Pictures of England
 Exploring the most Picturesque & Historic parts of England..

Pictures of Bridport

in the county of Dorset

A picture of Bridport

About Bridport

This is a pretty resort and market town forming part of the gateway to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

Bridport can be classed as having everything to please the holiday maker, it has a strong nautical atmosphere born of its long association with the sea, and its history as a flourishing rope making town during the great age of sailing ships. Rope making can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when King John requested the townsfolk to work "night and day to make as many cables as you can", this industry formed the back-bone of the economy with the prosperity of the town continuing into 18th and 19th century.

The town is also renowned for its net making industry which has existed for over 700 years. Nets from Bridport are used all over the world, the range of users is as diverse as fishing fleets of all countries, America's Space Shuttle, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club and international airlines.

In Bridport the eye is immediately drawn to its wonderful old buildings, quintessential thatched cottages stand behind lush hedges. Mostly the character of the town lies in its distinctly Georgian buildings, especially the handsome town hall with its graceful columns and pediment. The medieval parish church with its lovely chantry is a "must see" so too is the Tudor museum. You should also try to visit the Arts Centre.

The centre of the town has plenty of attractive shops, antique shops and galleries rub shoulders with modern chain stores and supermarkets. A feature of Bridport is its lively open-air market held on Wednesday and Saturday. Another feature is the band entertainment held in the colourful High Street, there really is something about browsing whilst listening to the stirring strains of a brass band! It also has sufficient restaurants, cafe's and pubs to satisfy the most discerning visitor.

On the southern edge of the town beside the river, lies one of the town's most important buildings, the picturesque thatched brewery - Palmers of Bridport. This is the only thatched brewery in England, noted for its excellent brewing skills, beautiful spread of buildings, and its splendid Victorian copper equipment proudly kept in superb condition. The brewery once relied heavily on its waterside position for both transportation of its beer and for power. The river is no longer navigable, beer is transported by road, but plans are in place to restore the ancient water wheel back to its former glory.

Close to Bridport is West Bay and Eype. The soft sandstone cliffs west of Eype are of a rugged appearance which is constantly being changed by the gales sweeping in from Lyme Bay.

This is a glorious area to explore, you get the very best of several worlds all entwined to ensure tourists take away happy memories of a vibrant market town, magical coastline, picturesque river banks and mile after mile of lovely pastoral countryside.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Bridport

Golden Cap(3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction W)Pictures
Abbotsbury Gardens(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction SE)Pictures
Lyme Regis Museum(7.7 miles, 12.3 km, direction W)Pictures
Dinosaurland(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction W)Pictures
Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium(7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction W)Pictures
St Catherine's Chapel(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction SE)Pictures
Abbotsbury Tithe Barn(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SE)Pictures
Abbotsbury Swannery(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SE)Pictures
Abbotsbury Abbey(8.9 miles, 14.4 km, direction SE)Pictures
The Nine Stones(9.1 miles, 14.7 km, direction E)Pictures
Forde Abbey(9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction NW)Pictures
Chesil Beach(11.2 miles, 18.0 km, direction SE)Pictures
Cricket St Thomas House(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction NW)Pictures
The Wildlife Park at Cricket St. Thomas(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction NW)Pictures
Maiden Castle(12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction E)Pictures

All attractions in Bridport
All attractions in Dorset
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Bridport

West Bay, in the county of Dorset (1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction S)
West Bay nestles at the western end of spectacular Chesil Beach whose billions of pebbles have been a constant source of fascination for centuries.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Burton Bradstock, a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset (2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction SE)
This in one of the most enchanting villages to be found along the sweeping Dorset coast. It has gorgeous little lanes where...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Seatown, in the county of Dorset (2.9 miles, 4.6 km, direction W)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Powerstock, in the county of Dorset (3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction NE)
The village is completely pastoral and appears to be protected by a maze of deep lanes which once negotiated, reveal a gracious collection of orchards, gardens and enchanting cottages set at angles on a series of knolls.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Netherbury, in the county of Dorset (4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Pilsdon, in the county of Dorset (5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction NW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Beaminster, in the county of Dorset (5.3 miles, 8.6 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Charmouth, in the county of Dorset (6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction W)
This pretty resort grew up in a gap of cliffs overlooking picturesque Lyme Bay. In the days prior to the motor car it was a...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lyme Regis, in the county of Dorset (7.9 miles, 12.6 km, direction W)
Almost the first thing you notice about this pleasant seaside resort, is the spaciousness of the town. The second, and nothing can prepare you for this, is the sheer scale of Lyme Bay with its splendid views towards the rugged sandstone cliffs west of Eype Mouth.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Abbotsbury, a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset (8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction SE)
Abbotsbury is a small picturesque and historic village in the county of Dorset.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Axminster, in the county of Devon (10.9 miles, 17.6 km, direction W)
Famous for its carpets often likened to Turkish, Axminster was one of the first West Saxon settlements formed along the River Axe in Devon.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sydling St Nicholas, in the county of Dorset (11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction E)
This is a particularly scenic village lying deep in a chalk-stream valley between open downs. Every approach to it is beautiful, whether crossing the hills from Cerne Abbas or Maiden Newton, or coming up the waters of the River Cerne between meadows flooded with spring lambs and ponies.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Langton Herring, in the county of Dorset (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction SE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Melbury Osmond, in the county of Dorset (11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction NE)
A long, winding lane, flanked by grassy banks covered in fern and wild flowers, leads to the picture postcard village of Melbury Osmond
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Axmouth, in the county of Devon (12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction W)
This quiet resort of colourwashed cottages sitting at the edge of the River Axe was once an important south Devon port.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Dorset
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Maiden Newton Station(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction E)
Crewkerne Station(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction N)
M5 Junction 25(23.7 miles, 38.2 km, direction NW)
M5 Junction 26(24.9 miles, 40.1 km, direction NW)
Exeter Airport(29.1 miles, 46.8 km, direction W)
Bournemouth Airport(40.8 miles, 65.7 km, direction E)
Bridport to London(126.4 miles, 203.4 km, direction NE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Bridport

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Bridport center
Eype's Mouth Country Hotel(1.4 miles, 2.3 km, direction SW)
Marquis Of Lorne(3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction NE)
Bridge House, Beaminster(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction N)
Fairwater Head Hotel(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction NW)
The Manor Arms(9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction N)
Summer Lodge Hotel(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction NE)
The Lordleaze Hotel And Restaurant(12.5 miles, 20.2 km, direction NW)
Bellplot House Hotel(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction NW)
Little Court(13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction E)
The Wessex Royale Hotel(14.1 miles, 22.6 km, direction E)
All hotels in Bridport

User Login

UK Hotel Search

Please support this site by booking your England hotels..

Enter destination:

(town, attraction, airport, postcode or hotel name)
Select date:
Nights:
Rooms:
Up to 70% OFF hotel room prices in association with Laterooms.com

Picture Tours

More


Day Sightseeing Tours with the London Pass

England Hotels
Discount hotels in
England and the
UK. Find UK
Accommodation..