Blandford Forum is a town in Dorset. The town is noted for its Georgian architecture

Understand

Blandford Forum suffered a major fire in 1731 which destroyed most of the town leaving 480 families homeless. The town was rebuilt in the next ten years in a grand Goergian style to the designs of local architect brothers John and William Bastard.

The town has a population of 10,600. A major local employer is the army which has a camp (opened in 1724) two miles outside the town.

Get in

There is no train service to Blandford Forum. The nearest main line station is at Salisbury or Wimborne Minster. The town is 15 miles (24 km) from Poole railway station and 15 miles (24 km) miles from Bournemouth Airport. In order to reach the town by public transport, it is possible to take the X8 service from Poole (hourly, takes 40 minutes), the 20 service from Salisbury (four trips per day, takes 52 minutes), the X10 from Yeovil (every two hours, 105 minutes), or the X12 from Weymouth (every two hours, 70 minutes).

Get around

Blandford Forum is a small town, and so sees a very limited bus service (only one route runs around the town every half hour). However, the town is small enough for walking to be convenient. There are also local taxi firms.

See

• 1 Royal Signals Museum, Blandford Camp, DT11 8RH, ☏ +44 1258 482248. All year: M-F 10AM-5PM; Feb-Oct: also on Sa Su 10AM-4PM. Regimental museum with interactive displays detailing history of military communications and codes. The museum is inside an army camp and photo ID (passport etc) is required for entry. £8. (updated Jan 2018)
• 2 Blandford Town Museum, Beres Yard, Blandford Forum DT11 7HQ, ☏ +44 01258 450388. Apr-Oct: M Tu Th F Sa 10AM-4PM. Sun 11AM-3PM. Museum of town history with a model railway and Victorian child's playroom. free. (updated Jan 2018)
• 3 Blandford Fashion Museum, Lime Tree House, The Plocks DT11 7AA, ☏ +44 01258 453006. Mid-Feb - mid-Nov: M Th-Sa 10AM-4PM (to 5PM Apr-Sep). Ten-room museum of fashion history covering the period from 1740 to 1970. Adults £5.50 Children under 16 Free. (updated Jan 2018)
• 4 Church of St Peter and St Paul, Blandford Parish Church, Market Place DT11 7AD. Parish church designed and built by John and William Bastard between 1733 and 1739. The church has a particularly fine interior. Coffee is served in the church every Saturday 10A-noon. (updated Jan 2018)

Do

Events

• Great Dorset Steam Fair: 22–26 August 2019 (On the Salisbury Road). Steam fair, and show with many steam powered vehicles on Show. 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of this event with numerous full-size steam engines on display.  (date needs updating)

Eat

There is a variety of restaurants and fast food in Blandford Forum. Try:

• 1 Simla Tandoori, 12 West Street, ☏ +44 1258 452096, +44 1258 480330. Noon-2:30PM, 6PM-11:30PM (Fri & Sat open until Midnight). 

Out of town

• 2 Lay-by food van, A354 (Where the Dorset-Hampshire border signs are on the road to Salisbury). Great road-side, cooked to order, bacon, egg and sausage sandwiches (updated Apr 2016)

Sleep

• 1 Crown Hotel, West Street DT11 7AJ, ☏ +44 1258 456626, crownhotel.reception@hall-woodhouse.co.uk. Town centre Georgian inn with rooms, pleasant accommodation and dining. B&B double £100. (updated Jul 2020)
• 2 Charlton Inn, Bournemouth Rd, Charlton Marshall DT11 9NH (2 miles south of Blandford Forum located on the main A350), ☏ +44 01258 453 160. (updated May 2020)
• 3 The Anvil Inn, Salisbury Road, Pimperne DT11 8UQ (A354 between Blandford and Salisbury), ☏ +44 01258 451999, info@anvilpimperne.co.uk. A beautiful 17th-century country pub offering fine Dorset food and hospitality. (updated May 2020)
• 4 Plumber Manor, Sturminster Newton DT10 2AF, ☏ +44 1258 472507. Upscale country hotel in a mansion built early 1600s and still run by the same family. Open Mar-Jan. B&B double from £160. (updated Jun 2020)
• 5 Castleman, Chettle DT11 8DB (Off A354), ☏ +44 1258 830096. Small comfy country house hotel, decor in wide range of historic styles. Assistance dogs only. Closed in Feb. B&B double £120. (updated Jul 2020)

Go next

• Wimborne Minster is a charming town nearby.
• Shaftesbury
• Wareham

Routes through Blandford Forum

Warminster ← Shaftesbury ←	N  S	→ merges with (Poole and Bournemouth)
Salisbury ← Cashmoor ←	NE  SW	→ merges with (Dorchester) → Weymouth and Isle of Portland