Swanage
Town
Shore Road
Swanage
Dorset
BH19 1LB
Tel: +44 01929 422885
This small town surrounds a beautiful curved bay and offers a seaside experience with a difference. Enjoy the soft sand and the award winning beach front whilst being surrounded by Purbeck’s natural beauty and wildlife. Make your first port of call the Tourist Information Centre on Shore Road.
Although the area is now known as Swanage, it used to be home to dinosaurs and Viking invasions. The town itself grew from the stone industry and all around Purbeck Stone was quarried. At one point if a man wasn’t a quarryman he would have been a sailor.
One Victorian (George Burt) made the trade big business working in high profile areas of London and took an interest in street furniture that was being removed in the city. He brought it back using it as ballast and now Swanage is dotted with lots of old London landmarks including frontages and columns from such buildings as Billingsgate Fish Market and the structure of Wellington’s Clock Tower. You can find out more by walking the town trails, leaflets for which are available at Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre in The Square.
Swanage has many attractions including the pier, the beach, watersports and diving, boat trips, amusement arcades, beach gardens, heritage centre and Swanage Railway. There is also the Purbeck Way walking route and South West Coast Path to explore Purbeck's countryside and the Jurassic Coast.
One of the area’s greatest attractions, Durlston County Park, is also adjacent to the town. This is a large National Nature Reserve with lots of activities for children plus it is one of the best bird and dolphin watching areas in the country.
What's Nearby
Swanage Railway
Enjoy a nostalgic steam-train ride on the Purbeck line. Steam trains run most weekends throughout...
0.06 miles awaySwanage Tourist Information Centre
Just across the road from the beach is Swanage's own Tourist Information Centre. You can pick up...
0.09 miles awaySwanage Beach Bungalows
Beach huts are let on a daily or weekly basis. They are a popular feature and are provided with a...
0.1 miles awayLeslie Gibbons A.T.D The Owl Pottery, Craft Worksh
Workshop and shop housed in a Listed building of special architectural and historic interest...
0.14 miles away
Swanage Beach
The beach is one of the main attractions of the town with thousands flocking to Swanage every...
0.17 miles awaySwanage Museum and Heritage Centre
The Museum and Heritage Centre is situated in the Old Market Building (built in the 1890's) on...
0.19 miles awaySwanage Pier
Swanage Pier was built in 1896 and was originally used for the thriving paddle steamer industry...
0.44 miles awayHarrow House Residential Educational Facility
With over 40 years’ experience of welcoming residential educational groups, Harrow House...
0.53 miles awaySwanage Lifeboat Station
Working Station, open daily unless any emergencies arise.
0.55 miles awaySwanage Beach Gardens
Tennis Courts - Basketball courts - Bowls - 18 Hole Putting Course - Equipment available to hire -...
0.62 miles awayOld Harry Rocks
The Old Harry Rocks are two chalk sea stacks located at Handfast Point, on the Isle of Purbeck in...
2.88 miles awayBurngate Stone Carving Centre
About us
Burngate Stone Carving Centre is in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, on the world famous...3.18 miles awayStudland Beach and Nature Reserve
Fine sandy beaches stretch continuously for 3 miles from South Haven Point to the chalk cliffs of...
3.5 miles awayBrownsea Island Open Air Theatre
One of the biggest theatrical projects in the south, the annual production is set on The National...
5.46 miles awayCorfe Castle Model Village and Gardens
Detailed 1/20th scale model of Corfe Castle and village before its destruction by Cromwell. Set in...
5.63 miles awayCorfe Castle
A 1000 years of history provides 1000 reasons to visit one of Britain's most important and dramatic...
5.73 miles away
