OS grid reference SY978932 Country England Post town POOLE Shire county Dorset Dialling code 01202 | Region South West Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district BH16 District Purbeck District | |
 | ||
Weather 11°C, Wind SW at 8 km/h, 77% Humidity Civil parish Lytchett Minster and Upton UK parliament constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole | ||
Upton is a town in south east Dorset, England. It is the second largest town in the district of Purbeck.
Contents
Geography
The town is built around a road junction where the Blandford to Hamworthy road crosses the main Poole to Dorchester road. The Poole suburbs of Hamworthy and Turlin Moor adjoin the town to the south, whilst Lytchett Minster is to the west. An area of heathland, Upton Heath, is situated to the north of the town and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Additionally there are Upton Woods, as well as Lytchett Heath and Lytchett Bay, which leads onto Poole Harbour. Although mostly residential, Upton features a small industrial estate with businesses including Southern Print. Close to Upton lies Upton House, a country park and former Upton Estate. In 2000, The Upton Clock Tower was built at the Upton Crossroads to celebrate the new millennium and represent the town pride.
Governance
Upton forms part of the civil parish of Lytchett Minster and Upton, which in turn forms part of the Purbeck local government district of Dorset. It is within the Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency of the House of Commons and the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.
Education
Upton has two state schools, Upton Infant School and Upton Junior School, which are feeder schools for Lytchett Minster School. The Yarrells Preparatory School and Ladybirds Playschool (previously L.U.C.A. Ladybirds) are also based in the town.
Transport
The A35 trunk road runs past Upton, as does the A350. Upton is served by Wilts & Dorset bus routes numbers 8 and 40 which provide links to Poole, Wareham and Swanage. First Bus also operate the X53 service through the town serving Poole, Wareham, Weymouth, Bridport and Exeter. Damory Coaches operates two services, 347 and 387. The 347 serves, Poole, Fleetsbridge, Creekmoor and Lytchett Matravers whilst the 387 serves Poole, Hamworthy, Lytchett Matravers, Bere Regis and Dorchester.
The nearby Hamworthy railway station provides access to rail travel, with half-hourly trains to London, Southampton, Weymouth, Wareham, Poole and Bournemouth. Poole station is a short drive away, with more frequent services.