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.

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When to visit Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury in January
Estimated hotel price
£78
1 night at 3-star hotel
Shaftesbury in January
Estimated hotel price
£78
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 35 miles 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 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Shaftesbury, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Shaftesbury to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Nottingham, expect to pay about £40 for a 1h 50m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Shaftesbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 96 miles from Shaftesbury. You’ll find branches of Turo and Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Shaftesbury using National Express or FlixBus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Shaftesbury takes 115 miles and will cost you around £5. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £5 for a journey of 135 miles.

Plane

Although Shaftesbury doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 35 miles 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 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Shaftesbury, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Shaftesbury to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Nottingham, expect to pay about £40 for a 1h 50m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Shaftesbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 96 miles from Shaftesbury. You’ll find branches of Turo and Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Shaftesbury using National Express or FlixBus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Shaftesbury takes 115 miles and will cost you around £5. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £5 for a journey of 135 miles.

Airports near Shaftesbury

BRSBristol
LHRLondon Heathrow
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Shaftesbury

KLM
Good (1,412 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,579 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,004 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,534 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,045 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,788 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,025 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,027 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,664 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,419 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,493 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,462 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (874 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,308 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,584 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,061 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,320 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,137 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,407 reviews)
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Where to stay in popular areas of Shaftesbury

Most booked hotels in Shaftesbury

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La Fleur De Lys
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£125+
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Lodbourne Farmhouse B&B
3 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£124+
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King John Inn
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£94+
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The Grosvenor Arms
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£95+
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Holbrook Bed and Breakfast
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£87+
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The Benett Arms
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£108+
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Hiring a car in Shaftesbury

Expect to pay £1.36 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 £16.21 and £21.61.

Expect to pay £1.36 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 £16.21 and £21.61.