DAYS OUT NOW · England
DorchesterYour next adventure starts here.
Dorchester is the county town of Dorset, a historic market town surrounded by the countryside of Thomas Hardy's Wessex. The vast Iron Age hillfort of Maiden Castle lies just outside the town, the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery covers everything from Jurassic fossils to Hardy, and Hardy's own home, Max Gate, is on its edge. Use this page for days out in and around Dorchester, with walks, rainy-day ideas and places to stay.
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Browse 6 listings in this page’s local directory
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Roman Town House Dorchester
Roman remains in Colliton Park, within the grounds of County Hall in Dorchester. Dorset Council owns the site, while Dorset Museum arranges tours, school visits and events. Check the museum's current arrangements for interior access rather than assuming…
Plan your visit →The Blue Raddle
A Dorchester pub on Church Street with a menu including pies, haddock and vegetarian or vegan dishes. Its published service is concentrated towards the end of the week. Check the current kitchen hours and book ahead for a…
Plan your visit →Terracotta Warriors Museum
An exhibition about the First Emperor of China's terracotta army on High East Street in Dorchester. The figures are specially made exhibition reproductions, rather than original excavated warriors. The published ticket also includes the host Teddy Bear Museum;…
Plan your visit →The Posh Partridge Cafe
A family-run cafe on High East Street in Dorchester, serving home-cooked breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. The cafe welcomes dogs and also offers catering. Discuss any dietary requirements and check the day's food service before visiting.
Plan your visit →The Dinosaur Museum Dorchester
A dinosaur-focused museum on Icen Way in Dorchester, established in 1984. It provides an indoor attraction for visitors interested in prehistoric life. The operator warns that opening times may vary, so check current hours and admission before travelling.
Plan your visit →The Tutankhamun Exhibition Dorchester
An exhibition on High West Street in Dorchester recreating Tutankhamun's tomb, mummy and major treasures. Displays use reproductions to explain the discovery and ancient Egyptian burial chambers. Check current opening hours and admission before visiting.
Plan your visit →FIND YOUR NEXT DAY OUT
Explore towns in and around Dorchester
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About the photographs
Local photographs are used where available. Cards labelled country inspiration show a named scene from the wider country, rather than that town. Category photographs illustrate the activity, not a particular business.
Moot Hall, Keswick — Kenneth Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Image licence · Optimised version; original source linked.
Bowness-on-Windermere town centre — Karl1587 · public domain · Optimised version; original source linked.
Bowness-on-Windermere town centre — Karl1587 · public domain · Optimised version; original source linked.
Bowness-on-Windermere town centre — Karl1587 · public domain · Optimised version; original source linked.
Waterhead, Ambleside — Fitful · public domain · Optimised version; original source linked.
Grasmere village — Malc McDonald · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Image licence · Optimised version; original source linked.
Kendal Castle — Sue · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Image licence · Optimised version; original source linked.
Market Square, Penrith — Malc McDonald · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Image licence · Optimised version; original source linked.
Whitehaven harbour — Krautrock · public domain · Optimised version; original source linked.
Bampton bridge and village, Cumbria — Oliver Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Image licence · Optimised version; original source linked.
ON THE DAY OUT MAP
Days out near Dorchester
Attractions on the Days Out Now Day Out Map within 15 miles of Dorchester, nearest first. Distances are straight-line.
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PLAN YOUR NEXT DAY OUT
Walks & road trips in Dorchester
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Places to stay in Dorchester
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