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Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country.

Photo gallery for Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country.

A stone building with a tiled roof, surrounded by lush greenery and a garden path.
A dining area with a stone wall, two candles on black candle holders, wooden chairs, and a table set for four.
A cozy living room with a stone fireplace, a wooden table, and a green armchair.
A cozy living room with a sofa, armchair, and coffee table, featuring a fireplace and a staircase.
A bedroom with a stone wall, a wooden bed frame, a dresser, and a window with curtains.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Gold Hill Museum

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Swimming pool
  • Toys
  • Barbecue grill
  • Internet access
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View in a map
Shaftesbury, Dorset
  • Place, Gold Hill Museum
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs
    ‪3 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

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About the area

Shaftesbury

Located in Shaftesbury, this cottage is in a rural area and near theme parks. Melbury Vale Winery and Rushmore Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Shaftesbury Arts Centre and Riversmeet Leisure Centre. Travelling with kids? Consider Larmer Tree Gardens and Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and cycling.
Map
Shaftesbury, Dorset

What's nearby

  • Gold Hill Museum - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Shaftesbury Arts Centre - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • King Alfred's Statue - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs - 3 min drive - 2.1 km

Getting around

  • Gillingham Dorset Station - 11 min drive
  • Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 55 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Old Brewery - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The John Peel - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪The Kaffee - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Udder Farm Shop - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country. have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country.?

As of 24 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country. on 21 Mar 2027 start from £502, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Historic cottage in the heart of Shaftesbury's Saxon area - town and country. located?

This family-friendly Shaftesbury cottage is located in a rural location, within a 10-minute walk of Gold Hill Museum, Shaftesbury Arts Centre and Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden. King Alfred's Statue and Castle Hill Viewpoint are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 51 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 51 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 51 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 51 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 51 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

The property was very comfortable and its location brilliant

Had a great relaxed time. Lovely to find somewhere close to the town and that had a lovely garden to relax in.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location and clean little cottage ! It will be a plus if there is dryer on site since there is no place to hang the washing and shaftsbury has rain a lot . The parking included is a great bonus.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely cosy cottage, ideal for a long weekend. Very well maintained, and in central location for Shaftesbury. Very handy for visiting National Trust properties, Kingsdon Lacey & Stourhead.Just a shame the weather wasn’t very good, so not able to make use of the garden.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A beautiful, cosy cottage which is perfectly situated for strolling around Shaftesbury. Lovely local pubs within walking distance, plenty of walks and fantastic sunsets!A home from home - a lot of thought and extra touches made our stay just perfect - will certainly be visiting again.Sally, our host, was friendly and extremely helpful during our stay - thank you Sally.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed for Christmas as family of 4 and had a lovely time. The house has lots of character and really nicely decorated where the owners have clearly paid attention to details not only in decoration but on the little touches like milk in the fridge and cookies on arrival as well as wine and chocolates as gifts for Christmas !House was in a great location that is close to shops, restaurants and local walking. We had a lovely short stay and would have loved to stay longer!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Central location

Lovely cottage in the heart if Shaftesbury. Well equipped and comfortable. Great base for exploring the surrounding area and an excellent Indian restaurant on the same street (Chutney’s).
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Mar 2020
Thanks for choosing Barbers Cottage Felicity and we hope to welcome you back again one day - hopefully for another curry as well!! Sally
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The best

Excellant
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas stay

I booked the cottage for family members visiting over Christmas and was delighted w my choice. The house itself is beautifully appointed and has been sympathetically extended. It was a pleasure to welcome my travel weary relatives into such a warm and restful space. Everything went smoothly from the minute I contacted the host through the cpl of amendments made and then the key pickup. I would definitely recommend this cottage and hosts to anyone visiting the town.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Een hele leuke cottage met alles wat je nodig hebt. Contact met de host ook heel fijn. Al om al leuke 2 weken gehad
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great base for exploring this part of Dorset

Lovely, quirky, old property well renovated to maximise useable space. Well appointed and well supplied with disposables (loo roll, dishwasher tablets etc). Small issue with slow draining shower resolved promptly.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage

We had the most fantastic 5 days staying at this beautiful and very comfortable cottage. We had everything we needed, the beds were so comfortable, the garden is heavenly and the location is fantastic.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect local feel

Great place in a perfect English town. Great area and walking distance to everything. Having a parking spot was a must and extremely helpful. Our fam of four absolutely loved our stay
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Pre winter break

Ideal location for walking and exploring - very comfy cottage located close to all the amenities of the small town.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

August Week

Superb location for visiting the surrounding areas. Ideal as the property is on the edge of the town centre and everything you need is within walking distance
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing property

Lovely property and a great stay but the check in process was really confusing, I had no idea of the address where the key safe was kept. I asked 2 local people for directions and finally found it after 30 mins.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous

What a stunning cottage! Quirky, but very spacious. We really enjoyed our stay, the cottage had everything we needed. Hosts were fantastic - we had an issue with the shower and the handyman arrived within 15 minutes of my phone call to Sally! Super, I’d highly recommend.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Cottage and Garden

A super, well-equipped cottage full of charm and character with a well-designed, spacious layout. Very comfortably and tastefully furnished. The garden is very pretty and a large part of it was in the sun all day long in September. The parking space at the back of the property was very useful. All the attractions of the historic centre of Shaftesbury are within easy walking distance. The owner was very friendly and helpful. Everything you could want for a relaxing holiday.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage in Shaftesbury

Really beautiful cottage, very comfortable and near the town, with cafes, restaurants and nice views nearby. The downstairs room is very cozy and comfy. Upstairs, nice towels, linen, and pillows, comfy beds. Plenty of storage for clothes, a nice bath, everything set with a calming atmosphere in mind, and in good working order. Sally clearly knows how to host and gave us some great ideas of things to do, all very much appreciated. The kitchen is well equipped but due to CV19 cutlery was reduced (not sure why) so we had to wash them every time instead of loading the dishwasher. Overall cleanness (bathroom and kitchen) could improve, yet this didn't spoil our stay. Very relaxing. We wouldn't hesitate to come back or recommend this place.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just Lovely!

Wonderfully comfortable, cosy and welcoming - we have stayed twice, and look forward very much to returning one day. Sally was enormously helpful, and very patient with me when I got in a muddle over dates - she could not have done more.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Barbers Cottage

spacious, comfortable, excellent location
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Mar 2020
Thanks for staying with us!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Berber cottage - the cottage was delightful and thoughtfully equipped. Would definitely recommend!

The rental experience was straightforward and easy. Sally answered any queries promptly. Shaftesbury is lovely, a really pretty town set in amazing countryside. However we spent a lot of time driving south ( which is quite time consuming) so would probably base ourselves nearer the coast in the future.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Lovely cottage, good location

We stayed for a week over Christmas. Lovely cottage, decorated beautifully and very clean. Very thoughtful welcome gifts were an unexpected surprise!! Has all the amenities that you'd need and the parking space is very handy. The location in the centre of Shaftesbury is very convenient for shops, pubs and restaurants. Some lovely walks nearby, recommend Fontmell Down. Four stars instead of five only because of the single glazing that makes traffic noise and people very loud sometimes. Neighbor with dogs was also somewhat disruptive, but overall these minor distrubances did not detract from a wonderful stay, thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Mar 2020
We are glad you had a good stay - it's a central location and so part of the fabric of the saxon town. Sorry to hear you were disturbed (I think Christmas festivities may have been the cause...) Happy New Year
Verified review

8/10 Good

Cosy Cottage in Central Location

Lovely cottage which is very close to the town centre, with the added bonus of a parking space. We had a lovely few days with amazing weather and would heartily recommend Shaftesbury as a base from which to explore the area. One comment - would suggest that the kitchen lighting be improved as it was a little dull for cooking in the evening.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Mar 2020
Hi Jane Thanks for the tip - we will look into getting some more lighting in there. Glad you had a good stay. Sally
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Idyllic

Spotless, pretty, comfortable, cosy and ideal for us.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amazing house and very convenient for those with children

Stayed there with familly for 3 nights. The place is very clean. Beds are comfy and the kitchen very well equipped. Sally, the owner, was allways helpful when we had any questions. The house is located in very centre of shaftesbury so you can walk around easily. It has a parking place just at the back of the property, just 1 minute walk. After a day out you can relax in the garden! Strongly recommended, will be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018
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