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.

When to visit Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury in October
Estimated hotel price
£73
1 night at 3-star hotel
Shaftesbury in October
Estimated hotel price
£73
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 easyJet, American Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Shaftesbury departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Shaftesbury, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Shaftesbury to Bristol takes 1h 36m and costs around £24 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Norwich, expect to pay about £23 for a 1h 52m 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 GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Shaftesbury, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Shaftesbury takes 130 miles and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 140 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 easyJet, American Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Shaftesbury departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Shaftesbury, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Shaftesbury to Bristol takes 1h 36m and costs around £24 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Norwich, expect to pay about £23 for a 1h 52m 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 GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Shaftesbury, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Shaftesbury takes 130 miles and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 140 miles.

Airports near Shaftesbury

Airlines serving Shaftesbury

Lufthansa
Good (4,697 reviews)
KLM
Good (844 reviews)
SWISS
Good (955 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,577 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,606 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,276 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (490 reviews)
Air France
Good (980 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,600 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,114 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,960 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,441 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,934 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (225 reviews)
Finnair
Good (863 reviews)
LOT
Good (681 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (922 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,171 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (823 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,721 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Shaftesbury

Average rates range from around £99 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £77 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Shaftesbury

Most booked hotels in Shaftesbury

La Fleur De Lys
3 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£110+
The Grosvenor Arms
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£114+
King John Inn
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£76+
The Coppleridge Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£117+
The Grove Arms
4 stars
Poor (0, Poor reviews)
£102+
Best Western Shaftesbury The Royal Chase Hotel
3 stars
Good (7, Good reviews)
£87+

Hiring a car in Shaftesbury

Expect to pay £1.49 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 £17.78 and £23.71. Mini (Kia Picanto or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Shaftesbury, while also 63% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay £1.49 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 £17.78 and £23.71. Mini (Kia Picanto or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Shaftesbury, while also 63% cheaper than other types, on average.