Family fun awaits you at Adventure Wonderland
Family fun at the Dorset Heavy Horse Centre
Monkey World Primate Rescue Centre

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Highlights

Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

Pre-booking admission is now essential. Designed for children 8 years and under. Delivering family…

Brewery Square

Brewery Square is a vibrant and stylish regeneration in the heart of Dorchester which currently…

Adventure Wonderland

Dorset’s number 1 family theme park, great range of family rides and attractions means there’s even…

The Tank Museum

Bringing history to life, with the world’s best collection of tanks and explosive live displays.…

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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Symondsbury Estate

Type

Type:

Natural Feature

BRIDPORT

Welcome to Symondsbury Estate set in the beautiful Dorset countryside but within a few miles of the Jurassic Coast, a world heritage site with unspoilt beaches and fabulous coastal walks.
Beneath the local landmark of Colmers Hill, Symondsbury…
The Woodland Clan Activity Trail

Type

Type:

Nature Trail

SWANAGE

Join a magical adventure trail at Durlston Country Park in Swanage between 17 May 2021 - 27 June 2021 and Corfe Castle between 5 July 2021 - 1 September 2021

Price £3.00 Per Ticket
The Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms

Type

Type:

Parkland/Woodland Garden

Furzebrook, WAREHAM
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
The Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms will reopen in 2021
Price Free to £5.00 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 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
Nothe Fort

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

WEYMOUTH
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
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
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 £7.50 Per Ticket
Upton Wood

Type

Type:

Forest

Upton, POOLE

A small woodland on the edge of Upton (opposite Upton Country Park). The Wood includes footpaths, cyclepaths and Woodland Trail, also running streams, open glades and seats to sit and rest a while. Map and leaflet available from Discover Purbeck…

Free
Wareham Town Walls Walk

Type

Type:

Walking Route

WAREHAM

Wareham Town Walls originally built in Saxon times to defend the town from the Vikings, now form a delightful short walk around the town. The route is 1 mile (1.6km) starting at Streche Road and takes approx 45 minutes - there are places to stop…
Durley Chine Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

Bournemouth

Durley Chine Beach is one of Bournemouth's favourite Blue Flag award winning beaches, particularly loved by the locals for its wide, exceptionally clean, sandy and shingle beaches situated further to the West of Bournemouth, away from the hustle and…
The Ancient Trails Company

Type

Type:

Guided Tour
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
We offer a walking holiday and day experiences like no other – we meet, we pack up the ponies, we walk, we camp wild(ish). We also ‘wild glamp’. And now you can too.
Ancient Trails has evolved from our love of where we live- Dorset - this land,…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
345 reviews
Clouds Hill - Home of T.E .Lawrence

Type

Type:

National Trust Property

BOVINGTON, Wareham

*LATEST UPDATE* Clouds Hill is currently closed.
T.E. Lawrence's (Lawrence of Arabia) retreat containing his own furnishings and photographs.

Price Free to £19.30 Per Ticket
Mudeford Sandbank

Type

Type:

Beach

Mudeford, CHRISTCHURCH

A unique spit which adjoins the ancient headland of Hengistbury Head and forms a natural barrier between the harbour and the open sea. The area is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI).

Free
Dorset Adventures

Type

Type:

Adventure Sports

We specialise in Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Stand-Up Paddle boarding, Rock Climbing, Coasteering, Archery, Axe & Knife Throwing! Our team of qualified and experienced instructors offer a range of adventurous activities around Shaftesbury, and the…
Condor Ferries

Type

Type:

Boat Trip

POOLE

*LATEST UPDATE* Day trips to Guernsey are currently suspended. Some ferries are operating with restrictions in place - visit their website for the latest information.

Price £24.00 to £34.00 Per Ticket
Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve

Type

Type:

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.

Free
Avon Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

Mudeford, CHRISTCHURCH

Avon Beach is great for families with small children and people with disabilities as it has it's own car park level with the beach.

Free
Portland Castle

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

PORTLAND
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2021
A well preserved coastal fort built by Henry VIII to defend Weymouth harbour against possible French and Spanish attack. Exhibition: 400 years of the castle's history.
Price £2.90 to £12.70 Per Ticket
Hengistbury Head

Type

Type:

Natural Wildlife Site

Bournemouth

Hengistbury Head is a relatively unspoilt and south-facing pebble beach, with imposing clay and ironstone cliffs.
Southbourne Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

Bournemouth

Southbourne Beach is one of Bournemouth's favourite Blue Flag award winning beaches, particularly loved by the locals for its wide, exceptionally clean, sandy and shingle beaches situated further to the West of Bournemouth, away from the hustle and…

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Highlights

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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