This is a fast food outlet situated by the pier end of the seafront. There is no where to sit here…read moreit is just for take-away. I can thoroughly reccomend the burgers from here - they are large, juicy, moist and perfectly cooked. The prices are very reasonable - a decent sized burger and chips will cost you less than three pounds. They do pizzas as well and soft drinks. I advise grabbing a tasty burger and sitting on one of the many seats by the sea - very british and very nice view of swanage bay. The chips are a little bland and get a bit boring after a while, but everything is cooked to order so you can guarantee it will be served piping hot.

Swanage is quite an arty place, and has a couple of galleries (see also Mulberry Tree). Quarr…read moreGallery is very central, and has a good range of paintings, prints and cards. They stock work by a number of painters, mostly local. There's nothing edgy or abstract here, but we liked the work of Steve Read. His beach hut pictures use a limited palette, reminiscent of old railway posters.

Other than the castle, the village itself has a very inviting feel about it. You enter the castle…read morefrom the little square where there are a few shops and a monument in the middle. The square is very small! I don't know; I just found the place really calm and peaceful - most likely not this way during the tourist season but on a cold wet November late afternoon the atmosphere was at its best. The village isn't very big, so worth a little wander around and perhaps a stop in a pub and some of the shops.

Such a beautiful village - it hasn't changed much since I used to visit it over 40 years ago. The…read moreCastle is always worth a visit - you get in free if you're a National Trust member, and the parking at the visitor centre at the entrance to the village is also free to members. Try getting there early-morning before the crowds. Interesting little shops and the National Trust Tea Rooms does the best cream tea ever - sit in their garden overlooking the Castle. There's also a model village. The steam train runs from the Park & Ride at Norden (just before Corfe Castle village), stops at the village before chugging through the Purbecks onto Swanage. A good day's fun!