WAREHAM

Don't let Wareham's rural surroundings and ancient history fool you; this is a bustling town brimming with both culture and amenities.

Best known as a Saxon walled town, local excavations suggest transient human activity in and around Wareham dating as far back as approximately 9,000 BCE. By the end of the Saxon period, the town was one of the most important in the UK, housing two mints for the issue of royal money. Wareham's oldest remaining feature is its surrounding walls; ancient earth ramparts thought to have been built in the 9th Century by Alfred the Great to defend against the Danes.

Today, Wareham's Saxon wall provides a fascinating walk through time and nature, and further walks can be enjoyed along the banks of the River Frome, to the south of the town, and the River Piddle to the north. Wareham's rich cultural offerings include a unique and well-loved cinema, town museum, regular markets and numerous, varied musical groups and annual festivals. The picturesque town also provides all the amenities required by modern life, from local and national shops, cafés and restaurants to a library, leisure centre and well-regarded schools, and all just 20 minutes (approximately) from the A35.