This museum explores the social history of the rural market town of Beaminster, and the surrounding villages. Suitable for the whole family! Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Tel: 01308 863623
Address: Whitcombe Rd, Beaminster, DT8 3NB
Follow this free trail to find a series of geocaches, placed by the local juniors at Bincombe Valley School, which tell some of the area’s history. The trail is available to download online, and more information about geocaching can be found on the website, or through your phone’s app provider.
Tel: 01305 269512
Address: Various around Littlemoor, Weymouth
Blagdon Fruit Farm in Weymouth is a perfect location for pick-your-own!
As well as delicious strawberries and other fruits, they have a lovely tearoom for cream tea and cakes, as well as outdoor seating and lawn games.
Tel: 07557 337679
Address: Coldharbour, Chickerell, Weymouth DT3 4BG
The museum tells the story of Blandford & its surrounding villages with lots of displays and local artefacts. There’s a Victorian garden to explore as well as regular events.
Free entry, although donations are welcome.
Tel: 01258 450388
Address: Bere’s Yard, Blandford Forum, DT11 7HQ
A vibrant complex in the middle of Dorchester, offering various shops and eateries, as well as lots of events and activities, particularly for children. In the summer the fountains are on, so that children can have hours of fun in the sunshine!
Tel: 01305 267777
Address: 3 Copper St, Dorchester, DT1 1GH
Offering a wide range of activities, including fitness classes, gym, swimming pool, yoga, children’s activities and lots more. Timetable and prices available online.
Tel: 01308 427464
Address: Brewery Fields, Skilling Hill Rd, DT6 5LN
A stunning, hidden little cove on the Jurassic coast, brilliant for wild swimming, snorkelling and fossil hunting. Access to this beach is very steep, not suitable for buggies or unconfident walkers. There are no facilities available & please take your rubbish home with you.
Address: Nr. Renscombe Car Park, Worth Matravers
Enjoy the model village and its surrounding gardens, as well as the delicious Courtyard Cafe! The model village includes a fairy garden, fossil corner, giant games, gift shop, mini museum and lots more.
Tel: 01929 481234
Address: The Square, Corfe Castle, Wareham, BH20 5EZ
Explore the Purbeck National Nature Reserve by bike, with views and adventures around Studland Bay, Corfe Castle, Old Harry Rocks and more, it won’t disappoint. There’s also the opportunity for more testing mountain biking routes!
Tel: 01929 481606
Address: Purbeck Park, A351, Wareham, BH20 5DW
Nice little garden centre with a family-friendly cafe and softplay, as well as the opportunity to feed the fish. Perfect for a visit with family of all ages.
Tel: 01305 852324
Beautiful clifftop nature reserve with a visitor centre in a renovated castle. Durlston CP puts on lots of activities, especially during school holidays! Pay & display parking, but free entry to the park.
Tel: 01929 424443
Address: Lighthouse Rd, Swanage, BH19 2JL
This community farm on Portland has free entry and free parking. Open every day from April-October. There are lots of animals, including wallabies, goats, ducks, chickens, geese, pigs, owls and more, with cups of food available to buy and feed to them.
Tel: 07810 485351
Address: Glacis, Portland, DT5 1FR
The largest area of green space in Poundbury, it features sports pitches, a brilliant play park, outdoor gym equipment and a lovely little cafe, as well as hosting a weekly Parkrun event.
2-hours free parking is available on most of the roads surrounding the park (although check the signs!). There are toilets next to the cafe and the park is very buggy friendly.
Address: 1 Peverell Ave East, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3RH
Paddling pool within Greenhill Gardens, offering a great opportunity for little ones to cool down, as well as lots of other amenities, right on the beachfront.
Tel: 01305 782419
Address: Greenhill, Weymouth, DT4 7TH
A small museum showing the history of the Young Offenders Institute on Portland. Displays include films, information, photographs and artefacts.
Free entry although donations are very welcome.
Opening hours/days vary – best to phone & check before travelling.
Tel: 01305715726
Address: 104 Grove Road, Portland, DT5 1DZ
The Hardy’s Birthplace visitor centre is fully accessible and offers informative displays, a lovely cafe and free entry! You can download trails to explore Thorncombe Wood, including a selection of routes and children’s scavenger hunt.
Tel: 01305 251228
Address: Dorchester, DT2 8QH
This free attraction is brilliant for all ages. There’s some animals, outdoor play area, softplay, cafe and lots of opportunities for exploring the grounds.
Free entry & free parking.
Tel: 01305 215000
Address: Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8PY
Lovely PYO farm, with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries. Follow them on social media for opening times and fruit availability, however, generally open 10am – 5pm daily.
Tel: 07798 743877
Address: Soldiers Road, Norden, Corfe Castle, BH20 5DU
This absolute haven includes meadows, woodland and harbour views, perfect for some time away from it all! Open all year round, with parking and free entry.
Tel: 01305 264620
Address: Lorton Ln, Weymouth, DT3 5QH
This museum is built on the site of Mary Anning’s home! The museum hosts an array of fossils, as well as offering events and regular fossil walks.
Tel: 01297 443370
Address: Bridge St, Lyme Regis, DT7 3QA
This nature reserve is right on the edge of Blandford, so easy to get to, but still tranquil. Well-kept paths and lots of good places to explore, plus a play area make it ideal for a family day out.
Buggy and wheelchair friendly.
Address: Milldown Nature Reserve, Blandford Forum, DT11 7UF
Hop on First’s 501 or X52 services to explore Weymouth & Portland without worrying about car parking! Timetables and more information are available on First Bus website.
Tel: 0345 646 0707
These former dwellings feature maritime displays that are fun and interactive, suiting the whole family. You can even climb to the top! Prices start from £1.50, booking is advisable, but not essential.
Tel: 01305 821050
Address: Bill Lighthouse, Old Coastguard Cottages, Portland, DT5 2JT
This museum has a vast collection including dinosaurs, fossils, shipwrecks & smugglers, stone carvings, seafaring, scientists and authors – it reflects the history and people of the island of Portland through time.
All the family is welcome and accommodated for.
Tel: 01305 821804
Address: 217 Wakeham, Easton, Portland, DT5 1HS
The stunning countryside across this part of Dorset offers loads of options for walking, cycling and exploring. There’s lots to discover, including open-top bus rides and RSPB parks.
There’s lots of information online for the best walks, parking and all the other bits you might need for a great day out.
Local leisure centre offering swimming, fitness sessions, court & pitch hire, soft play and lots more! Booking is advised.
Tel: 01929 500000
Address: Worgret Rd, Wareham, BH20 4PH
RSPB Arne is absolutely stunning with open heathland, ancient woodlands and far-reaching views. There’s a lovely cafe and gift shop, as well as play area onsite. Minimal entrance fees apply for non-members.
Tel: 01929 553360
Address: Arne Rd, Wareham, BH20 5BJ
This RSPB site in Weymouth will keep the whole family entertained. Look out for seasonal activities too!
You can even hire explorer backpacks for £3 with lots for little ones, like binoculars, bug catching nets and identification cards.
Tel: 01305 778313
Address: Radipole Lake Visitor Centre, Weymouth, DT4 7TZ
The museum reflects and exhibits Swanage’s history, as well as offering lots of information on places to see around the town and walking trails. Admission is free and the museum is dog-friendly.
Tel: 01929 421427
Address: The Square, Swanage, BH19 2LJ
An amazing opportunity to visit a National Coastguard Institute lookout station. Perfect for learning about what the organisation do, as well as more about the local area.
Visits are free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Tel: 01929 422596
Address: NCI Lookout, Peveril Point Rd, Swanage, BH19 2AY
This restored Victorian pier still provides entertainment in Swanage, including pier visits, history talks and a whole host of children’s activities during the holidays.
Tel: 01929 425806
Address: Pier Approach, Swanage, BH19 2AP
Symondsbury Estate offers lovely walks, waymarked cycle routes, a yummy cafe, brilliant local events and much more.
Tel: 01308 424116
Address: Manor Yard, Mill Ln, Bridport, DT6 6HG
This tearoom is based on a working farm, it has delicious cakes and the opportunity to explore, visiting the farm’s animals. There is also a popular savoury menu.
Tel: 01929 480519
Address: East Creech, Wareham, BH20 5AP
Large cafe with brilliant indoor and outdoor play for preschoolers. Excellent food and drink available, including a pancake house menu. Dog friendly.
Tel: 01305 458089
Address: Swannery Lake, Commercial Rd, Weymouth DT4 7TZ
These fossilised dinosaur footprints at Keates Quarry are well worth a visit for a dinosaur lover! Believed to be made by a brachiosaurus, it was amongst the largest land animals to have ever lived.
National Trust car park – free for members.
Tel: 01929 450002
Address: Durnford Drove, Langton Matravers, Swanage BH19 3HG
This free garden is perfect with or without kids. There is a lovely cafe, some farm animals and a small playpark.
Free entry and free parking.
Just down the road is also Moreton Ford, for a paddle in the sunshine!
Tel: 01929 462243
Address: The Walled Garden, Station Rd, Moreton, DT2 8RG
This museum presents the struggle of farm workers in the 1800s, and their union fight to ensure fair pay, eventually winning the freedom of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
There is even a trail around the village that you can follow to see how the story unfolded!
Tel: 01305 848237
Address: Dorchester Road, Tolpuddle, DT2 7EH
This nature reserve is an abandoned stone quarry which has been turned into a sculpture park, with more than 60 scultpures to find! There’s stunning views and it’s a haven for wildlife. A perfect, free, day out for the family.
A trail leaflet can be downloaded from the council’s website.
Tel: 01305 826736
Address: Tradecroft Industrial Estate, Portland, DT5 2LN
Tyneham & Worbarrow – where time stopped.
This abandoned village was never reinhabited and makes for a really interesting visit. Left exactly as it was when the residents were evacuated.
Generally, open weekends and holidays, check before travelling.
Address: MOD Ranges, Tyneham, East Lulworth, BH20 5QF
Wareham Forest offers endless opportunity to explore and adventure! There are a number of car parks, for easy access to the forest, including the Sika car park which is perfect for little ones practicing riding their bikes, or a buggy walk. All the parking is free – more information and routes are available on Foresty England’s website.
Tel: 0300 067 4600
Address: Wareham, BH20 4ER
This little museum tells the story of Wareham, and the surrounding areas, from prehistoric times until now, with a special exhibition about Lawrence of Arabia. Entrance is free, but donations are appreciated. Open April – October.
Tel: 01929 553448
Address: Town Hall, East St, Wareham, BH20 4NS
Wareham Walls surround the heart of the town, dating from the 9th century. You can still access a lot of the route, now home to a variety of local wildlife. The walk itself is about 1 mile and signposted, although you can download a trail map from the council website. The walk is pretty level and has benches along the route.
Tel: 01929 557237
Address: Wareham Quay, BH20 4LP
This charming little visitor centre run by a local charity showcases the history, wildlife and geology of West Bay, it includes interactive activities, perfect for children too. Look out for events and guided walks.
Entrance is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
This bike and classic car night would be a winner for little wheel lovers! Displays of bikes, American, Classic and Performance cars will provide a lovely free evening out.
Thursdays 6-8.30pm (April-September)
Address: Jubilee Clock, The Esplanade, Weymouth, DT4 7AT
A brilliant way to travel along Weymouth seafront, enjoying the historic harbour. A round trip takes about 30 minutes, with regular trains from 10am during high season. Tickets to be purchased on boarding, £5pp, under 3s free!
Tel: 07716 641751
Address: Various – station info available on their website.
