Wimborne Minster

Wimborne Minster is a market town in Dorset located where the River Allen and River Stour meet. The town center features well-preserved buildings spanning the 15th to 17th centuries, creating a historic streetscape that visitors can walk through today.

The town began in 718 when two sisters, Cuthburga and Cwenburh of King Ine of Wessex, founded a religious community at this location. This early establishment created a center of religious life that shaped the area for many centuries afterward.

The town hosts a folk festival each summer that celebrates traditional music and dance in its streets. This event has become woven into the local identity and brings people together through performance and live music.

Weekend markets in the town center offer a chance to browse local goods and crafts while getting a feel for community life. The town is walkable and has shops, restaurants, and places to stay that remain open throughout the year for visitors.

The Wimborne Model Town presents a 1:10 scale version of what the town looked like in the 1950s, complete with tiny buildings and a working miniature railway. This hand-built replica captures the charm of that era and offers visitors a different way to see the place's past.

Location: Dorset

Website: http://wimborne.gov.uk

GPS coordinates: 50.80400,-1.97800

Latest update: December 6, 2025 21:31