Wareham is a charming market town set at the junction of the Frome and Piddle Rivers. The town dates back to Roman times and is brimming with history. Walk around the Saxon-era fortified walls, peer into a medieval church and admire elegant Georgian buildings. Wareham is also a gateway to the beautiful Dorset countryside and the Isle of Purbeck, where you can discover sandy beaches, ancient castles and dinosaur fossils.
Things to do in Wareham
Wareham Quay is a hive of activity and hosts family-friendly events throughout the summer. Stock up on farm-fresh produce at the weekly market and enjoy a picnic on the foreshore. Paddle steamers cruise along the river and take you past postcard-perfect countryside.
Wareham may be one of the prettiest towns in Dorset but it has a grisly past. Over the centuries, it’s survived Viking raids and Civil War battles. Wareham Town Museum occupies the handsome Victorian town hall and features exhibits on the people, places and events that have shaped Wareham over the last 2,000 years. Don’t miss the exhibit dedicated to T.E. Lawrence, the beloved British archaeologist known as Lawrence of Arabia.
The Isle of Purbeck juts into the English Channel and is famous for rugged chalk cliffs. Wareham is a great base to explore the peninsula, which is part of the Jurassic Coast. Bask on the white-sand beaches of Studland, explore the charming historic village of Corfe Castle and hunt for dinosaur fossils on Kimmeridge Beach.
Venture into the Dorset countryside to discover a patchwork of rolling hills and farmland. The Wareham Two Rivers Walks are short and scenic, following a series of waterfront paths and country lanes.
Getting around Wareham
Wareham is compact and easy to get around on foot. Trains run between Wareham and Southampton in under one hour. The town is a 15-minute drive from Poole and one hour from Southampton. Heathrow Airport in London is a two-hour drive away.