Introduction
What to do
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Shaftesbury travel guide

Shaftesbury Tourism | Shaftesbury Guide

You're Going to Love Shaftesbury

With a population of 6,813, Shaftesbury is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. Consider staying at least one whole day in Shaftesbury to see all of its attractions.

Article

When to visit Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury in February
Estimated hotel price
£77
1 night at 3-star hotel
Shaftesbury in February
Estimated hotel price
£77
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Shaftesbury

Plane

Although Shaftesbury doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 56 km from Shaftesbury. Bristol Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from British Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Shaftesbury departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Shaftesbury, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Shaftesbury to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about £24 for a 1h 42m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Shaftesbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 154 km from Shaftesbury. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Shaftesbury using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Shaftesbury takes 217 km and will cost you around £11. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 217 km.

Plane

Although Shaftesbury doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 56 km from Shaftesbury. Bristol Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from British Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Shaftesbury departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Shaftesbury, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Shaftesbury to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about £24 for a 1h 42m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Shaftesbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 154 km from Shaftesbury. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Shaftesbury using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Shaftesbury takes 217 km and will cost you around £11. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 217 km.

Airports near Shaftesbury

BRSBristol
LHRLondon Heathrow
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Shaftesbury

KLM
Good (1,443 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,744 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,694 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,110 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,204 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,859 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,098 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,194 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,728 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,523 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,486 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (894 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,652 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,662 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,374 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,143 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,356 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,173 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,436 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (382 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Shaftesbury

Most booked hotels in Shaftesbury

See all
The Grosvenor Arms
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£94+
View
La Fleur De Lys
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£119+
View
Wedgewood Annexe - All the comforts of home
0 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£89+
View
Lodbourne Farmhouse B&B
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£122+
View
The Benett Arms
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£97+
View
Holbrook Bed and Breakfast
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£86+
View

Hiring a car in Shaftesbury

Hiring a car in Shaftesbury costs £30 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 11% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.33 per litre in Shaftesbury (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.86 and £21.15.

Hiring a car in Shaftesbury costs £30 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 11% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.33 per litre in Shaftesbury (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.86 and £21.15.