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.
179 Bridport Rd, Dorchester, DT1 3AH.
Monday: 9.30am – 1pm Wednesday – Friday till 4pm
Tuesday: Closed
Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 2pm
Family-friendly sports centre offering swimming, fitness classes, a gym and lots more!
Tel: 01305 858400
Address: Coburg Rd, Dorchester, DT1 2HR
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
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 specialist stone carving centre, offering classes for all ages and abilities. Suitable for ages 8+, prices starting from £20.
Tel: 01929 439405
Address: Kingston Rd, Langton Matravers, BH19 3BE
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 softplay is great for all ages, with a designated under 4s section too. The food and drink is good and they cater well to dietary requirements.
Tel: 01258 456688
Address: Sunrise Business Park, 8, Higher Shaftesbury Rd, Blandford Forum DT11 8ST
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
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
This all-weather attraction is perfect for under 8s. There are animals, go-karts, ride on tractors, parks, dinosaurs and softplay, plus much more!
Visits need to be booked, which can be done online.
Tel: 01202 622022
Address: Farmer Palmers, Wareham Rd, Organford, BH16 6EU
Leisure centre providing a fitness suite, sports halls, pitch hire and lots more. Many of the activities operate on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Tel: 01935 814011
Address: Bristol Rd, Sherborne, DT9 4EQ
This attraction has a great swimming pool, including slides for children! There’s a restaurant with stunning views and you can have a game of tenpin bowling too.
Swimming needs to be prebooked on weekends and during school holidays.
Tel: 01308 897317
Address: Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, DT6 4PT
This traditional, family-run, aquarium offers a fantastic insight into the sea creatures of the Jurassic coastal water. It includes sea creatures, different presentations and historical exhibits.
Tickets can be bought online. Open February to October, 7 days per week.
Tel: 01297 444230
Address: The Cobb Lower Walkway, Lyme Regis, DT7 3JJ
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
Brilliant centre in Gillingham, offering indoor and outdoor play, as well as crafts. There are various roleplay areas as well as freeplay. Suitable for babies – confident walkers. Marlowe’s Makes Imagiplay also offers lovely food and drink onsite. Booking is essential.
Tel: 01747 228200
Address: The Square, Gillingham, SP8 4AY
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
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
A family-friendly farm with tractor rides, animals, outdoor play areas and a giant indoor softplay. Camping is also available during the summer months. There’s a cafe for refreshments, as well as interactive experiences, like bottle feeding animals.
Recommended for children 0-10 years.
Tel: 01929 422917
Address: High St, Langton Matravers, Swanage, BH19 3EU
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 aquarium has 13 different zones with more than 1000 creatures, making it a full day out for the family. There’s also a great playground and splash zone for summer days!
Pre-booking is essential.
Tel: 01305 761070
Address: Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth, DT4 7SX
Big indoor play centre including climbing walls, soft play, coffee bar, cafe & much more!
Tel: 01308 805020
Address: Shoe Ln, Bridport, DT6 3EX
A large indoor softplay centre with free parking and nice cafe. Really popular so booking is advised!
Tel: 01305 777334
Address: 7 Albany Rd, Granby Industrial Estate, Weymouth DT4 9TH
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
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
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
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
An independent, 1920s, cinema in Wareham, showing current films and classic movies – refreshments and a bar available onsite.
Tel: 01929 554906
Address: 14 West St, Wareham, BH20 4JX
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 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 20-acre farm has lots for the whole family to enjoy, with plenty of animals, a play area, maze, picnic areas, pig racing, tearooms and an indoor softplay.
Tel: 01308 897160
Address: Coast Rd, Swyre, Dorchester, DT2 9DB
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.
Weymouth Pavilion is a great theatre, showing most big touring productions, with easy adjacent car parking. There is a cafe and restaurant available too. For all bookings and to see the upcoming programme, please visit their website.
Tel: 01305 783225
Address: The Esplanade, Weymouth, DT4 8ED
