Attractions in Dorset (Further Afield)

Abbotsbury Children’s Farm occupies the 1000-year old site of the former St Peter’s Monastery in Abbotsbury, near Weymouth in Dorset. The Tithe Barn in the centre of the farm dates…

Little and big kids alike will delight in a day out at Adventure Wonderland. Tucked in a prime location opposite Bournemouth International Airport and just ten minutes from the town centre,…

If an invitation to Bournemouth’s Aviation Museum gives you visions of a stuffy old building filled to the brim with cabinets of flight memorabilia and papier mache models of some…

You might believe that drive-in cinemas are the reserve of teens and college students in 1950s United States and films such as Grease with their iconic drive-in scenes can seem…

Christchurch a historic town dating back to Norman times, is situated where two delightful rivers, the Avon and the Stour meet. The famous Priory and historical quarter is close to…

As one of the country’s few remaining privately-owned garden attractions, you would be forgiven for dismissing Compton Acres as the ideal venue for a spring or summer day trip; the…

If you want to visit a big-name family attraction and support a worthy cause at the same time the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park & Rescue Centre ticks all the…

Ask anyone about Dorset’s Jurassic Coast and Durdle Door is likely to be one of the first things they mention. This globally-famed Portland limestone arch was created some 10,000 years…

For all the fun of the farm and much more, trot on down to Farmer Palmer’s just off the Dorset Way in Organford, Poole. This fun family attraction is home…

Nestled in the forest in the heart of Moors Valley Country Park is a thrilling high-wire adventure course way up in the trees! Go Ape is a thrill-a-second escapade leading…

Highcliffe Castle is a magnificent Georgian Gothic Revival structure set in beautiful grounds just minutes from its own peaceful stretch of golden beach overlooking Christchurch Bay. Mr Selfridge The castle…

Just a couple of miles north of Wimborne, the Honeybrook Family Farm and Riverside Park is packed with rural attractions for the whole family, spread out over a vast 84-acre…

There can be few more thrilling coastlines than Bournemouth and Poole’s breath-taking Jurassic coast. And no more heart-pounding way to explore it than by riding on a jetski! Jetski Safaris…

Bournemouth is seriously blessed to be located at the start of the Jurassic Coast, a dramatic and history-steeped coastline decorated with breath-taking sea-sculptures and dotted with fossils. Lulworth Cove, just…

Minterne House is a grand private residence owned by the Digby and Churchill families for over 350 years. This lavish address is nestled in the pretty Dorchester village of Minterne…

Monkey World, in Wareham is just a 30-minute drive from Bournemouth and is a real inspiration if you’re looking for a different way to spend the day. Dedicated to rescuing…

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest is a popular outdoor attraction for families and people of all ages. The venue has a lot of elements – two vast and enclosed play…

Part of the popular Moors Valley Country Park on the edge of Ringwood Forest, the Moors Valley Railway is a local attraction in its own right. It was built back…

Poole features the second largest natural harbour in the world (after Sydney), and boasts a unique mix of beaches, history, attractions, shopping and nightlife. There are five gently sheltered beaches…

Poole has the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney, Australia, and is a hub of industry. Its commercial history dates back to the mid-15th century, where Poole…

If you’re looking for the tranquillity of a beautiful parkland greenspace but without a long trek from the town, Poole Park  might just be your perfect retreat. This large Victorian…

Back in the reign of Henry VIII, when the shores of Weymouth and Portland were prime pickings for invasion by the French and Spanish, the coastal fort of Portland Castle…

It can be difficult to find new places to entertain the troops when it’s not beach weather. Putlake Adventure Farm in Swanage could be just the ticket. This children’s farm…

The magnificent Sherborne Castle in Dorset was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and has been in the hands of the present owners – the Wingfield Digby family –…

Skiing might not be the most obvious activity on your Bournemouth seaside town to-do list but Snowtrax (formerly the Christchurch Ski Centre) is a popular haunt for those preparing for…

If swimming lengths isn’t your thing or you want more fun from your trip to the pool, Tower Park’s Splashdown is a fluming great day out! It’s packed with waterslides…

Stapehill Abbey was originally a 19th century Cistercian abbey shrouded in beautiful, award-winning gardens, a Japanese garden, nuns’ chapel and Victorian parlour. The Holy Cross Abbey order of Cistercian Trappist…

The coastal town of Swanage has seen many things during it’s long, rich history in Dorset, England. To the Eastern side of the Isle of Purbeck lies Swanage. This civil…

If you want a glimpse of the glory days of Britain’s seaside towns, a trip to Swanage and its historic pier is a must. Built in 1859/60 the original pier…

Swanage Railway is a fully-operating heritage steam railway station in the heart of the Purbecks. It opened in 1885 and provided a branch line service between Wareham and Swanage. In…

Another striking section of Dorset’s majestic Jurassic Coast, the Isle of Purbeck is a wonderful sight on a clear day with views across Brownsea Island all the way around to…

Christchurch is a popular venue for boaters with its pretty Town Quay and links to the sea. The town’s location, where the River Avon from Salisbury (Wiltshire), Ringwood (Hampshire) and St…

This charming ‘oriental garden’ in Wimborne is actually the private garden of a Mr Ian Willis. But after catching the eye of the Wimborne in Bloom panel in 2001 and…

If you’ve wandered around charming Weymouth wondering what life was like there “way back when it was an important port for trade and exploration, duck into the Tudor House Museum…

Welcome to Dorset’s forgotten village. Tyneham is literally a snapshot of 1943, the year the last residents were given 28 days’ notice to leave this sleepy little village so it…

Upton Country Park is a grand property on the outskirts of Poole. Its main focal point is the magnificent country house set on over 130 acres of parkland, but the…

For a fun and memorable day out with a fun aquatic theme, take the one-hour trip down to Weymouth for the Sea Life park. This thrilling ocean adventure park lets you…

Wimborne Minster is a traditional market town oozing with charm and character. It is situated just to the North-West of Bournemouth, between the rivers Stour and Allen. Wimborne Minster Wimborne…

Wimborne Model Town was built between 1951 and 1954 and offers an interactive tour of this pretty Dorset town just as it looked 60 years’ ago. The whole of Wimborne…