Gold Hill
The part of Shaftesbury perhaps most known to people is Gold Hill, an area that dates back to the Saxon period and was forever immortalised in the 1970's advertisement for Hovis bread. The image of a young boy pushing a bicycle up the cobbled street of Gold Hill to the tune of Antonín Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 9 says a lot about the picturesque pastoral surroundings of Shaftesbury, and from the top of the hill you will be rewarded with panoramic views of Blackmore Vale.
Also at the top of Gold Hill is the Gold Hill Museum and Garden, housed in a traditional sandstone cottage. Full of artefacts, ceramics, tools, textiles and photographs, the museum is a fascinating place to spend a few hours and learn about the history of the area. The museum also features an award-winning garden – an ideal place to unwind and enjoy the view. Another picturesque spot in Shaftesbury is Park Walk, a popular place for locals to meet and relax surrounded by fantastic views of Blackmore Vale and the Dorset skyline.
Historical buildings
There are a number of historical buildings in Shaftesbury. An important driving force behind much of the town's prosperity was Shaftesbury Abbey, destroyed as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. While the abbey itself may have been destroyed, the excavated foundations remain and are definitely worth visiting if you're interested in the history of the town. Around the foundations is a walled garden, featuring an Anglo-Saxon herb garden.
The oldest surviving building in Shaftesbury is St Peter's Church, dating from 1623. Two other historical churches in the area are St James' Church, totally rebuilt in 1867, and Holy Trinity Church, located in Bimport and rebuilt in 1842.
Culture
If you're interested in the local art scene in Shaftesbury, Shaftesbury Arts Centre showcases a range of theatre, music and visual art. The centre also contains a cinema and features a variety of events, talks and workshops. Also worth checking out is the Hine Collection Of Mechanical Music, an intriguing collection of dance, fairground and street organs including an 89-Key Gavioli 'Black Forest' Fairorgan and a 46-Key Gavioliphone. Even if you're not a musical expert, the museum is still an interesting place to pay a visit.
Further afield
If you're travelling by car, there are a number of attractions within easy driving distance of Shaftesbury. Hambledon Hill is a nearby Iron Age hill fort set amidst the beautiful scenery of Hambledon Nature Reserve. Knowlton Church is an English Heritage Site that features a ruined Norman church and Badbury Rings is another Iron Age hill fort dating from around 800BC. Travel to Sherborne and you'll come across Sherborne Old Castle, an impressive set of ruins and a great place for a picnic.
