Shopping in Dorset

Sherborne and Sturminster Newton are crammed with small, independent shops selling unusual quality gifts, art, antiques and independent fashion. Seek out Dorchester for antiques, bohemian Bridport for stylish ceramic homeware and Lyme Regis for souvenir fossils and fine arts linked to the Jurassic Coast. The market town of Blandford Forum is home to Badger Ales while Bridport's Palmers produces beers in a traditional thatched brewery; take some bottles home for a lingering taste of Dorset.

Visit a market somewhere in the county almost every day; pick up the occasional antique, hand crafted jewellery or plants for your garden borders from the colourful stalls at Shaftesbury, Dorchester, Christchurch, Wareham, Wimborne Minster and Weymouth.

There are farmers' markets across Dorset too; try Bridport, Poundbury or Christchurch for top-quality local produce, from beef and seafood to mustard and marmalade. It's a great chance to meet the producers and sample some delicious goods direct from the heart of Dorset.

Throughout the year, take your pick of Dorset's fetes, country shows and local festivals for an enjoyable shopping opportunity and the best of local produce. Strike off the beaten track for a totally different kind of retail experience and uncover potters and painters working in remote studios across the county.

Or for a complete family shopping experience, visit nearby Bournemouth for its mix of high-street chains and long-established department stores.