Swanage Getaway
Food scene
Love and Cake
20 Sanway ClShabby chic interior, fabulous home made food, cakes and coffee. A must for breakfast.
The Salt Pig
6 North StFabulous farm to table eatery using locally sourced produce.
Cliff top restaurant with stunning views overlooking Studland. Local produce, kitchen garden, fabulous food.
165 locals recommend
The Pig on the Beach
Manor RoadCliff top restaurant with stunning views overlooking Studland. Local produce, kitchen garden, fabulous food.
Brook Tea Rooms
15 The ParadeSeafront cafe offering home cooked food, speciality teas and coffee.
Neighbourhoods
The National Trust's Studland Beach, Dorset, is a vast area of sandy beaches and heathland with views of Old Harry Rocks.
69 locals recommend
Studland
The National Trust's Studland Beach, Dorset, is a vast area of sandy beaches and heathland with views of Old Harry Rocks.
Sightseeing
Expansive, clifftop nature reserve with a visitor centre/gallery in a renovated Victorian castle. Access to the Jurassic Coastal path.
81 locals recommend
Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve
Lighthouse RoadExpansive, clifftop nature reserve with a visitor centre/gallery in a renovated Victorian castle. Access to the Jurassic Coastal path.
A restored Victorian pier, offering views of the bay, strolling, fishing, scuba diving, boat trips and more.
31 locals recommend
Swanage Pier
Swanage PierA restored Victorian pier, offering views of the bay, strolling, fishing, scuba diving, boat trips and more.
The Swanage Railway offers a more intensive heritage steam and diesel timetable train service than virtually any other preserved railway. Take the steam train to Corfe Castle for a fabulous day out.
80 locals recommend
Swanage Railway station
Station RoadThe Swanage Railway offers a more intensive heritage steam and diesel timetable train service than virtually any other preserved railway. Take the steam train to Corfe Castle for a fabulous day out.
Secluded blue waters and pebble beach, coastal path and beautiful surrounding country side. UNESCO world heritage site.
383 locals recommend
Lulworth Cove
Secluded blue waters and pebble beach, coastal path and beautiful surrounding country side. UNESCO world heritage site.
Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular beauty spot.
403 locals recommend
Durdle Door
Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular beauty spot.
Home to over 250 rescued and endangered monkeys and apes.
319 locals recommend
Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre
LongthornsHome to over 250 rescued and endangered monkeys and apes.
Island wildlife sanctuary in the middle of Poole Harbour, with dramatic views to the Purbeck Hills. Thriving natural habitats, including woodland, heathland and a lagoon, have created havens for wildlife, such as the red squirrel and a huge variety of birds, including the sandwich tern. You'll find peacocks and hens wandering near the 19th-century church.
204 locals recommend
Brownsea Island
Island wildlife sanctuary in the middle of Poole Harbour, with dramatic views to the Purbeck Hills. Thriving natural habitats, including woodland, heathland and a lagoon, have created havens for wildlife, such as the red squirrel and a huge variety of birds, including the sandwich tern. You'll find peacocks and hens wandering near the 19th-century church.
The dramatic ruins of the Castle stand on a natural hill and guard the main route through the Purbeck Hills. Corfe Castle has been a Saxon stronghold, a Norman fortress, a royal palace and a family home in its ten centuries of dominating the Purbeck landscape.
425 locals recommend
Corfe Castle
The dramatic ruins of the Castle stand on a natural hill and guard the main route through the Purbeck Hills. Corfe Castle has been a Saxon stronghold, a Norman fortress, a royal palace and a family home in its ten centuries of dominating the Purbeck landscape.
Standing tall on Handfast Point at the southern end of Studland Bay is one of the most famous landmarks on the South Coast – Old Harry. Three chalk stone rock stacks carved by the waves.
152 locals recommend
Old Harry Rocks
Standing tall on Handfast Point at the southern end of Studland Bay is one of the most famous landmarks on the South Coast – Old Harry. Three chalk stone rock stacks carved by the waves.
The Tank Museum brings history to life, with the world’s best collection of tanks and explosive live displays.
247 locals recommend
The Tank Museum
Linsay RoadThe Tank Museum brings history to life, with the world’s best collection of tanks and explosive live displays.
Swanage Information Centre
Tourist Information - everything you need to know.
City advice
Getting around
Purbeck Breezer Bus
Take the Breezer from Swanage Station to Bournemouth via the ferry.
Getting around
Swanage Railway
Take the steam train to Corfe Castle for a great day out.
Don't miss
Farmers Market
Swanage Market is held weekly on Fridays in the Main Beach Car Park (Victoria Avenue) from 8am until approximately 1pm.
The friendly traders sell a wide range of goods and fresh produce and there are takeway food and drink stalls too.
Getting around
D5 bus
Operates in the Summer months offering service from Durlston (stop at the top Newton Road) down to the town and beach.
Don't miss
Swanage Blues Festival
March 3-6 2022 40 gigs of acoustic and electric blues-based music in 15 indoor venues, plus buskers, open mic and jam sessions, and Stan's Blues Jamboree.
Don't miss
Swanage Carnival Week
30 July - 6 Aug 2022 - The week long event begins on Saturday night with a large firework display followed by the procession of decorated floats and bands on Sunday afternoon.
The grand finale is on the following Saturday with a massive fireworks display and music from the local bands playing throughout the evening.
Don't miss
Swanage Film Festival
Late October - Screenings of over 70 films from around the world in over 30 venues across Purbeck, Poole and Bournemouth.
Don't miss
Swanage Folk Festival
9-11 Sept 2022 - a weekend of concerts, traditional dance displays, dance & music workshops, children’s activities, music sessions and ceilidh.