beach
Bournemouth Beach
A seven-mile stretch of golden sand along the Dorset coast, one of England's most popular seaside destinations.
17 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Sturminster Marshall
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Sturminster Marshall
Sturminster Marshall works well as a base: 10 minutes from Lytchett Matravers, 20km from Old Harry Rocks.
Sturminster Marshall is in England, United Kingdom, with about 1,500 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Lytchett Matravers, about 5 km away.
Sturminster Marshall is a village and civil parish in the east of Dorset in England, situated on the River Stour between Blandford Forum and Poole. The parish had a population of 1,895 at the 2001 census, increasing to 1,969 at the 2011 Census and includes the village of Almer (50.78°N 2.12°W / 50.78; -2.12) west ofRead more
Sturminster Marshall, near Winterborne Zelston and the hamlet of Henbury to the south-east of the village. The village is twinned with the French commune of Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy. The appropriate electoral ward is called 'Stour'. From Sturminster Marshall the ward goes east to Pamphill, with a total population of 2,582.
King Alfred the Great, in his will of 899, a copy of which can be seen at the British Library, left the village to his youngest son Æthelweard (c.880-922).
Sturminster Marshall has a 13th-century church, St Mary's. Its predecessor contributed to the village's name; 'Sturminster' meaning "church on the River Stour". The second part of the name came from William Marshal. Until 1857, St. Hubert's Church in Corfe Mullen acted as a chapel of ease to Sturminster Marshall. St. Mary's pre-Reformation chalice, dating to 1536, has survived although the stem has been replaced. It is on loan to Dorset Museum in Dorchester, Dorset.
Where to Stay in Sturminster Marshall
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Sturminster Marshall.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Sturminster Marshall.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Sturminster Marshall?
Within an hour or so of Sturminster Marshall: Bournemouth Beach (17 km), Corfe Castle (18 km), Old Harry Rocks (20 km), Ballard Down (20 km).
Are there any good drives near Sturminster Marshall?
The nearest famous roads are Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, Military Road, Isle of Wight and Cheddar Gorge Road (B3135).
Where is Sturminster Marshall?
Sturminster Marshall is in England, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Lytchett Matravers.
Road trip
Drive to Sturminster Marshall
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Sturminster Marshall. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,490
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 50.7997, -2.0762
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Sturminster Marshall
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Corfe Castle
Atmospheric ruins of a thousand-year-old royal castle perched on a hilltop, dramatically slighted during the English Civil War.
18 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Old Harry Rocks
Iconic chalk sea stacks marking the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast, standing as sentinels against the English Channel.
20 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Ballard Down
The chalk ridge above Swanage running out to Old Harry Rocks, with views over Poole Harbour and Studland Bay.
20 km · about 25 min drive
beach
Kimmeridge Bay
A dark shale bay with ledges exposed at low tide, a marine reserve and a working nodding-donkey oil well above.
22 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Lulworth Cove
Almost perfectly circular cove formed by the sea eroding through Portland limestone, creating one of the world's finest examples of coastal geology.
23 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Durdle Door
Iconic natural limestone arch jutting into the sea on Dorset's Jurassic Coast, one of the most photographed landmarks in Britain.
24 km · about 30 min drive
photogenic
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
Steep cobbled street lined with thatched cottages, plunging past the buttressed walls of Shaftesbury Abbey with views over Blackmore Vale. Made famous by Ridley Scott's 1973 Hovis bread advert.
24 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Sturminster Marshall
- 20 kmBallard DownThe chalk ridge above Swanage running out to Old Harry Rocks, with views over Poole Harbour and Studland Bay.
- 32 kmRhinefield Ornamental DriveA New Forest road lined with giant redwoods and Douglas firs planted in 1859, running between Brockenhurst and the A35.
- 42 kmPortland BillThe southern tip of the Isle of Portland, marked by a red-and-white lighthouse above a fierce tidal race.
- 51 kmMilitary Road, Isle of WightThrilling clifftop road along the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight with sweeping sea views and access to dramatic landslip scenery.
- 54 kmGolden CapThe highest point on England's south coast at 191 m, its sandstone summit glowing gold above Charmouth and Lyme Bay.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Sturminster Marshall.
Plan a trip around Sturminster Marshall
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Sturminster Marshall.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.