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Dorchester

Historic and modern – the best of both

To the west of Bournemouth and Poole is Dorchester, the charming county town of Dorset. It has much to offer for a day trip including a large range of restaurants, cafes, bars and bistros, museums, attractions, glorious gardens, river walks and a Roman town house. Literary references abound to world-famous author and poet Thomas Hardy, whose ‘Casterbridge’ was in fact, Dorchester.

Eating out and shopping – spoilt for choice!

Wander around the historical streets and you'll find a wide range of shops, both chains and independents. From the pedestrianised high street, it’s a short walk to Brewery Square, a recent conversion of the old brewery into a cosmopolitan hub of restaurants, bars and shops, with a cinema and light-up fountain that’s popular with children.

Museums a-plenty

Dorchester offers a fascinating selection of museums. Don’t miss the enchanting Teddy Bear Museum, the Tutankhamun Exhibition , the Dinosaur Museum, the Mummies Exhibition and the Terracotta Warriors museum too.

Visit the new immersive Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum in High West Street. Walk in the footsteps of people whose lives were forever changed in the historic court at Dorchester's Shire Hall.

Just outside Dorchester visit Hardy’s Cottage in Higher Bockhampton, the evocative place of Hardy’s birth.

Country walks

For fresh country air and beautiful walks, head to Kingston Maurward College, with beautiful lakeside walks, an animal park and adventure centre. The stunning 15^th century manor, Athelhampton House is another excellent day out in the countryside surrounding Dorchester. There are some lovely walking routes around the town too, taking in the river, gardens, nature-spotting and the mysterious earthwork of Maumbury Rings, a monument that has been an important part of the area for nearly five thousand years.

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The Dinosaur Museum

Dorchester

Fossils, skeletons, life-size dinosaur reconstructions and plenty more.

Price
Price Free to £58.95 Per Ticket

More info for The Dinosaur Museum
Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum

Dorchester

Executed for arson. Transported for asking for fair pay. Given six months hard labour for stealing clothes. 200 years of justice, injustice, crime and punishment are brought to life at Dorchester’s Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum.

More info for Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum
The Teddy Bear Museum

Dorchester

This museum, devoted to the wonderful world of the teddy bear, contains a wealth of bears for you to delight in.

Price
Price Free to £6.50 Per Ticket

More info for The Teddy Bear Museum
Terracotta Warriors Museum

Dorchester

The only museum outside China exclusively dedicated to the amazing Terracotta Warriors. Unique museum replicas of the warriors, reconstructions of costumes and armour and multimedia presentations.

Price
Price Free to £6.50 Per Ticket

More info for Terracotta Warriors Museum
The Mummies Exhibition

Dorchester

Discover the intimate secrets of the Kings of Ancient Egypt and the magic that protected their amazing bodies!

More info for The Mummies Exhibition
The Tutankhamun Exhibition

Dorchester

Visit Tutankhamun's tomb the world's greatest discovery of Ancient Treasure

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Price Free to £8.99 Per Ticket

More info for The Tutankhamun Exhibition

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Dorchester

Historic and modern – the best of both

Eating out and shopping – spoilt for choice!

Museums a-plenty

Country walks

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