Discover Bridport, Dorset’s Unique Market Town Near the Sea

Of all of the market towns in Dorset, Bridport feels the most unique (although we could be a little biased). This lovely place - which we’re proud to call home - is a place where life still revolves around its centuries-old market and rope industry. 

Bridport’s trade and craft heritage has kept it as a place with its feet firmly on the ground. We love that the town is less polished than Sherborne and less formal than Blanford, yet still has an unmistakable character that makes it as interesting as both. 

So whether you’re staying with us or you’re visiting Bridport from elsewhere, there is so much about Bridport to discover and so many things to do whilst you're here. To help, this is our guide to all the things that we think make Bridport a Dorset must-visit

Bridport, West Dorset - one of the region's loveliest market towns

Bridport’s Fascinating History

Historic must-visits:

The Chantry: The oldest building in town (pre-1300), located on South Street.

St Mary's Church: A 13th-century building with early architectural features.

Palmers Brewery: One of the oldest independent breweries in England, offering tours.

Town Hall: Built in 1786 with a distinctive cupola and clock tower.

Bridport is no new kid on the block. The town was established as one of Alfred the Great’s four fortified Saxon burghs in the late 9th century and remained an important settlement for decades thereafter. It was even recorded as having its own ‘mint’ in the 10th century. 

At first, Bridport was known as Bridian , but its name changed in the early Middle Ages to Bridgeport - in those days ‘port’ meant a place of trade rather than a seaport, although there is some indication that a small harbour did exist a mile inland from the town’s modern coastal harbour, West Bay. 

Sometime in the 13th or 14th century, a new town of Bridport was established, formed in a T-shaped layout with wide streets - East, South and West Street - which are still a unique feature of the town today.

In 1253, King Henry III granted a Royal Charter to Bridport, officially establishing it as a Royal Borough and recognising its economic importance, particularly in rope-making (which we’ll come to next). This charter permitted the town to hold weekly markets, a right that was later reaffirmed by Elizabeth I. 

Throughout the centuries, Bridport continued to grow and with it came many historic tales of royalty and military skirmishes taking place in the town. One of our favourite stories is the one about Charles II in 1651. The King was hiding in the town at the ‘Old George Inn’ in East Street after his defeat by Oliver Cromwell, when he was almost captured by troops. 

Fortunately, he fled in the nick of time, escaping on his horse and leaving England for France. The ‘Old George Inn’ is now a charity shop, but you can still see an inscription commemorating this famous moment on the outside of the shop. Just look up!

Bridport's market has been running almost continuously for centuries

Bridport’s Market and Rope-Making Heritage

Heritage must-visits:

Bridport Museum: Offers a deep dive into the town’s rope-making history.

The Ropemakers Pub: named in honour of the industry and built by the Gundry family (who dominated the rope-making trade).

St. Michael’s Trading Estate: former ropeworks buildings reimagined as a lively arts and vintage quarter

Bridport Market: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 am - 3 pm.

Despite the relatively small size of the town, Bridport was world-famous for rope-making - thanks to the surrounding land, which was ideal for growing hemp and flax. 

So important was Bridport’s rope that it was used by the Royal Navy for centuries. The rope from Bridport was also used for making hangmen’s nooses, giving rise to the phrase, “to be stabbed with a Bridport dagger”.

Over time, as industries changed, Bridport’s rope-making declined, although the town does still produce nets for Wimbledon and sports events. Take a visit to the Bridport Museum, and you’ll gain fascinating insights into the process of rope-making and its history. 

Bridport is also famous for its weekly outdoor market, which we urge you to visit whilst you’re staying with us. This historic fixture has run almost continuously since the 11th century - and is always popular with locals and visitors. 

On Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am until the afternoon, the streets fill with stalls selling fresh produce, antiques, handmade crafts, and vintage finds - all set against a backdrop of Georgian buildings and independent shops.

We’re big fans of the market, and you may see us down there browsing the antique stalls for treasures to bring back for our beautiful rooms at Outbuildings. You can easily lose a morning exploring the streets shaped by centuries of trade and craftsmanship, perusing the stalls and chatting to the sellers; it’s a great way to experience the real personality of our town and to pick up some original souvenirs and gifts to take home with you.

West Bay is Bridport's nearest harbour, with golden cliffs made famous by Broadchurch

Bridport’s Jurassic Landscape

Coastal must-visits:

West Bay: Pretty fishing harbour with famous golden cliffs (best viewed from the pier to see them in full glory). 

West Bay Discovery Centre: A wonderful award-winning centre showcasing West Bay’s history and running guided walks around West Bay.

The sea is a part of everyday life here in Bridport, despite our market town sitting inland. That’s because Bridport has West Bay - a harbour to the south of the town and a gateway to the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. It means a market morning can easily turn into an afternoon sipping Aperol Spritz by the water, without any real effort!

Millions of years ago, the area of West Bay and Bridport was submerged beneath a warm, shallow sea. Over time, sediment built up, compressed, and eventually formed the rock and cliffs you see today in West Bay. 

Visiting West Bay’s remarkable golden cliffs and dog-friendly beach - made famous by the ITV series, Broadchurch - has to be on your list to visit. Although we do not recommend fossil hunting underneath the cliffs or exploring them too closely. Sadly, erosion plays a huge role here, and landslips are common. 

If you do fancy fossil hunting, Charmouth and Lyme Regis are much safer options.   

Bridport's Electric Palace - a beautifully refurbished 1920s' Art Deco cinema

Bridport’s Creative Personality

Cultural must-visits:

Bridport Arts Centre: theatre, music, exhibitions and more.

The Electric Palace: 1920s’ Art Deco cinema hosting a range of film, live music and comedy.

Bridport’s prosperity was built on craftsmen and women, so it's no wonder that the town is still home to many artisan producers today. In fact, Bridport is gaining national recognition for its vibrant cultural scene - and is already world-famous because of its literary competition, the Bridport Prize. 

As well as several independent art galleries and bookshops, Bridport plays host to a steady stream of creative and cultural events.

The Bridport Arts Centre offers a year-round programme of film, theatre, and exhibitions. Many fun festivals take place down here too, including the music festival Jurassic Fields and the amusing Hat Festival!

Bridport is also no stranger to famous faces. Chris Chibnall is just one of the creative incomers who have helped sustain Bridport’s reputation in recent years. Having found success writing for Doctor Who, Torchwood and Life on Mars, he brought his family to live in Bridport and discovered the inspiration for Broadchurch in the local landscapes.

Mercury Prize-winning musician,  PJ Harvey, is Bridport-born and bred and don’t be surprised if you see Billy Bragg in the area too. 

Happy Exploring!

The Outbuildings Team