Visiting Portland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Portland welcomes visitors this summer to enjoy the unique and special landscape and atmosphere of our isle.  Our priority is to ensure that people are able to enjoy this spectacular place in a safe and responsible way, looking after our local communities, our visitors and the natural beauty around us.

Which business are reopening?

Most businesses on Portland have now re-opened including those at Easton where you will find a variety of independent shops and services. All businesses that plan to reopen or that have opened must follow and adhere to the government COVID-19 secure guidelines. Please look out for external and internal signage and follow the procedures that are put in place for each individual business, as restrictions will vary.  Cashless options are preferred when making purchases (card/contactless).

Will the weekly market be open?

The open air Portland Tuesday market is are currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, please check their website for the most up to date information about reopening dates.

Will the toilets be open?

All council owned toilets are now open, read more about public toilet facilities in Portland.

Will the car parks be open?

Most car parks are open and usual charges apply. The Just Park smartphone application may be used to pay for parking at Portland Bill car park and Chesil car park Read more about car parks in Portland.

Can I use public transport to visit?

Yes Portland is accessible by bus, please check timetables and routes by using the Traveline SW journey planner website.

Is the beach open?

All outdoor coastal areas are open on Portland. There is no RNLI LIfeguard presence on Chesil Beach or at Church Ope Cove.

Will there be events taking place this summer?

All events on council owned land have been cancelled for the time being. Please see our events page for updates or search for events in Portland and the surrounding area visit-dorset.com/whats-on

Will there be things for me to do when I visit?

The beauty of any visit to Portland is its wild, natural and ruggedly beautiful scenery. A paradise for wildlife, a mecca for outdoor pursuits and steeped in maritime history - an explore along some of the island’s magnificent coastal walks will provide a flavour of this unique place.
Our popular tourist attractions and activities will be open including:

• D-Day Museum - open every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Portland Castle - Open Weds to Sunday throughout August. Tickets must be booked in advance
• Portland Bill - Lighthouse is closed but the shop is open. The opening days are Tues - Thurs, Sat and Sun 10 - 5.
• Tout Quarry - a nature reserve transformed into a sculpture park. Free to explore any time.
• Portland Museum - opening soon.

Look out for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ consumer mark logos UK-wide industry standard.
This signals that a tourism and hospitality business has worked hard to follow Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.  Read more about Dorset businesses which have the We're Good To Go mark.