Dorset Travel Information

Getting to Dorset couldn't be easier. The county’s excellent connections via international airports, ferry ports, national and local railway, coach and bus services and a comprehensive road system, makes Dorset one of the most accessible holiday destinations in the South West.

Are you an international visitor wanting to experience the local history and culture of rural England, and take a break away from the city of London? Why not combine your trip to the capital with a visit to Dorset - travel with ease and arrive from central London in just over 2 hours.

Dorset’s wildlife and beauty can be enjoyed much more without a car and there are so many travel options available that you can happily leave your car at your accommodation. Take a look at our travelling around Dorset guide for information about public transport and cycling routes.

Arriving by road

Dorset is easily accessible by road and travelling to the county is an enjoyable and scenic journey, passing through beautiful countryside along the way.

And once here, enjoy the peace and quiet – 5 English counties do not have a motorway and Dorset is one of them! Driving is a pleasure on our traffic-light country lanes, just make sure you don’t get distracted by the incredible views! 

Arriving by train

Dorset is served by a reliable rail network between many of the UK’s principal towns and local railway stations throughout the country.

South Western Railway operates direct trains from London Waterloo stopping at Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole, Wareham, Dorchester and Weymouth as well as Gillingham, Sherborne and Axminster (for Lyme Regis).

Dorset also has connections from Bath, Bristol and Gloucester on Great Western Railway services.

Arriving by sea

As Dorset is situated on the south coast of England, there are a number of ferry services from European ports arriving in or close to the county. Ferry services run to and from Poole, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton. A warm welcome is also extended to cruise ship passengers arriving at Portland Port.

Arriving by air

The main airports for Dorset are at Bournemouth, Southampton, Exeter and Bristol. All are less than 90 minutes drive away.

If you are arriving at London Gatwick or London Heathrow airports, you can get a connecting train or coach, or it is a 2-3 hour drive, so Dorset is easy to get to from anywhere in the world!

Need more information?

Visit our getting around Dorset pages to find more about car free days out and how to discover Dorset's beautiful landscape by using cycle networks or Dorset walking trails whilst you are here.

For the latest up-to-date travel information for Dorset, visit the Travel Dorset website.