Jane's Midlife Journey

The pretty Dorset market town of Sherborne is steeped in history. This little town with a population of just 10,000 people boasts an abbey plus not one but two castles on the outskirts of its bustling town centre, which is even more bustling during the annual Pack Fair. Situated just 6 miles from Yeovil, 40 miles from Bournemouth, Sherborne makes for a pleasant day trip.

Note: Visiting Sherborne felt a bit like entering a time warp. I encountered businesses which wouldn’t accept credit cards and websites which weren’t maintained; things that claimed to be open weren’t. And vice versa.

How to get to Sherborne

Sherborne is situated just 6 miles east of Yeovil, along the A30. Or 40 miles north west of Bournemouth, via the A35/A352. In addition, Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Wincanton, Blandford and Dorchester are all within a 30 minute drive of Sherbourne.

By bus/train

Sherborne Station is on the Exeter to London Waterloo Line, meaning you are just two hours from London. From the south coast, which is on the Weymouth to Waterloo Line, travelling by train is somewhat slower and requires a change at Basingstoke or two changes at Southampton and Salisbury.

I opted to travel with Highcliffe Coaches, who run day trips to Sherborne offering pick ups across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

By bus:

There are direct buses to Sherborne from Yeovil and Dorchester (No 5) and from Blandford and Sturminster Newton (Y4).

Parking

If you decide to drive, there is a large Pay & Display car park at Culverhayes. Parking costs £2.40 for 3 hours. Further details can be found here.

Getting around Sherborne

The old town is best explored on foot. My itinerary, excluding the castles, covers a distance of around a mile.

If you wish to visit the castles, this can be also be done on foot. My full itinerary consists of a roughly 3 mile round trip (excluding any time spent wandering around the castle grounds). Note: The walk to the castles is uphill.

Alternatively, you could drive to each of the castles. There is free roadside parking outside the old castle or you can park on site for a £3 donation. The new castle has its own car park.

Sherborne in 1 Day Itinerary

1	St John’s House
2	Sherborne Abbey
3	Sherborne Museum
4	Sherborne Old Castle
5	Sherborne Castle & Gardens
6	Purlieu Meadow
7	Pageant Gardens

St John’s House

Start outside the St John’s House, which can be found on Trendle Street, just in front of the Abbey. This almshouse was built in 1437 to house 17 poor men and women. The residents received full board, lodging and clothing, in return for surrendering their possessions and agreeing to abide by the rules of the house. The Almshouse continues to care for the elderly to this day.

Sherborne Abbey

The imposing Sherborne Abbey dates back to 705, although it has been rebuilt and extended several time since. The abbey was originally built as the seat of St Adhelm, the first Bishop of West Saxon. Two Saxon kings are buried here; King Æthelbald and King Æthelberht.

The Abbey is predominantly 15th century and boasts the heaviest peal of 8 bells in the world. The most beautiful feature is the spectacular fan-vaulted stone ceiling, which is worth craning your neck to admire!

In front of the abbey is the rather imposing Digby Memorial, which was erected in 1885 in honour of one of Sherborne’s wealthiest residents.

The abbey is open daily from 8 am (11 am on Sundays) until 5 pm. Entry is free – although donations are welcome. There are free guided tours, further details can be found here. Alternatively, you can pick up a leaflet by the abbey’s entrance for a self guided tour.

Sherborne Museum

From the Abbey, continue on to Church Lane and walk towards the Bow Arch. Here, you will find Sherborne Museum.

The museum presents the town’s history, as far back as Roman times.

In 2025, the museum was open between 1st April and 13th December – 2026 dates TBA. Opening times are Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10.30 am until 4.30 pm. Admission is free.

Sherborne Old Castle

Less than a mile from the abbe is Sherborne Old Castle, which dates back to 1120. The castle was once the grand fortified palace of the bishops of Salisbury. However, its biggest claim to fame is as the former abode of the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, who acquired the property in 1592. The castle was subsequently destroyed during the Civil War in 1645.

The castle ruins are open daily from 10 am until 5 pm (4 pm in Winter). Admission is free. When I visited, the castle was closed for no discernible reason, so I had to make do with a distant glimpse.

Sherborne Castle and Gardens

Sherborne Castle was originally a small hunting lodge in the deer park attached to the Old Castle. In 1594, Sir Walter Raleigh, who had rapidly come to the conclusion that the Old Castle was too expensive to repair, had a house built over the foundations of the hunting lodge instead. After the original castle was destroyed, this new building took on the title of castle.

Castle

The castle, which has been owned by the same family for over 400 years, has been extended, remodelled and modernised over time. After periods as a hospital during WW1 and a commando base during WWII, it opened to the public for the first time in 1969.

Gardens

The spectacular gardens were designed by famed landscaper Capability Brown. They cover an area of 42 acres. A series of lawns, tree line paths and flower beds run along the banks of a 50 acre lake.

The Castle and Garden opening times are seasonal. The castle is open to the public between May and September, while the gardens are open between April and October. A tour of the castle plus entry to the gardens costs £20. Admission to the gardens only is £15. Check the website for further details.

Purlieu Meadow

Running between the town and the castle, Purlieu Meadow runs along the banks of the river and is a picturesque way to complete the circuit from town to castles and back.

Pageant Gardens

The pretty and beautifully kept Pageant Gardens opened to the public in 1906. The money needed for the garden was raised by the Pageant of 1905. This Pageant was held in the grounds of the Old Castle and celebrated the 1200th anniversary of the founding of the town.  

In 2021, new water features and wood carvings were added to the gardens. The water features include slate spheres, a spillway bowl and basin, bubbling rocks and a waterfall with a secret pond.

The wood carvings were created by Rob Beckinsale. They include a man, an owl and a squirrel.

Sherborne Pack Market

Sherborne Pack is an iconic Medieval Street Market with its origins dating back hundreds of years. It takes place annually on the first Monday after 10th October (Michaelmas Day). In 2026, the event will be held on 12th October.

It is believed that the event was instigated by artisans working on the construction of the abbey. In the 15th Century, when building work was finally completed, those artisans packed up their tools and celebrated. Hence the fair’s name.

The Pack traditionally starts at midnight when Teddy Roe’s Band march through the streets with a noisy procession. Roe was believed to be the foreman of the masons who worked on the abbey ceiling.

Nowadays, the Pack has grown to include a street market, funfair, music. The Market was originally agricultural but is now more artisan. Featuring over 250 stalls, including a myriad of food options, it is runs across the town’s four main streets: Cheap Street, Half Moon Street, Abbey Road and Digby Road.

There is also a stage with live music performed throughout the day in the Market Square. Plus a traditional funfair at nearby Terrace Playing Fields.

• Updated: January 2026