Fun and adventure awaits you in Dorset
Family fun at the Dorset Heavy Horse Centre
Monkey World Primate Rescue Centre

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Highlights

Museum of Jurassic Marine Life - The Etches Collection

The finest single collection of Late Jurassic age fossils in Britain, housed in a purpose built,…

Weymouth Beach

This award-winning sandy beach is overlooked by a magnificent Georgian seafront, located at the…

Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

Farmer Palmers Farm Park has re-opened - pre-booking admission is now essential. Please visit…

The Tutankhamun Exhibition

*Temporarily closed*. The world's greatest discovery of Ancient Treasure - Tutankhamun's tomb,…

Literary Dorset
Dorset's Jurassic Coast

Visit our stunning Jurassic Coast and enjoy 'a walk through time', you might even find your own fossil along the way!
Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre

Enjoy a fun-filled, fascinating day out for all the family at Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre.
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If you’re seeking fun-packed days out in Dorset with the kids, we've got loads of ideas to keep all ages entertained.

There’s animals to meet, dinoaurs to discover, castles to explore, thrilling rides and sports of all sorts.

One thing’s for sure, we can guarantee you and the family won’t be bored on your holiday. Get ready for some great fun!

What shall we do today?

It’s not difficult to keep the kids (and parents) entertained in Dorset as there’s a fair share of star family attractions hidden in amongst all that lovely West Country scenery.

One of the most renowned ape rescue centres in the world, Monkey World is home to over 230 rescued and endangered apes and monkeys. A great day out for your cheeky chimps!

Moors Valley Country Park has something for everyone. Set in 1000 acres of parkland and forest you can explore the way marked trails, tree-top walkways and tackle the high wire adventure.

Enjoy some fun down on the farm at Farmer Palmers. This is a great day out for under 8s with a brilliant adventure playground and a number of animal based activities.

If a family theme park is what the kids crave, Adventure Wonderland is the place for you. With over 30 family rides and attractions, the park takes its inspiration from Lewis Carol's Alice in Wonderland. The children will love meeting Alice, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Mr Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat.

Inspirational days out

You’ll never be stuck for interesting things to see and do in Dorset, even when the British weather takes a turn for the worse. Don’t panic, Dorset has plenty of indoor fun to keep everyone entertained.

For your little soldiers, the Tank Museum is a must. Learn the story of the tank and look around a massive display of armoured vehicles; you can even take part in a trench experience. Tonnes of fun for everyone!

Kids will love the amazing variety of museums in Dorset where children of all ages can learn, explore, touch, and discover. Board a Concorde aircraft, be amazed at life sized dinosaurs and teddy bears, see Tutankhamun’s tomb and have your photo taken with Mr Bean’s yellow mini!

If the children need to let off some steam, take them to Lemur Landings – a huge soft play centre with bridges to cross, tunnels to explore and plenty of clambering up, sliding down and running around.

Get back to nature

For any animal lovers in your family, Dorset won’t disappoint. Dorset is home to some of the very best riding stables that cater for little ones and big ones!

Enjoy a trek across the open countryside or enjoy one on one tuition with an experienced instructor with Rosewall Equestrian or Lulworth Equestrian Centre.

For those of you not keen on riding your animal companion, why not lead a loving Donkey or exotic Llama while taking some of the sites and sounds of the countryside on an organised walk.

On the crest of a wave

It’s not surprising that with Dorset’s fantastic coastline that we have some of the very best water based activities that you’ll find anywhere. Dorset is home to the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy and its waters hosted the sailing events for the London 2012 Olympics. Spend a day out on the water and see if you’ve got what it takes to be the next Ben Ainsley.

The best view of Dorset’s world heritage coastline is most certainly from the water so the chance to enjoy a blast along the coast in a specially adapted RIB shouldn't be missed. Book a session with Lyme Bay RIB Charter to experience a ride you’ll never forget, just remember to hold on tight!!

Did you know that the RNLI headquarters and national training college is in Poole? Why not take a behind the scenes tour of the RNLI College to find out how their crews and lifeguards are trained and be given the chance to explore the college and its training facilities, including their world-class Sea Survival Centre, which hosts the wave tank and Lifeboat simulator. Maybe the little ones will be inspired to become a lifeguard?

Be creative

If you'd like to try something different, then a visit to Burngate Stone Carving Centre is a must. They run 2 hour sessions for both adults and children. Try carving a flower, name or your favourite animal.

Fit and fun

Don’t forget that Dorset also has a number of modern sports centres offering a vast array of activities, from badminton and squash through to family fun session’s poolside or outside.

Experience the country life

The biggest and best attractions in Dorset aren’t those that would immediately spring to mind; they’re our beaches, cliffs, harbours, woods and meadows – places that are absolutely free to go and see! If you’re after a great family day out that won’t cost you a penny, come and experience some of Dorset’s finest natural wonders.

A picnic at Durdle Door will entertain the whole family. Spend the day at Dorset’s most famous landmark and soak up the atmosphere at this magnificent beauty spot. Splash in the sea, play games, relax and enjoy some quality family time.

Start planning your family adventures today

In order to get the most out of your stay in Dorset and experience as many attractions as possible, it is advisable to book some accommodation.

We are proud to offer a wide range of accommodation that is suitable for families, whether you’re looking for hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages, caravan parks or camping facilities, you can rest assured we have everything here for you to enjoy during your stay in Dorset.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
115 reviews
Montacute TV Radio Toy Museum

Type

Type:

Museum

MONTACUTE

Nostalgic trip through the World of radio and TV programmes guaranteed to bring memories of classic TV and radio flooding back just off the A303 in Somerset

Price £8.00 Per Ticket
Weymouth Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

WEYMOUTH

Weymouth’s sheltered bay, gradual sloping seabed and exquisite waters offer swimmers, bathers and water sports enthusiast’s idyllic and safe conditions to enjoy. The internationally recognised beach is a frequent host to festivals, sporting…
Wimborne Model Town and Gardens

Type

Type:

Model/Miniature Village

WIMBORNE MINSTER

Welcome to Wimborne’s vintage charity attraction. We’re a magnet for visitors of all ages to step back in time and enjoy the 1/10th scale preserved world of Wimborne town centre in the 1950s.
Follow our new Socially Distanced route complete with…

Price Free to £18.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1315 reviews
Studland Bay

Type

Type:

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…

Free
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
17 reviews
Swanage Sea Fishing

Type

Type:

Fishing

SWANAGE

Based in Swanage on the stunning Jurassic coastline, we welcome both experienced and novice anglers, including children and families! This part of the world offers fantastic angling marks and a plentiful variety of fish for the table, plus the…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
424 reviews
Lulworth Castle & Park

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

EAST LULWORTH, Wareham
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
Welcome to Lulworth Castle and Park, situated at the heart of the privately owned Lulworth Estate. Follow the fascinating story of the castle and the inspiring past of its dedicated owners. Discover breathtaking views over the Dorset countryside…
Price Free to £6.00 Per Ticket
Swanage Beach Gardens, Putting Green, Tennis & Outdoor Bowls

Type

Type:

Activities

SWANAGE

Putting Green, Tennis Courts, Outdoor Table Tennis Table and Outdoor Bowls in a tranquil setting.

Price £1.80 to £9.00 Activity
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1237 reviews
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway

Type

Type:

Garden

Exbury

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is currently closed for winter maintenance. We look forward to welcoming you back from 1st March 2021.
More than 100 years in the making, Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a spectacular collection of landscaped…

Price Free to £14.30 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1143 reviews
Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

SWANAGE
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
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…
Free
Portland Bill Lighthouse

Type

Type:

Lighthouse

PORTLAND
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
*Temporarily closed*. Portland Bill Lighthouse has been standing majestically for the past one hundred and eleven years at a height of 41 metres (135 ft). The distinctive red and white tower first shone its famous four flashes of light every twenty…
Lyme Regis Beaches

Type

Type:

Beach

Lyme Regis

The beaches in Lyme Regis are a mixture of sand and pebbles. Monmouth beach is very pebbly and shelves. The Front beach is a flat, sandy beach, as is Cobb Gate.
Swanage Beach Huts

Type

Type:

Beach

SWANAGE

Swanage Beach huts are let daily, weekly or longer term. Hire a beach hut, and your trips to the beach are made easier without having to take all your towels, swimwear and children’s toys down to the beach every day!
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
106 reviews
Wareham Boat Hire Ltd

Type

Type:

Boating and Canoeing

WAREHAM

Motor Boats, Kayaks, Canoes, Rowing Boats and Paddle Boards all for hire from Abbots Quay in Wareham. We have a fantastic range of self drive motor boats, some of the latest touring and sit on top kayaks both single and double. Canadian canoes, Red…

Price £8.00 Per Ticket to £40.00 Activity
Donkey Walking Adventures

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

BEAMINSTER

Relax and enjoy an unforgettable day spent leading an affectionate donkey while exploring the Brit Valley and TV River Cottage Site. Picnic or pub lunch en route.
Dorset County Museum

Type

Type:

Museum

DORCHESTER

*LATEST UPDATE* The Museum is currently closed for re-furbishment and will reopen in 2021. Dorset County Museum closed in October 2018 for a two-year multi-million pound redevelopment. Complete with new galleries, a learning centre, collections…
Nothe Fort

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

WEYMOUTH
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
Nothe Fort is now open to visitors with new measures in place to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and volunteers. More information on what has changed can be found on the Covid-19 Nothe Fort webpage.
Special Offers
- With an annual pass into Nothe Fort, you can gain access for free whenever you wish until the end of 2021.
  More offers like this - Attraction Offers
Price £2.00 to £18.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1339 reviews
Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium

Type

Type:

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…
Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre

Type

Type:

Heritage/Visitor Centre

SWANAGE

*LATEST UPDATE* The Museum is currently closed. Containing information on the history, geology and geography of the town and surrounding area. Educational packs are available and talks can be given. There is also a small retail area including local…

Free
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
4003 reviews
Lulworth Cove

Type

Type:

Natural Feature

WEST LULWORTH

The pebble beach and blue waters of Lulworth Cove make it an extremely popular destination. The Cove and surrounding coastline are part of the world famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Low tide reveals wonderful rock pools teeming with sea…

Free
Rosewall Equestrian

Type

Type:

Riding/Trekking Centre

Osmington Mills, WEYMOUTH
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
*Temporarily closed*
Our British Horse Society approved riding school is located in a picturesque setting overlooking a valley and lakes and caters for most abilities. Whether you are a first time rider wanting a lesson or an experienced rider…

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What shall we do today?

Inspirational days out

Get back to nature

On the crest of a wave

Be creative

Fit and fun

Experience the country life

Start planning your family adventures today

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