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 on 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 an adventure centre. The stunning 15th-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 the Maumbury Rings, a monument that has been an important part of the area for nearly five thousand years.
