Pretty Bridport is a classically English market town, with quirky boutiques, friendly pubs and plenty of teashops. Better still, it's just a couple of km from the stunning golden beaches of West Bay on the Jurassic Coast. Come here to rummage in antique stores, admire the Georgian architecture, browse vintage bookshops, dine out on the freshest of fish and - of course - walk that world-famous coastline.
Luckily for you, we've discovered Bridport's best-kept secret - a pair of delightful, centrally located boutique apartments. Owners Katie and Chris bought the building in 2016 and renovated it in serious style. A simple, elegant colour palette of greys and blues sets the scene; velvet sofas, a roll-top bath, Smeg appliances, shutters and antique books complete the picture. Both hideaways have a bedroom, bathroom and open-plan living/kitchen area, but with the excellent foodie options nearby, you won't really want to cook (although you'll leave laden down with local produce from the delis and market). Just make sure you book soon - these apartments won't stay a secret for long.
Highs
- Ideal for a romantic weekend away - and superb value
- Perfectly positioned in the centre of town, a stroll from shops, cafés and wonderful little restaurants. Plus there are festivals held here throughout the year celebrating everything from literature to hats
- Fantastic beds with Vi-Spring mattresses and great-quality linens, and beautiful bathrooms with mosaic-tiled floors
- Set above a gorgeous vintage bookshop; perfect for souvenirs
- Walking the stunning Jurassic coastline
Lows
- Weekend evenings can get noisy outside, market stalls set up early in the mornings and Bridport bustles during a festival; bring earplugs for a sound night's sleep
- The owners aren't on site but there's an emergency contact number
- No private parking but there's a long-stay car park 5 minutes' walk away; you'll probably want a car to get here and do day trips
- Not ideal for kids, and no dogs allowed
- Minimum 3 nights' stay
Best time to go
Bridport is delightful at any time of year. The town plays host to a number of festivals and events throughout the seasons, including a film festival in April, a food and beer festival in June, and the infamous Hat Festival in September. It gets very busy on market days (Saturdays and Wednesdays) and throughout the summer holidays.
Our top tips
Seek out Dorshi - a great little restaurant hidden down a tiny, easy-to-miss lane (more of a footpath), with a Prohibition-Era speakeasy atmosphere. Grab a seat at the bar upstairs and work your way through the imaginative cocktail list whilst dining on Asian-inspired buns and dumplings.
Location
The apartments are in the centre of Bridport, a market town just inland from the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
By Air:
Exeter (56km) is the closest airport, or you could fly into Bristol (111km). For a list of airlines serving these airports, click on the links below.
From the Airport
Take a taxi or hire a car. There's a long-stay car park 5 minutes' walk away.
By Train:
The nearest train stations are Crewkerne, Dorchester and Axminster. Direct trains from London take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, then take a taxi to Bridport (20-30 minutes).
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Exeter 56.0 km EXE
- Bristol 111.0 km BRS
Other:
- Beach 2.5 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 8 independent reviews from i-escape guests
It's a great flat and we have stayed here a few times with a great central location. However, this can sometimes be a little bit noisy. If you want to be completely central it's ideal.
Beautiful apartment in a perfect, central location. There are plenty of walks which can be started from the centre so you don't need to take your car (if you prefer not to). Because of the central location you would be wise to pack some earplugs (seagulls and general town noise from around 7 am'ish and the town clock, which will strike on the quarter hour from 8am). The apartment is beautifully appointed and very comfortable, and warm. A small kitchen area for some home prep. There are some lovely places to get a bite to eat, The Lord Nelson has recently been taken over and serves gorgeous, authentic wood-fired pizza. It is a lovely little place, Skittle Alley, games room and courtyard garden (perfect for a Monday when a lot of places are closed). It's not a 'boozer' so you will be able to avoid the noisier drinkers! There is a fabulous Mexican, Tortilla Cantina, that serves the best EVER Margaritas, open from Tuesdays.... and Soulshine for general all day loveliness, again not open on Mondays. For takeaway lunches there is a lovely café right on Buckaroo square... and Waitrose is only around the corner. 3 amazing butchers and a pasty shop! Bridport has everything, and more. Don't miss the markets on Saturday and Wednesdays and there are some lovely meandering walks to West Bay - see the Tourist Info for details. A slow 1 hour (flat) loop. There is no parking but a great car park for long stays near the police station and Waitrose, which is super reasonable and we haven't had a problem parking there - £15 for 3 days.
Absolutely loved this very pretty and nicely equipped flat right in the centre of bustling Bridport.It was so handy for visits to the coast and was a cosy base to return to in the evenings.Highly recommend and would very much like to return- we loved this area!
Lovely apartment, fabulous location and beautifully appointed. We loved the B Apartment and will definitely come back. On light mornings in the summer months however, you would be wise to pack some earplugs,as the resident seagulls like to say hello!
We very much enjoyed the first floor apartment at Bridport Hideaways, having stayed in the top floor one in 2021.
It is well-designed, well-equipped and the location is excellent. Yes, there can be noise but given that it is within walking distance of a range of good eating places and the shops, it is a price worth paying.
Soulshine, a stone’s throw from the flat is a place we didn’t try last year but would definitely recommend it for breakfast/brunch and we were sorry that we didn’t have the opportunity of trying their dinner menu. Dorshi and Brassica were as good as we remembered from last year, as was The Pursuit of Hoppiness for a pre-dinner glass of something.
It was a charming property on the 3rd floor - spacious, good value and easy to get to. We were right in the centre of Bridport, which we loved as they had a bustling market every Saturday. If you didn’t love noise you might not enjoy the central location but we thought it was brilliant (especially after the third lockdown), we wanted to see as much life as possible! All in all, it was a fantastic stay, and so close to some amazing restaurants and West Bay, which is wonderful.
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