Nothe Fort is proud to be Weymouth’s number one museum and heritage attraction.
There is so much to do at the Fort! You can explore the maze of underground tunnels; visit our Victorian gun deck; sit on our impressive WW2 gun high on our ramparts; discover our secret underground nuclear bunker or simply enjoy our stunning 360-degree views of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
We pride ourselves on our top-quality visitor experience with friendly volunteers on hand to help, and fun trails to keep the children busy.
We recommend you visit our fantastic cafe and enjoy our reasonable priced home-made light lunches and cakes.
We run a schedule of fun and educational events throughout the year and the Fort is available for private hire for your event or wedding.
Athelhampton is one of England’s finest Tudor houses, set in award-winning formal gardens.
Explore the rooms of the house, including the newly opened Elizabethan Kitchen, and wander the gardens, with their exquisite planting, mature trees, ponds and fountains.
Children under 12 free, book online for 10% off admission.
Contact 01305 848363 for more info.
Tel: 01305 848363
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
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
This hidden little gem is a walled plot that has been left wild for more than 40 years! The secret garden hosts lots of events throughout the year, so look out for these too. Open Thursday – Saturday.
Tel: 07927 132148
Address: Garden Wood, Wareham, BH20 7PG
This is an authentic recreation of the wartime dockyard on Portland. There are lots of artefacts, weapons and vehicles, which visitors are encouraged to handle, climb on and touch for an interactive experience.
Tel: 01305 443 444
Address: Admiralty Buildings, Castletown, Portland, DT5 1BD
This National Trust castle is over 1000 years old and is brilliant for exploring, offering some stunning views at the top. There’s a good tearoom and the village of Corfe itself is also worth a wander with lots of unique little shops and a great play park.
Look out for seasonal events too.
Tel: 01929 481294
Address: The Square, Corfe Castle, Nr Wareham, BH20 5EZ
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
This museum is aimed at children 5+, particularly those who love dinosaurs! It has a huge collection – more than 16,000 – local fossils and lots of information. You can also learn where to go and find your own on the local beaches.
Tel: 01297 443541
Address: Coombe Street, Lyme Regis, DT7 3PY
This wet & wild amusement park has a water park and mud trail, both suitable for children and adults. There are two beautiful lakes set in woodland with stunning views across the Purbeck countryside, just a stone’s throw from Corfe Castle.
Tel: 01929 505030
Address: Arfleet Mill Lakes, Studland Road, Corfe Castle, BH20 5JG
A museum investigating the history of Dorset county, with lots of varied exhibitions to appeal to everyone.
They cater really well for families, offering a ‘calm space’ room, baby change, breastfeeding areas, buggy park and bag lockers.
Additionally, they offer sensory backpacks containing things like fidget toys, ear defenders to borrow and a changing places changing facility.
Tel: 01305 262735
Address: High West St, Dorchester, DT1 1XA
Fun park with small rides, indoor softplay and food and drink on Bowleaze Cove beach.
Open 7 days a week through the summer, you can buy a wristband for unlimited activities or pay as you go tokens.
Tel: 01305 834746
Address: Bowleaze Coveway, Weymouth, DT3 6PW
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
Visit the castle to enjoy spectacular views, then enjoy the grounds with its woodland walks and play areas. Free entry for English Heritage members. Tickets are best booked in advance.
Tel: 01929 400352
Address: East Lulworth, Wareham, BH20 5QS
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
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
This military museum tells the story of military communication throughout the ages. It’s suitable for the whole family, but any guest age 16+ must provide photo ID on admission due to its location on a working military camp.
Tel: 01258 482248
Address: Blandford Camp, DT11 8RH
Sandworld is great for any weather and is open from April-October each year. Each year has its own theme, so expect lots of imaginative sand sculptures. Additionally, there is a giant sand pit, under 5s area, quiz, cafe and gift shop.
Tel: 07411 387529
Address: Lodmoor Country Park, Preston Beach Rd, Weymouth, DT4 7SX
This amusement park and crazy golf overlooks Swanage marina. Includes an arcade and restaurant, renowned for its delicious burgers!
Tel: 07976 891054
Address: Mermon Place, Swanage, BH19 1DG
Built in 1594, Sherborne Castle has more than 400 years of history on display through furniture, paintings and exhibitions. You can also explore the extensive gardens. Free entry for under 5s.
Tickets available online – cheaper if booked in advance.
Tel: 01935 813182
Address: New Road, Sherborne, DT9 5NR
This museum is great for all the family and includes lots of interactive exhibits as well as a trail to follow around the museum.
Families have been considered at all points with children’s meals, highchairs, breastfeeding spaces, buggy parking and changing facilities.
Look out for the museum’s seasonal activities too!
Tel: 01305 261849
Address: High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UY
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
Swanage railway offers trips through the Purbecks, including stops at Norden and Corfe Castle.
The railway offers free tickets for under 5s and is dog friendly too! Tickets available online.
Tel: 01929 425800
Address: Station House, Railway Station Approach, Swanage, BH19 1HB
Lovely day out for all the family. There are some walks that are very easy to follow, a small park and a yummy cafe.
Entrance fees apply, but you can also buy annual passes.
Tel: 01929 558150
Address: Furzebrook Road, Wareham, BH20 5AR
See dinosaur skeletons, life size models and interactive displays. Hear the sounds of dinosaurs & even smell their breath! Explore fossils, including a dinosaur poo! Lots of children’s activities available, including a discovery trail.
Tel: 01305 269880
Address: Icen Way, Dorchester, DT1 1EW
The Etches Collection houses a massive collection of fossils, found by a single person, all within 2 miles of the museum!
The museum includes family-friendly activities and events, as well as interactive elements throughout.
Tel: 01929 270000
Address: The Etches Collection, Museum of Jurassic Marine Life, Kimmeridge, BH20 5PE
This fascinating museum in Dorchester offers exhibitions surrounding the military history of local regiments, within a grade II listed building.
Artefacts are across three floors and you can even go onto the roof for amazing views across Dorset. Recommended visit time is around 1.5hours.
Tel: 01305 264066
Address: Barrack Rd, Dorchester, DT1 1RN
This attraction is brilliant for all ages. There are lots of interactive activities hidden amongst the exhibits for little ones to discover, as well as a free trail and softplay, and a cafe with delicious cake.
Tel: 01929 405096
Address: The Tank Museum, Bovington, BH20 6JG
This intriguing museum contains a recreation of Tutankhamun’s tomb and treasurers. There’s lots for the whole family to do, including a specialist Egyptian shop (with books).
Tickets can be booked online, or bought on the door – there is a money off voucher available on the website.
Tel: 01305 269 571
Address: High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UW
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
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
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
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.
