Things to do inBlandford

Sitting on the banks of the River Stour, the market town of Blandford is one of the best-preserved Georgian towns in England. Ravaged by fire in 1713 and again in 1731 very few earlier buildings remain, except the Ryves Almshouses in Salisbury Street and the Old House in The Close. Today, this thriving town has a wide choice of shops that sit around the attractive marketplace. Markets are held on Thursdays and Saturdays, with regular indoor markets at the Corn Exchange and a Farmers' Market on the second Friday of each month.

The town celebrates its Georgian heritage with a biennial colourful street fair, which sees the town centre thronging with musicians, entertainers and costumed stallholders. The Great Dorset Steam Fair takes place at nearby Tarrant Hinton over 5 days in late August and is the largest event in the area's calendar. Literally hundreds of steam-driven engines, merry organs and fair rides of yesteryear attract annual crowds in excess of 200,000, many of whom set up camp in nearby fields. The Royal Signals Museum offers entertainment for all the family: visitors can discover what it was like to be a secret agent or spy, break the Enigma code, or learn more about our special forces. Those who enjoy walking can take their pick from riverside paths or head out to some of North Dorset's finest countryside, there are plenty of country lanes and waymarked trails to explore.