Things to do in Dorchester
There’s so much history in Dorchester, a quaint Dorset town situated just 10km north of the seaside town of Weymouth and our holiday parks at Littlesea, Seaview and Weymouth Bay.
From the birthplace of classic English author Thomas Hardy to 6000-year-old settlements, there’s plenty to explore within the county town. Let's go through some of the best things to do in Dorchester.
1. Visit Thomas Hardy’s homes
Not just one but two of Hardy’s homes are situated in or near Dorchester, a town he featured in his famous book The Mayor of Casterbridge. First, and prettiest, is the author’s birthplace, a lovingly preserved thatched cottage. The National Trust have styled the interior to 1840 when the Tess of the D’Urbervilles author was born. The house can be visited on a pre-booked tour between Tuesday and Sunday, and is three miles north of Dorchester's centre at Higher Bockhampton.
Next, return to Dorchester to tour the home the author built in 1885 at the height of his success. Max Gate is a sprawling brick-built Victorian home with a shady, walled garden and a second-hand bookshop, where you can pick up a copy of one of his books.
2. Investigate a Roman ruin
Address: County Hall, Colliton Pk, Dorchester DT1 1XJ
If Hardy’s homes have whetted your appetite for history, we’re only getting started! There’s the full, surviving foundations of a 3rd- to 4th-century Roman town house close to the local council buildings at Colliton Park. It’s the only intact, above-ground example of its kind in Britain, and has been partly reconstructed to reveal how the complete structure would have looked. Beautifully preserved mosaic floors can be seen inside, and guided tours are available.
3. Go Neolithic
Roman still a bit too modern for the history fanatics in your group? Dorchester has even older remains if you dig a little more deeply.
First you might visit the circular earthworks called the Maumbury Rings, just minutes from the railway station. Initially holding a stone circle, they were later adapted into an amphitheatre by the Romans, who called the town Durnovaria. Further changes occurred when a hill fort was built here during the English Civil War. It’s now a venue for occasional summer concerts and other events. It’s also a great place to relax and read a book or have a picnic.
Next, head out to the remnants of Maiden Castle, southwest of the town. There are few remnants of the 6000-year-old settlement, but it’s a great place to have a country walk steeped in history, and the site is well-preserved and explained with English Heritage signage.
Stepped, defensive dykes lead visitors up to the top of the structure, where you'll be rewarded with panoramic Dorset views.
4. Visit an Art Deco cinema
Dorchester Plaza Cinema address: Trinity St, Dorchester DT1 1TT
The chic Art Deco style of the 1930s extended from the cities to towns across the country and Dorchester’s Plaza Cinema is a fine example. If you need to get out of the rain, what better than to watch a movie in a cinema with 90 years of history. You won’t pay cinema chain prices either!
5. Go shopping for Antiquities
If your enthusiasm for ancient things extends mostly to buying them, you have plenty of choices in Dorchester. The town is full of surprising antique and curiosity shops, selling vintage watches, jewellery, maps, books, prints and more.
While you’re browsing, drop into one of the local eateries. Since Dorchester is only seven miles from the Jurassic Coast, you’ll find plenty of local seafood, including prawns, scallops, and crab. The local farms produce delicious dairy provender, including an award-winning aged goat’s cheese.
6. Check out the museums
For a town of just over 19,000 inhabitants, Dorchester has impressive number of museums. The first two on our list are sure to delight the little ones.
The nearby Jurassic Coast is world-renowned for its fossils and dinosaur skeletons, and many of these are on display in the Dinosaur Museum. Inside you’ll also find life-size reconstructions of the T-Rex and Stegosaurus, interactive displays and a massive fossil collection.
You’ll encounter slightly less fearsome creatures in the Teddy Bear Museum, a pocket-sized exhibit of over 100 toys including vintage Steiff bears, posed and dressed toys, and some famous faces. For collectors, there's of course a shop.
By contrast, the imposing imitation Norman Keep houses a military museum devoted to over 300 years of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and older local militia. Here you’ll find weapons, uniforms, documents, and fascinating insights into local history. Don’t miss the great city views you’ll get from the battlements either!
Finally, for more history, and impressive Georgian architecture, head to the Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, built in 1797. The imposing building was the site of the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, six agricultural labourers who were early champions of workers’ rights. You can learn more about them, in the nearby town of Tolpuddle, where there’s a dedicated museum.
7. Stroll the Jurassic Coast
No list of things to do in Dorchester would be complete without a visit to the Jurassic Coast, with its golden beaches, ancient fossil hordes and stunning clifftop views. As well as West Bay there’s bustling Weymouth, historic Lyme Regis, the perfect crescent of Lulworth Cove and of course, Durdle Door’s fabulous stone archway, through which the sea surges and crashes.
All in all, Dorset isn’t short of drama!
8. Relax with Sculpture by the Lakes
Address: Pallington Lakes, Dorchester DT2 8QU
If you’re visiting Tolpuddle, drive southeast along Milom Lane to discover the picturesque Pallington Lakes and a sculpture park and gallery. Beautiful and surprising works nestle amongst 26 acres of wonderful water and groves of trees. There’s a café, occasional musical recitals, and an opportunity to unwind and recharge those batteries before you hit the shops or the seaside.
Start planning your Great British break
Related Posts
Things to do in Lyme Regis
Things to do in Bridport
Places to visit in Dorset
Important information
Brand new holiday homes from £34,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom ABI New Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 19 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Church Farm, Cala Gran, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Seashore, Seaview and Thornwick Bay.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
New holiday homes from £33,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom Willerby Ellerton Extra holiday and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
From 12 July 2024 the holiday home price is reduced from £37,995 to £33,995 and will remain at this price until all available stock is sold.
The holiday home price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024 this price is available at Berwick, Burnham-on-Sea, Devon Cliffs, Doniford Bay, Hafan y Mor, Kent Coast, Lakeland, Marton Mere, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Reighton Sands, Seton Sands and Weymouth Bay.
Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £19,995
Holiday home price is based on a Bronze Grade pre-owned holiday home 6 years or older and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Cala Gran, Church Farm, Cardigan View, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Orchards, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Riviere Sands, Seashore, Seaview, Skegness and Thornwick Bay.
Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.