Discover Dorchester

Welcome to Dorchester, the county town of Dorset and a great place to visit for a staycation weekend or for a day out with the family.

Whether it’s the two hill forts of Maiden Castle and Poundbury; the Roman Town House; our award winning museums, the fantastic Georgian Architecture in the picturesque town centre; Max Gate, the house designed and lived in by Thomas Hardy; HRH King Charles III’s urban extension at Poundbury with its open spaces and interesting shops and eateries; or the modern redevelopment of Brewery Square, the former brewery with its dancing fountains – there is lots for everyone to enjoy.

Dorchester, also known as Thomas Hardy’s Casterbridge or the Roman town of Durnovaria, has some fantastic local restaurants and cafes that celebrate local growers and producers and a great mix of local independent shops and valued national retailers.

Evenings in Dorchester as bustling with live music and events in pubs and bars, performances at our local arts centre and regular screenings at our two local cinemas (Odeon and Plaza).

Dorchester is the perfect base for your Dorset holiday. It’s central location within the County means that you have brilliant access to the whole of the Jurassic Coast in the South, Thomas Hardy’s Wessex and the amazing hillforts and henges in North Dorset and Wiltshire (Stonehenge is only an hour away).

The town boasts two train stations with direct train links to London and Bristol. Dorchester also has a network of electric beryl bikes for hire and is well connected with local bus routes. This makes Dorchester the perfect location for a car free weekend away!

Places to visit in Dorchester

Brewery Square, is a vibrant new quarter that has been created in the heart of the historic county town and transformed the old brewery site as a premier shopping and leisure destination.

EAT & DRINK

SEE & DO

Brewery Square

The Dorchester market is held on a Wednesday throughout the year from 06.30 - 14.00.

SEE & DO

SHOPPING

Dorchester Market

Come and explore 250 million years of history at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery!

SEE & DO

250 million years of natural history at Dorset Museum

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery

Even wet weather cannot detract from the beautiful grounds and lake at Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park.

SEE & DO

Kingston Maurward Animal Park & Gardens

Maiden Castle, just two miles south of Dorchester town centre, is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Britain and, by some definitions, the largest in Europe.

SEE & DO

Maiden Castle

Maumbury Rings is a Neolithic henge - it is a large circular earthwork, 85 metres in diameter, with a single bank and an entrance to the north east. It was modified during the Roman period when it was adapted for use as an amphitheatre.

SEE & DO

Maumbury Rings

Poundbury is an urban extension to the Dorset county town of Dorchester, according to principles of architecture and urban planning as advocated by King Charles III.

SEE & DO

VISITOR INFORMATION

Poundbury

Poundbury Hill Fort is a Middle Bronze Age hill fort. Roughly rectangular, it is likely that the hill fort was situated at the top of Poundbury Hill for strategic reasons, as it commands views over the River Frome and the Frome Valley.

SEE & DO

Poundbury Hill Fort

Shire Hall Museum brings over 200 years of justice and injustice to life.

SEE & DO

Shire Hall Museum

The Great Big Escape is an escape room venue, one where you and your team will put your skills to the test to solve riddles, puzzles, and much more.

SEE & DO

SHOPPING

The Great Big Escape

New park on The Great Field in Poundbury

SEE & DO

The Great Park on The Great Field

Read our latest blogs

Autumn in Dorchester – A guest blog by Richard Bradford Autumn in Dorchester – A guest blog by Richard BradfordVIEW

Dorchester Autumn Bucket List Dorchester Autumn Bucket ListVIEW

A week in picture perfect Dorset – Instagrammable towns, villages, views and places to stay A week in picture perfect Dorset – Instagrammable towns, villages, views and places to stayVIEW

MORE INSPIRATION

Upcoming events

Santos + Co Totoloto Offer

Santos + Co presents Totoloto. Roll the dice and win a meal on us.

Fri 17th Oct - All day
and 58 future schedules

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Halloween Trails at Minterne 2025

Surprises will be lurking around every corner as you encounter giant bats, eerie spiders, and countless other spooky delights!

Fri 17th Oct - All day
and 13 future schedules

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Health Walk

Free Weekly Health Walks at Thorncombe Wood!

Fri 17th Oct - 10:00am
and 2 future schedules

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Challenge Patch Club

Join Patch the Dragon in the cafe workshop for our fun new afterschool club.

Fri 17th Oct - 4:00pm
and 9 future schedules

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Friday Sessions: DJ & Cocktails

Friday Sessions at The King's Arms

Fri 17th Oct - 6:00pm
and 9 future schedules

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The Unravelling Wilburys

Fri 17th Oct - 7:30pm

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Dorchester Literary Festival

Whether you’re interested in fiction, crime, science, history, politics, the natural world, health, music, walking, biography or cosy crime, there will be plenty to tempt you to join us in October.

Sat 18th Oct - All day
and 7 future schedules

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The Dorset Open | Celebrating Creativity Across the County

Brand-new major open art competition - Final Exhibition

Sat 18th Oct - All day
and 42 future schedules

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Ungrievable Lives

Ungrievable Lives brings together two large-scale textile-based artworks that look at migration in different ways.

Sat 18th Oct - All day
and 1 future schedules

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Pumpkin Trail

Pumpkin Trail at Kingston Maurward!

Sat 18th Oct - All day
and 14 future schedules

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Where to stay in Dorchester

Welcome to award-winning Greenwood Grange, a collection of 17 luxury stone-built self-catering holiday cottages deep into Hardy Country near Dorchester in Dorset.