Dorset's foodie town with a vintage quarter and Jurassic coast beaches

Dorset’s foodie town theme is anchored in Bridport, a rope-making heritage hub whose “spinning walks” and broad streets reflect an industry that powered Henry VIII’s navy and still supplies nets for Wimbledon tennis courts. The West Dorset town’s traditions continue through a twice-weekly street market, a monthly farmers’ market, cafes, pubs, and regular buskers in Bucky Doo Square. Much of the former rope-trading estate has been rebranded as the “vintage quarter,” featuring antiques, retro furniture, and artists’ studios. Bridport also serves as a gateway to the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site via nearby West Bay and the South West Coast Path. It hosts the international Bridport Prize and the BridLit literary festival in November, plus a 100-year-old cinema and an arts centre in a former Wesleyan Chapel. Visitors can start at Bridport Harbour and reach Eype and Hive Beach on foot.