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You are here: Things To Do > Animals & Farm Parks
If you and the family like to ‘go wild’ and get up close to nature, look no further as Dorset has all you need for your next adventure.
Watch the stars of TV’s Monkey Life as they caper about at Dorset’s famous ape rescue centre, Monkey World.
A fun day out for all the family - read the heart warming stories of the primates’ rescue and get face to face with our nearest cousins.
There are also plenty of picnic areas and cafes to keep you fed and watered, plus daily talks, a play area and gift shop. A must visit!
So much more than an aquarium, the Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park is a fantastic trip out. With lots of different zones to explore from penguin beach and seal harbour to splash zone and crocodile creek, there’s hours of entertainment in store for the whole family.
Discover the creatures of the seashore and deeper waters of the Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium. A traditional family run seaside attraction where visitors have the opportunity to get hands on and up close with sea creatures.
Farmer Palmers is one of Dorset’s number one attractions and it’s not hard to see why.
Expect a jam-packed time of indoor and outdoor play, interactive animal events, tractor rides and a unique cow milking demo with Mr Farmer Palmer himself!!
With staff on hand that are experienced with toddlers and young children, you can feel assured your little brood are in safe hands.
A visit to the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park is guaranteed to keep all members of your family entertained for hours. Take a relaxing Wagon Ride or get to say hello to the horses and other friendly farm animals. Children will love the go-cart arena, pony rides, adventure play area, straw barn farm and fairground rides.
Now you know that the family will have plenty to see and do whilst in Dorset, isn’t it time you booked your break?
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Number of results: 41
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Animal Collection
WEYMOUTH
Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park takes you on an adventure below the ocean. New: Fairy Penguin Island is home to the UK's only colony of Fairy Penguins!
Country Park/Nature Reserve
POOLE
A beautiful island with wonderful views, history & wildlife including rare red squirrels and birds, and is also the birthplace of Scouting and Guiding.
Animal Collection
ABBOTSBURY
CLOSES 01/11/2020 FOR THE SEASON UNTIL SPRING 2021, DATE TBA
The Swannery is now open for pre-booked ticket holders. You can book tickets online, indicating date and time of arrival. Visitor numbers are limited to 60 people per hour to ensure…
Country Park/Nature Reserve
RINGWOOD
To inject a sense of fun into your family days out then head to Moors Valley Country Park and Forest to get active in the outdoors and have yourself a family adventure. You are sure to find something for everyone.
Children of all ages will love…
Animal Collection
BOVINGTON, Wareham
Enjoy a fun-filled, fascinating day out for all the family at Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre.
Farm
Organford, POOLE
Farmer Palmers Farm Park has re-opened - pre-booking admission is now essential. Please visit website for tickets. Designed for children 8 years and under. Feed the lambs, view the animals, take a tractor-trailer ride, watch the cow being milked and…
Theme Park / Waterpark
Hurn, CHRISTCHURCH
Dorset’s multi award-winning family theme park, Adventure Wonderland, with its great range of rides and attractions is the perfect spot for unlocking the family fun.
Animal Collection
Dorchester
Badger Watch Dorset has now re-opened - booking essential. From our hides, thrill at the sight of badgers emerging from their setts and foraging for food. The area is floodlit for perfect vision and visits from other wildlife such as owls, foxes,…
Animal Collection
Verwood
COVID-19 VISIT ENGLAND WE’RE GOOD TO GO ACCREDITED BUSINESS. Come along and enjoy a unique experience visiting one of the very last Heavy Horse Centres left in Britain. The Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park is a multi-award-winning attraction located in…
Country Park/Nature Reserve
SWANAGE
Durlston Castle and Country Park, situated 1 mile from Swanage in Dorset, is a fabulous 320 acre countryside paradise and National Nature Reserve, consisting of sea-cliffs, coastal limestone downland, haymeadows, hedgerows and woodland.
With…
Country Park/Nature Reserve
DORCHESTER
Discover more about Thomas Hardy's early life at the Hardy's Birthplace Visitor Centre. The Centre is located on the edge of Thorncombe Wood Local Nature Reserve and a short walk from Hardy's Cottage. Thorncombe Woods is home to a great diversity of…
Aquarium
LYME REGIS
The Aquarium has now re-opened. Discover the creatures of the seashore and deeper waters of the Jurassic coast at Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium, a traditional family run seaside attraction which prides itself on its mission to drive knowledge of local…
Beach
STUDLAND
The National Trust car parks are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach from 9am to 5pm. Toilets are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach and Middle Beach. There are limited spaces, so if the car park is full please come back another…
Country Park/Nature Reserve
RINGWOOD
A mosaic of glorious heathland and forest, laced with waymarked trails and picnic spots, together with a visitor centre, play equipment, cafe and gift shop.
Country Park/Nature Reserve
WEYMOUTH
Weymouth is very lucky to have two top class nature reserves in the centre of town. Radipole lake has always been a favourite place for wildlife enthusiasts. Lodmoor is where you can encounter a vast range of bird species.
Beach
Nr Weymouth
A shelving beach made up of pebbles and shingle, popular with both local anglers and families for mackerel fishing.
Natural Wildlife Site
Purewell, CHRISTCHURCH
Purewell Meadows is a nature reserve with four hectares of public open space, most of which is grasses and sedges but there are also a large number of flowering plants. These include Ragged Robin and Devils Bit Scabious.
Forest
WAREHAM
Walk or cycle through heathland and forest by Morden Bog National Nature Reserve: one of the largest valley mire habitats in England. Numerous picnic benches and a waymarked walk. Cyclists welcome on 2 metre paths or the Sika Trail - a 7 mile family…
National Trust Property
BRIDPORT
Eggardon Hill is an iron-age hillfort which, arguably, has one of the finest views of any hill-fort in the county.
Country Park/Nature Reserve
Stanpit, CHRISTCHURCH
Stanpit Marsh is situated on the north side of Christchurch Harbour, just below the confluence of the rivers Avon and Stour. The Marsh is home to over 300 species of plants, 14 of which are nationally rare and endangered.
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