Sightseeing
Beautiful National Trust spot, with amazing views, and often activities for the whole family (check before you go). You can get the steam train there from Swanage, or walk if you're feeling energetic!
425 locals recommend
Corfe Castle
Beautiful National Trust spot, with amazing views, and often activities for the whole family (check before you go). You can get the steam train there from Swanage, or walk if you're feeling energetic!
It's a good walk over the hill to Studland. 40mins to 2hours depending on the route (direct over or around the coast past Old Harry Rocks) and the length of / energy in your legs. Worth it though, and there's a nice cafe on the beach when you get there.
72 locals recommend
Studland Bay
It's a good walk over the hill to Studland. 40mins to 2hours depending on the route (direct over or around the coast past Old Harry Rocks) and the length of / energy in your legs. Worth it though, and there's a nice cafe on the beach when you get there.
This is a nice easy walk through the woods, with beautiful views back over Swanage as you go. There's a gift shop, loos and a cafe when you get there (and a rope swing in the woods on the way if the small people need bribing to go...)
20 locals recommend
Durlston Castle
Lighthouse RoadThis is a nice easy walk through the woods, with beautiful views back over Swanage as you go. There's a gift shop, loos and a cafe when you get there (and a rope swing in the woods on the way if the small people need bribing to go...)
This is awesome: people come from miles away to see the original steam engines. You can watch, listen and smell as they head off into the hills to Corfe Castle, or jump on board for a ride, or even for a fancy lunch if you pre-book.
80 locals recommend
Swanage Railway station
Station RoadThis is awesome: people come from miles away to see the original steam engines. You can watch, listen and smell as they head off into the hills to Corfe Castle, or jump on board for a ride, or even for a fancy lunch if you pre-book.
Brownsea Island is an internationally important nature reserve featuring rare wildlife, including red squirrels and wading birds. Located at the heart of Poole Harbour, it is managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, in partnership with the National Trust and part of The Great Heath Living Landscape.
Opening times
• Winter weekends 10am to 4pm starting 1st February to 8th March
• Island opens daily 10am to 5pm from 14th March to 1st November
• Island open daily 10am to 4pm from 2nd November to 15th November
• Winter closure from 16th November 2020
Best time to visit
Early in the year for winter bird visitors, summer for breeding terns and autumn for red squirrel watching.
Park at Sandbanks, and catch the ferry across to the island
204 locals recommend
Brownsea Island
Brownsea Island is an internationally important nature reserve featuring rare wildlife, including red squirrels and wading birds. Located at the heart of Poole Harbour, it is managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, in partnership with the National Trust and part of The Great Heath Living Landscape.
Opening times
• Winter weekends 10am to 4pm starting 1st February to 8th March
• Island opens daily 10am to 5pm from 14th March to 1st November
• Island open daily 10am to 4pm from 2nd November to 15th November
• Winter closure from 16th November 2020
Best time to visit
Early in the year for winter bird visitors, summer for breeding terns and autumn for red squirrel watching.
Park at Sandbanks, and catch the ferry across to the island
Food scene
Delicious, locally sourced and homemade food, cosy interior and great service. Definitely worth a visit.
38 locals recommend
Love Cake Etc
42 High StDelicious, locally sourced and homemade food, cosy interior and great service. Definitely worth a visit.
We all have our favourite chippy, and this is mine. Can't be beaten. Eating salty fish and chips out of the newspaper, sitting on the sea wall: life doesn't get much better.
28 locals recommend
The Fish Plaice
14 The SqWe all have our favourite chippy, and this is mine. Can't be beaten. Eating salty fish and chips out of the newspaper, sitting on the sea wall: life doesn't get much better.
The biggest and the best ice creams in Swanage, and the best range of flavours. Try the special: there's a different one every week!
Fortes Gelateria
Institute RoadThe biggest and the best ice creams in Swanage, and the best range of flavours. Try the special: there's a different one every week!
Rainy Day Activities
Lovely little cinema and theatre on the sea front. Check to see what's on, but take a jumper in the winter: it can be cold in there!
18 locals recommend
The Mowlem Theatre
Shore RoadLovely little cinema and theatre on the sea front. Check to see what's on, but take a jumper in the winter: it can be cold in there!
...when it's a rainy day, there are worse things you could do than change up £2 for a kilogram of pennies and play on the tipping point machines. The kids LOVE it (and if I'm honest, it's actually really fun when you get into it, but shhhhh...).
K’s Funworld Swanage
11 Shore Rd...when it's a rainy day, there are worse things you could do than change up £2 for a kilogram of pennies and play on the tipping point machines. The kids LOVE it (and if I'm honest, it's actually really fun when you get into it, but shhhhh...).
For rainy days, or for summer days when you need to cool down, Splashdown is a great option. It's on Tower Park, a leisure complex in Poole, and is home to 13 thrilling indoor and outdoor flume rides and 3 under 5's splash zones.
63 locals recommend
Splashdown
Tower ParkFor rainy days, or for summer days when you need to cool down, Splashdown is a great option. It's on Tower Park, a leisure complex in Poole, and is home to 13 thrilling indoor and outdoor flume rides and 3 under 5's splash zones.