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Fun, interesting, and unusual facts about Dorset – perfect for pub quizzes, or just impressing your friends!
Dorset is a fantastic place with a truly fascinating history, amazing landscapes, and lots of unique local quirks.
Whether you’re a local or just visiting the area, here are some fun facts that will shape the way you see this amazing part of the country! Use them as inspiration for your next pub quiz (don’t miss our 50-question Dorset quiz for more) or impress your mates with how much you know about Dorset. Enjoy…
18 Fun Facts About Dorset
1. Dorset is home to the oldest post box in England!
Commissioned in 1853, this famous post box is still in use today and can be found in the quaint village of Holwell. It even bears the initials of Queen Victoria inscribed in its casing!
2. Dorset is the backdrop of many famous music videos
Eagle-eyed music lovers can spot the Dorset countryside in music videos like ‘Yellow’ by Coldplay and ‘Shout’ by Tears for Fears.
3. Dorset’s Golden Cap is the highest point on the South Coast of Great Britain
At 191 meters (672 ft) above sea level, it offers some of the best views in Dorset. Follow our 4-mile walking route up and over Golden Cap for a memorable experience.
4. Bournemouth serves over 2,000 ice creams a day!
This popular seaside spot sees thousands of visitors every year, making it no surprise that so many ice creams are served up on Bournemouth Beach daily.
5. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast was the first ever site to make the UNESCO World Heritage list
The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is England’s first (and only) natural World Heritage Site.
6. Britain’s most bendy road is located in Dorset!
Zig Zag Hill near the Dorset/Wiltshire border is often called Britain’s bendiest road. This 1.5km stretch feels like a rollercoaster with its twists and turns. Drivers be warned!
7. Novelist Thomas Hardy based his fictional town of Casterbridge on Dorchester
Keen readers can draw parallels between the charming Dorset town and Hardy’s Casterbridge in his renowned novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge. Hardy set most of his works in fictionalized versions of southwest England.
READ MORE: We have a full list of books set in Dorset for your reading list!
8. One of the world’s hottest chillies was developed in Dorset!
The Dorset Naga is a superhot chilli, rated at a frightening 1.5 million Scoville Heat Units. It’s a great addition to soups and stews for those brave enough to try it!
9. Britain’s first-ever fossil shop was opened in Dorset in 1826
Palaeontologist Mary Anning founded the shop in Lyme Regis, and her findings contributed to significant changes in the field of science and earth history. Sadly, she was never admitted into the Geological Society of London for her work because she was a woman.
10. Mary Anning was also the inspiration behind a famous tongue-twister
Poet Terry Sullivan based his ever-popular tongue-twister, “She sells sea-shells on the sea-shore”, on the life work of fossil-lover and palaeontologist Mary Anning.
11. The iconic British Hovis advert was filmed in Dorset
Often voted Britain’s favourite of all time, the nostalgic television commercial features a boy pushing his bicycle up Gold Hill in Shaftesbury. It was directed by Ridley Scott.
12. Britain’s first-ever recorded UFO was in Dorset!
The first ever reported sighting of an Unidentified Flying Object in Britain was in Fleet, a village in West Dorset. On 8th December 1733, Mr. Cracker reported seeing a silvery disc fly overhead in broad daylight.
Here’s his eyewitness account, taken from the Bournemouth Echo:
“Something in the sky which appeared in the north but vanished from my sight, as it was intercepted by trees, from my vision… It shot with speed like a star falling in the night. But it had a body much larger and a train longer than any shooting star I have seen”.
13. Dorset is one of five counties in England without a motorway
One could argue that this fact keeps Dorset more peaceful!
14. A crater on Mars is named after Swanage
In 1997, a 12-mile diameter crater on Mars was named after the Dorset town of Swanage.
15. You can find famous film locations in Dorset!
- Scenes for Christopher Nolan’s award-winning 2017 film, Dunkirk, were filmed in Weymouth Harbour. Swanage Railway also made an appearance.
- The Boat That Rocked (2009) was filmed off the coast of Portland.
- Both the 1967 and 2015 versions of Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd were filmed around Dorset.
- The popular ITV drama Broadchurch was filmed at West Bay and other locations around Dorset.
16. Rabbits are considered unlucky in Dorset
The word ‘rabbit’ is considered unlucky on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. Portlanders refrain from using the R-word as they consider the creatures to be bad omens. Instead, they call them bunnies, “long-eared furry things”, or even “underground mutton”. It’s believed this superstition comes from the local quarry workers, who blamed rabbits for rockfalls and landslides.
17. The grave of gothic writer Mary Shelley can be found in Dorset
The famous author of Frankenstein and other titles lies in St Peter’s Church, Bournemouth.
18. Dorset was a popular holiday spot for Royals
Weymouth was a famous holiday spot of King George III. The royal suffered from a “madness” which historians now suspect may have been Bipolar Disorder. His doctors recommended sea swimming, which was believed to be extremely curative, so King George began holidaying in Weymouth. His trips popularised the town as a seaside resort.
A chalk hill figure of King George on his horse overlooks the town from the hillside above Osmington.
Read More
Check out our 50-question Dorset Quiz for lots more interesting tidbits, or visit our Inspiration page for some of our more general posts about the area.
If you’re planning a trip to Dorset, our bumper travel guide might help. Or use the menu above to scroll through the different destinations we’ve covered.
Know any more great facts about Dorset? Scroll down to share in the comments!
