I visited the Dorset gem with world-class art and the UK’s ‘quirkiest’ loo

Famed for its Jurassic Coast, the whimsical New Forest and charming towns like Bournemouth and Swanage, it’s no wonder that 10 million visitors enjoy a Dorset day trip every year.

But in a county often defined by its coastline, the towns away from the sea can get overlooked.

That’s why I headed to Sherborne, 25 miles inland, in northwest Dorset.

This small medieval market town moves at a gentler pace than the busier tourist hotspots. No queues spilling out of cafés, no rushing between ‘must-sees’ — just honey-coloured buildings, church bells signaling the time, and a high street of independents.

And, with beloved bakeries and fine dining, it’s pretty clear to me that food lovers are sleeping on Sherborne.

Here’s everything I got up to when I visited this underrated gem — and why you should consider it for your next day-trip.

How to spend a day in Sherborne

The heart of the town is Sherborne Abbey, which you can spot at the end of almost every street.

Dating back to 705 AD, two Saxon kings are buried here. It’s also home to an impressive fan-vaulted roof, and the stunning stained-glass Great West Window.

I used the Abbey,‘the cathedral of Dorset’, as a touchstone for my visit — turn left at the Abbey, one more photo by the Abbey — its golden stone shifting colour as the day went on.

Entry is free, and during the summer months, there are free guided tours, the timings of which are available on their website.

But while this town is stepped in spiritual history, to me, locals seemed to have another religion: food.

Life here seemed to centre around eating. Bakeries with a line of regulars, restaurants filled with familiar faces, cafés where no one is in a hurry to leave.

Lunch at Oxford’s Bakery was a clear example of this. Open for more than 200 years, and still using ovens installed in 1921, it isn’t a tourist trap — it’s part of daily life.

The head baker, Steve Oxford tells me that locals used to bring their Christmas turkeys here to cook, and during Covid, he hired the town’s taxi drivers to deliver bread when people couldn’t leave their homes.

It felt less like a stop on an itinerary and more like an institution — the kind of place that quietly holds a community together.

In between meals, I engaged in the ultimate day trip activity: wandering about.

The rooms of Sherborne Antiques Market seem to go on forever, filled with everything from delicate glassware to weathered wooden furniture.

On Cheap Street, more antique shops and small boutiques appear one after the other.

When I did finally pull myself away, I find myself at the town’s best-kept secret, The Sherborne, a contemporary arts space inside a former school.

When I visited, there were two Quentin Blake exhibition, one displaying 100 portraits, and another showcasing a new series of illustrations all based on the theme of lift, flight or being ‘airborne’.

Open until spring 2026, admission is again free, but The Sherborne asked for a £10 donation for those who are able to.

And, before you leave, do make sure you pop to the loo. This space houses an award-winning bathroom, bestowed ‘Quirky Award’ at the Loo of the Year Awards 2026.

And I have to agreethat is quite possibly the nicest loo I’ve ever seen, with wood panelled doors, plush seating and statement wallpaper.

From here it’s an easy stroll to the landscaped grounds of Sherborne Castle, or out towards the romantic ruins of Sherborne Old Castle, the path flat and open, the countryside rolling out in that soft, very Dorset way.

For dinner, I headed to The Clockspire, about 10 minutes drive from the centre and, according to every local we spoke to, the fanciest place to eat for miles.

Inside, the scale of the room is striking: soaring ceilings, vast arched windows and candlelight that turns every table into a little stage. It’s grand; the kind of place that makes dinner feel like an event, but the warmth is immediate.

Staff greet guests like old friends, conversations ripple across the space and wine glasses are topped up almost as soon as they’re set down.

The food matched the mood: slow-cooked pork belly with sharp rhubarb and a cloud of bacon foam, stone bass with nori, fennel and caramelised apple in a cider sauce, and a salted chocolate parfait with yoghurt sorbet. The cost of the food and drinks for two people was just over £160.

For somewhere so elegant, it feels deeply personal, less like a restaurant, more like the town’s most special dining room.

That’s what makes Sherborne such a perfect staycation. Beautiful and historic, but never a backdrop. Plenty to do, yet completely relaxing.

But what I loved most of all is that it has a real sense of community. It’s the kind of place people greet each other in the street and where the places you eat actually matter.

By the end of the day, I realised I hadn’t checked my phone properly in hours.

Dorset may be famous for its coast, but for a slower and more satisfying escape, I’d choose Sherborne every time.

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