food.

Bridport is a bustling market town with a plethora of independent shops, several proactive arts venues, a wealth of highly regarded local food producers, well-established agricultural shows and the internationally noted annual hat festival – it’s easy to see why so many urbanites fall in love with Bridport’s near-perfect amalgam of all that’s great about Dorset’s towns, countryside and coastline.