Looking for things to do in Swanage?
We got you covered!
Swanage is a small coastal town in Dorset. It has its own microclimate, a beautiful beach, and breathtaking countryside.
Although it’s small, it has lots to do and things to explore!
What makes Swanage so unique and a great place to visit is that it’s the epitome of a British seaside town with its Punch and Judy show, old-fashioned train station, and all-you-can-eat ice cream and fish and chips.
It’s a fantastic place to bring the family, go on holiday, or just to visit for a day at the beach.
Here’s a list of the best things to see and do in Swanage.
The Best Things To Do In Swanage
1. Visit the Railway
Swanage has a stunning heritage railway that offers a five and a half mile journey from Swanage to Corfe Castle.
A heritage railway means it is a preserved railway that is operated as living history, this makes the experience magical.
It’s like stepping back in time with the old steam trains, old-fashioned interior, and friendly ticket inspectors.
The railway has steam and diesel passenger trains and can be a great experience for all ages… especially young children who love Thomas the tank engine and different types of transport.
You can simply enjoy the train ride through the countryside, or you can book experience days with the railway, such as dining experiences.
There is also a Steam and Lights experience you can book at Christmas, which needs to be pre-booked.
The train and stations are lit up in beautiful festive lights, you can spot Christmas lights throughout the journey and get into the Christmas spirit.
The station is just a 5 minute walk from the beach and local car parks and also has a train gift shop at Swanage station offering prints, books, souvenirs, and gifts.
Visit the Swanage railway site for more information and to book tickets.
2. Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre
The museum is a local history museum established in 1976.
It is located in the centre of Swanage on the seafront.
The museum offers local and family research material such as cemetery records and indexes of trade directories and pub landlords.
There are newspapers and photographs, books and references about the area and educational talks can be given.
If you’re interested in your family tree, you’re able to use these materials to discover family history.
The museum is free, but they welcome donations and are run by volunteers.
If you’re interested in the local history of Swanage, go check it out!
3. Try the Award-Winning Chocolates at Chococo
Chococo is an award-winning chocolate and coffee shop in Swanage. Their speciality is their seriously delicious chocolate.
Established in 2002 Swanage was the first Chococo and has won 120 national and international food awards.
Based in a pretty side street you can eat in or take away and choose from a wide range of delicious sweet treats, such as hot chocolate, bars/ slabs of chocolate, individual chocolates, brownies, cakes and scones.
You can also simply go in for a coffee or a cup of Dorset tea.
Another bonus is that Chococo prides itself on being eco-friendly.
All of their packaging is plastic-free, compostable or recyclable.
Chococo is open 7 days a week, so you can go in any day on your trip and enjoy some delicious chocolate.
4. Visit the Beaches
Swanage is well known as a seaside town and the beach does not disappoint.
Although it’s not the largest beach, it’s set in a stunning bay and is extremely popular in the summertime.
The beach has won the European Blue Flag awards 20 years in a row which means it’s a well maintained beach and has clear unpolluted water that’s great for swimming in or a little paddle.
The beach itself has lovely golden sand and is family-friendly.
Dogs are allowed on the beach in the winter but between the 1st of May and the 30th of September, they aren’t permitted on the beach.
The beach has lovely views of Swanage town with rows of beautiful victorian houses, cliff tops, countryside and Swanage pier.
You can swim in the designated swimming zones and use the beach showers to clean yourself afterwards.
There are also drinking water taps available if you need to refill your water bottle.
There is disabled access and beach toilets with some baby changing facilities.
There is also some parking along the beachfront. However, it is limited.
There is a larger, ‘long stay’ car park just a short walk from the beach.
The beach offers a wide range of things to do from kayaking, pedalo boats, paddleboarding, watching a punch and Judy show or simply hiring a beach hut for the day or a deck chair to chill out.
As well as Swanage Beach, there are many other beautiful ‘rustic’ beaches that are close to Swanage such as South Beach, Knoll Beach and Studland (which even has a section of beach just for naturists!)
These beaches are owned by The National Trust and have ample parking.
5. Watch a Punch and Judy Show
When I think of Punch and Judy, I think of the British seaside.
However, there are only three Punch and Judy shows left in the UK, and two of them are in Dorset!
That’s a pretty good reason to visit Swanage beach in itself.
You don’t have to book to see the show, you just need to get there 15 minutes before the show and contribute £2 per person to watch.
What a bargain for some good old-fashioned entertainment.
The shows run from the middle of July to early September and have three showings a day.
The Punch and Judy stand is just on the beach, and as the beach isn’t a large one, you can find it pretty easily.
6. Watch a Film at the Mowlem
The Mowlem theatre was originally built in Victorian times by John Mowlem.
In 1967 the original building was demolished, and the current one was built.
Set on the seafront, it offers beautiful sea views from the bar.
The Mowlem is a fantastic addition to Swanage, offering the latest cinema releases, live theatre, comedy shows and music performances.
Not only that but it also has function rooms you can hire.
The Mowlem offers fun for all ages no matter what time of year, whether it’s pantomimes in the winter or the Purbeck film festival in the autumn.
The show bar is open 6 pm – 10:30 pm 6 days a week, and the theatre times vary, but you can check and book tickets online.
7. Putlake Adventure Farm
Putlake Adventure Farm is a small family-owned and run business in Langton Matravers (just next to Swanage.)
Putlake farm has a lot to offer and is a great day out for all the family.
You can come to see all the animals, some include rabbits, pigs, goats, donkeys, birds including an owl, sheep and goats.
You and the children can pet some of the animals and bottle or hand-feed them.
Not only do they have animals but you can also have fun in a giant, 3-storey indoor soft play area, have a picnic, play in the outdoor area, have tractor rides, ride the go-karts or eat in the tearoom.
There’s so much on offer!
A perfect day out for everyone.
8. Go Rummaging Through the Antique and Knick-Knack Shops
There are a lot of independently owned shops in Swanage making it a great place to wander around and enjoy.
There are antique shops that you can explore, some full to the brim with interesting items, which, if you have the time, you can spend ages rummaging around to see what you can find.
There are some beautifully eccentric shops such as ‘The Swanage Emporium’ to which there are wall-to-wall ‘knick knacks’ you can purchase or have a good gander at.
If this sounds like it’s up your street, I highly recommend you take a trip around Swanage Highstreet!
9. Get a Delicious Pastie
With so much food to choose from in Swanage, it’s hard to pick where to eat.
The Cornish Bakery sells amazing cornish pasties. Curried cauliflower (my fav!), bacon and leek, and traditional pasties, to name a few.
Set just a short distance from the beach, you can eat in or take away.
There are lots of other cafes and bakeries located around the highstreet also, such as Haymans Bakery and Love Cake (go here for the most amazing cakes in town!)
10. Rent a Pedalo Boat
Riding a pedalo boat can be so much fun for all ages, especially little ones!
Swanage has a variety of places where you can rent a pedalo to ‘set sail’ and pedal around Swanage Bay.
If you’re worried about little ones riding, they are usually provided with life jackets that are included and will need to ride with an adult.
Whilst out in the sea you can spot lots of various ships and boats in the water, get a gorgeous view of the cliffs and countryside or look up to the beautiful town as a lot of Swanage is on a hill so the view is amazing.
Prices will vary from place to place, starting from around £10 for the hour.
It’s an hour well spent and will put a smile on anyone’s face. You can’t have a bad time on a pedalo right?
11. Go Kayaking
Like the pedalos, there are many companies along Swanage and the Purbecks that you can hire Kayaks.
Kayaking has become more and more popular over the years and is such a fun activity for anyone who likes an adventure.
A lot of the companies offer half-day/ day trips with a guide who can take you around the local area and give you a tour filled with interesting information and facts about the area.
If you hire from Studland, you can Kayak to Old Harry Rocks.
As someone who has done this I would recommend it to anyone.
It was a beautiful trip, and we even learned about foraging for seaweed (we even tried some!)
Prices vary, and it’s best to look online for the best prices/ packages.
12. Hike to Old Harry rocks
Old Harry rocks are a thing of natural beauty.
Anyone who has visited will know the breathtaking views of the turquoise sea, beautiful beaches and the chalky stumps of Old Harry.
Although the whole of the cliff is referred to as Old Harry rocks, it is actually the last ‘stump’ that is called Old Harry.
There are many ways you can hike up to the rocks.
You can go from Swanage, Knoll/ South Beach and if you don’t want to hike as long you can get a bus to Studland and follow the signs to Old Harry Rocks or follow the South West Coast path.
Old Harry Rocks is managed by the National Trust, and there are car parks around the area that you can park in and take a hike to the rocks.
13. Visit Swanage Pier
Swanage Pier is a beautiful Victorian pier built in 1895.
There is a fee to get onto it, and the price varies from season to season.
It offers a lovely walk and has a pier cafe where you can pop in and have a coffee or a light bite.
The pier offers a sponsor a plank scheme. You can pay £200 to put towards maintaining the beautiful pier, and in doing so, you can have a famous Swanage plaque put on the pier.
When walking on the pier, you will see hundreds of plaques, and each one has a personal message, names, sayings, anniversaries etc. If you sponsor, then you can get one too.
The pier also offers educational trips, watersports, fishing, scuba diving, tours and easter egg hunts in the spring. It’s worth a visit, even if you take a walk and look at the beautiful ocean view.
14. Have a Meal at the Salt Pig Too
If you want to eat somewhere that uses local, fresh food at a great price, then go to the Salt Pig Too!
You can find the restaurant on the highstreet close to the beach, and when visiting, you’re welcomed into a lovely friendly atmosphere filled with locals and people that have travelled just to eat there.
The Salt Pig Too comes with its own butchers, fishmongers and a salad bar for you to take food away and enjoy at home.
You can go in and enjoy their amazing sausage rolls (my favourite), delicious pulled pork or mouth-watering roast dinners.
They only use meat from the Isle of Purbeck, it’s delicious, and it’s sold at amazing prices.
What more can you want from a restaurant?
Related post: Hungry for more? Dive into our comprehensive review of the top restaurants in Swanage.
15. Get Gelato Ice Cream
What’s a trip to the seaside without ice cream?
There is an abundance of ice cream shops in Swanage, and they can all get busy during the summer months!
On Swanage seafront, you have 2 gelato takeaways, ‘Fortes Gelateria’ and ‘Giggi Gelateria’, both so good they have queues lining the streets.
Being a takeaway, you can buy your ice cream and enjoy it on the beach.
If you fancy sitting in to eat, there is an amazing place called ‘Baboo Gelato’ that has indoor seating, a lovely atmosphere and offers lots of different options such as tea and coffee, cocktails and toasties.
16. Visit Peveril Point
If you’re looking for something to do, that’s away from the busy town you can walk to the most southerly part of Swanage to Peveril Point.
An easy way to find it is to start at the pier, you can then walk past the pier and follow the road that leads towards the sea.
On your way, you will come across a well-known landmark in Swanage which is the Wellington Clock Tower.
The tower was originally standing near London Bridge but was taken down due to it being an obstruction of traffic.
George Burt originally from Swanage saved the tower and took it back to his hometown.
He then gifted it to another contractor who erected it on the grounds of his house.
The clock that was on the tower didn’t make its way to Swanage so windows were put in where the clock once was.
Walking past the tower (on your right) you’ll then come across a row of gorgeous cottages, and just past those, you’ll reach Peveril Point.
It is a beautiful cliff that overlooks all of Swanage, the turquoise bay and old harry rocks in the distance.
It’s also home to the National Lifeguard Institution and The Swanage Lifeboat Organization.
A lovely walk, peaceful and a lesser-known attraction.
17. Santa-Fe Fun Park
When at Swanage beach, you might have noticed the giant dinosaurs overlooking the beach.
Their home is Santa-Fe Fun Park, a small but mighty park for all ages and packed full of fun.
You can play adventure golf packed with dinosaurs and pirates with the perfect view of the ocean in the background.
You can play in the amusements, jump your way around the Mister Potato Head bouncy castle or do back flips on the trampolines.
Complete with an ice cream parlor that sells sweet treats and slushies or if you fancy something savoury you can eat at the Hungry Shark, which is home to ‘the best burgers in town’, their words not mine 🙂
18. Have fun in the Amusements (K’s Funworld)
To me, a trip to a British seaside town should always consist of a trip to the amusements.
It’s the rules!
What’s not fun about playing the 2p machines, trying to grab a teddy with the claw machine or racing your family on a racing car simulator?
Children love to collect tickets to win a prize and ride on the many machines K’s Fun World has to offer.
K’s Funworld is practically on the beach, so whilst you’re playing, you can enjoy the view of the beach during your visit.
It has everything a ‘typical’ amusement has to offer and is fun for all the family.
19. Get Pictured Standing Between the Columns at Prince Albert Gardens
The Prince Albert Gardens are just set back from the pier and can be a quieter part of town.
The park was established in 1996 and was part of a Swanage seafront improvement scheme.
In the gardens, you will come across two large pillars made from portland stone.
They are dated back to the early 19th century and are grade ll listed.
Before they were listed, they were formerly part of the forecourt for the Grosvenor Hotel.
They are surrounded by an outdoor amphitheatre that’s perfect for sitting and basking in the summer sun and look at the lovely views.
They’re a great place to get a picture on your Swanage trip, with lovely views of the sea and the town in the background.
In the gardens, you will come across the lady of the rocks statue, which is made from portland stone and is a statue of Mary Spencer Wilson who was an English sculptor who spent most of her life in Dorset.
You can also see the Prince Albert Memorial erected by George Burt in 1862.
The gardens are a lovely setting for a picnic on a summer’s day or just to chill, and people watching.
Every year the garden hosts the Swanage Fish Festival.
20. See the Picturesque Mill Pond
I highly recommend visiting Mill Pond on your trip to Swanage.
It’s a short walk from the main town and can be found behind St Mary’s Church.
It’s the most charming street and feels like you’ve stepped back in time with the cute row of cottages bending around the pond.
Now made into homes, the old Purbeck stone watermill stands to the right of the pond, and a stunning willow tree sets the scene of the most picturesque street you will come across.
The cottages with their pretty coloured doors overlook the pond, and you can hear nothing but the trickle of a tiny waterfall at the end of the pond.
Definitely worth a visit, it’s such a beautiful area to have a stroll and pose for a selfie.
Learn more about Mill Pond Swanage here.
21. Check Out the Beach Hut Pop-Up Shops
Throughout December, you can visit the beach huts and find ‘Artisans on the Beach.’
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can go have a gander at the local art and crafts that are on sale, each one different and unique and definitely worth checking out.
Some of the items on offer are jewellery, art prints, woodwork, sea glass art, handmade Christmas decorations and so on.
Each year welcomes new and old crafters to sell their items and make use of the huts during the winter months.
It’s a mini beach Christmas market!
Make sure you wrap up warm, as that sea air can get chilly!
22. Football Golf at Kirkwood Park Swanage Golf Games
Kirkwood Place is a beautiful 16-acre golf course surrounded by stunning countryside and can be the setting for an amazing day out in the Purbecks.
They offer three different types of golf games: Football Golf, Pitch and Putt and Frisbee Golf.
All are suitable for any age and abilities.
There’s no need to book unless it’s a large group and they can cater for families, hen and stag do’s and just about anyone who wants a day of fun.
The park is open from the week before Easter (only weekends and school holidays) and from June, July, August and September open all day every day.
The rest of the year it is closed.
Pop down for some competitive fun and show the family your footy/ golfing skills.
For more info checkout our post on Swanage Golf Games
23. See the Ruins of Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle is situated in between Swanage and Wareham.
You can reach Corfe Castle from Swanage by travelling on the Swanage Railway; it’s the last stop on the line.
A visit to Corfe Castle is highly recommended as it’s a beautiful little village overlooked by castle ruins high on a hill above.
The castle dates back to the 10th century.
You’re able to climb the hill and walk around the old castle ruins.
The castle is now owned by the National Trust, which has a car park, toilet facilities, a coffee and gift shop.
The National Trust often has quizzes and scavenger hunts for children in the school holidays, sometimes with a prize after completing.
Making the day out a lot more attractive for children.
Corfe Castle village is beautiful, with rows of quaint little cottages, a church, local pubs, a village bakery and a selection of boutique shops.
Corfe Castle has featured in a number of books and films, including Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Enid Blyton has based stories on Corfe Castle.
If you’re by Corfe Castle, you’ll want to check out the 1/20th scale model of Corfe Castle and the village as it was in 1646.
24. Get Breakfast on the Beach
The Cabin is based on the beach, you can carry on walking in the direction towards Ballard down (the big cliff on the right) along the beach, and you’ll reach The Cabin cafe.
Seating is mostly outside or under a shelter, which is stunning in the summer sun.
You can enjoy a great traditional English breakfast until 11 am, and after that, you can enjoy other great meals such as seafood dishes and burgers.
Or pop in for a glass of wine in the sun from the bar.
A beautiful setting and a great atmosphere for all.
25. Hike to Agglestone Rock
Agglestone Rock can only be reached by foot, and you can get to it a number of ways, depending on the length and type of hike you’re looking for.
Located in Studland (a short drive from Swanage.)
There are a number of car parks located close by such as middle beach, The Bankes Arms and Studland car park.
Agglestone Rock is also known as the Devil’s Anvil, as legend has it the devil himself threw the rock from the needles of the Isle Of Wight.
The rock was originally anvil-shaped, but due to the elements over time, it fell on one side in the early 19th century.
The hike to the rock is unfortunately not suitable for pushchair/ wheelchair users.
When you reach the top there’s so much to see with the beautiful views, wildlife and countryside.
On some days, the rock is very quiet, and you can look around with no one there, so if you can, visit at off-peak times.
Check out this article we did on visiting Agglestone Rock if this is something you would like to do.
26. Visit Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve
Located a mile from Swanage is Durlston Country Park.
320 Acres of countryside and cliff top walks that are mostly pushchair friendly.
The park is free to enter; however, you do have to pay for parking.
Dogs are also welcome.
Inside Durlston castle, there is a coffee shop with views of the ocean and a gift shop.
Some other things on offer at Durlston are:
- Walking trails
- Exhibitions
- Guided walks/ castle tour
- Stargazing
- Park run
- Easter hunts
- Wild play trails
Fun for all the family and a lovely day out!
27. Check out the Art Scene
If you’re interested in art, Swanage is worth a visit for the art shops and galleries.
Swanage has a number of art galleries differing on what’s on offer.
Whether you want classic paintings of the seaside or a more contemporary painting, there’s so much choice.
Some of the art shops around are:
- Andy Knill Art Studio
- Purbeck New Wave Gallery
- Quarr Gallery
- Mulberry Tree Gallery
There is also an art cafe that’s worth a visit!
Studio South is a place for artists (and non-artists) to go enjoy a coffee and cake and to paint if they desire.
They also sell art supplies and books!
28. Visit St Aldhelm’s Chapel
St. Aldhelm’s Chapel, perched on St. Aldhelm’s Head, is a beautiful historical monument with stunning coastal views.
This small square stone building, dating back to the 12th century, is both a spiritual and geographical landmark, its simple structure belied by its significant past.
Originally, it served as a beacon for medieval mariners. Today, it captivates visitors with its serene, isolated location, where they can pause to absorb the atmosphere of tranquility and contemplate the panoramic views over the Jurassic Coast.
For more info check out this post we did on St. Aldhelm’s Chapel.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article on all things the things you can do in Swanage!
Swanage is a beautiful part of Dorset and so underrated.
It’s perfect for people who love to be in the countryside but also with the added bonus of being around some of the most beautiful beaches Dorset has to offer.
With lots to do for all the family and beautiful Swanage weather in the summer months, what’s stopping you?
Have fun on your next adventure!
Thanks for checking out this list of things to do in Swanage.
If you know if of any other gems, let us know in the comments.
2 comments
Very helpful.
Thanks Colin, glad it helped!