Dorset Opera Festival and summer school take place at
Bryanston
Blandford Forum
Dorset
UK
For SAT NAV use DT11 9LH This will take you to Bryanston’s main gate from where you will follow the long drive up to the festival site and theatre.
BUS: Tricky but you can arrive on buses X8 from Poole bus station, X12 from Weymouth, 20 from Salisbury – these all stop at Blandford St Mary, which is near the school gates, or the Crown Hotel in Blandford. For routes and timetables you can use bustimes.org – destination Blandford St Mary. From there, you will have about half an hour or so walk up the school drive …or try your luck hitching a lift from another merry opera-goer. Unfortunately, buses do not run late enough to serve you after performances other than the matinées.
BY TRAIN (and taxi): The closest railway stations are Salisbury and Poole if coming from London. From London Waterloo, the journey time is considerably faster via Salisbury (approx. 1h 30min compared to over 2 hours to Poole). From other directions, Gillingham and Dorchester.
TAXI:
From Salisbury: Sunrise Taxis 01258 268528, Taxilane 07756 934316, Value Cars 0172250505 or All The Sevens Taxis 01722 777777
From Poole: Dial-A-Cab 01202 666822 (up to 8 passengers)
From Gillingham: Accessible Taxis (call or text) 07711 052688 or Gillingham and Mere Taxis 01747 850385
From Dorchester: Bob’s Cars 01305 269500
BY CAR: Bryanston is less than a two-hour drive from the M25, with a choice of routes via major roads. It is also well connected with major cities in the West; both Exeter and Bristol are comfortably under two hours by car. With a SAT NAV use postcode DT11 9LH This will take you to Bryanston main gate. Having passed through the Bryanston gate, continue along the very long drive to the school grounds. You will spot our large marquee on the lawn to your left and will be directed where to park.
From Shaftesbury on the A350
After Stourpaine village, turn right at traffic lights. Go over bridge. Take first road on left on entering Durweston village (Bryanston School is signposted on opposite side of road). Take first road on left, again signposted Bryanston School. Pass Durweston Primary School and Village Hall on left and Knighton House School on right. Follow the narrow road into Bryanston School grounds and you will be directed to park.
From Salisbury on the A354
At roundabout shortly after village of Pimperne, turn left onto Blandford bypass. Go straight on at next roundabout (junction with B3082), and turn right at the following one (junction with A350), following signs for Brewery Visitor Centre. Go over mini-roundabout, then past Brewery Visitor Centre on right. Bryanston gate is straight ahead at next mini-roundabout. Continue up the very long drive into the school grounds. You will spot our large marquee on the lawn and will be directed to park.
From Poole on the A350
After Charlton Marshall continue until you reach roundabout (junction with A354). Go straight over, following signs for Brewery Visitor Centre. Go over mini-roundabout, then past Brewery Visitor Centre on right. Bryanston gate is straight ahead at next mini-roundabout. Go up the very long drive into the school grounds. You will see our large marquee on the lawn will be directed to park.
From Wimborne town centre on the B3082
After Tarrant Keyneston continue until you reach roundabout. Turn left onto Blandford bypass. Turn right at next roundabout (junction with A350), following signs for Brewery Visitor Centre. Go over mini-roundabout, then past Brewery Visitor Centre on right. Bryanston gate is straight ahead at next mini-roundabout. Go up the very long drive. You will spot our large marquee on the lawn and you will be directed to park.
From Dorchester on the A354
After Thornicombe, continue until you reach roundabout (junction with A350). Turn left, following signs for the Brewery Visitor Centre. Go over mini-roundabout, then past Brewery Visitor Centre on right. Bryanston gate is straight ahead at the next mini-roundabout. Go up the very long drive and you will be directed to park once in the grounds.
From Sturminster Newton on the A357
After Shillingstone, continue to Durweston village. Turn right immediately after long redbrick building (signpost to Bryanston School is on left-hand side of road). Take first road on left, again signposted Bryanston School. Pass Durweston Primary School and Village Hall on left and Knighton House School on right. Follow narrow road into Bryanston School grounds and you will be directed to park.