A beautiful little market town in the UK has been named one of the best places to visit in England. 

Beaminster is a small town in Dorset near the source of the River Brit and 15 miles from Dorchester, with a population of just over 3,000.

It has been named one of the 12 best places to go to in the UK and Ireland in 2024 by Conde Nast Traveller.

The travel magazine described it as “a community with a local spirit that packs a national punch” and “a literary weekender spotlighting homespun design”.

Beaminster is a town known for its award-winning historic gardens and is home to some talented artists and independent shops.

There are a number of restaurants including the Ollerod, opened by a Michelin-lauded chef, and Brassica, a family-run restaurant championing all things homegrown.

Muddy Stilettos called it a “laid back, pretty town with an arty feel and an attractive conservation area around the market square. Surrounded by lush countryside and not far from the sea”. 

Among the places to visit in Beaminster is Mapperton House, a Jacobean country estate voted the nation’s finest manor house by Country Life and the location for the 2020 adaptation of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

The local museum is also worth a visit, boasting a number of collections highlighting the town’s rich historical heritage. 

Beaminster is on the Jurassic Coast, surrounded by four of Dorset’s highest peaks and near the Wessex Ridgeway, making it popular among walkers, cyclists and hikers.

Those wishing to visit Beaminster can get trains to nearby Crewkerne, flights to nearby Exeter and buses into the town itself. There are a number of places to stay in the town and surrounding areas, such as hotels, holiday lets and B&Bs.