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
Upcoming events
People Watching
Explore over a hundred years of British portraiture with The Ingram Collection and Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Thu 5th Feb - All day
and 94 future schedules
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Art at PiPs Cafe on Great Field
New art exhibition with local emerging artists (both artists are taking commissions).
Thu 5th Feb - All day
and 46 future schedules
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Art at the Duchess: Jakki Rook and Sue Verstage
Showcasing Dorset artists with sales supporting charity.
Thu 5th Feb - All day
and 24 future schedules
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Art at Crossroads Poundbury
A brand new exhibition at Crossroads Poundbury featuring Jackie Walker, John Walker and Leon Dore, all local artists with loads of talent. This body of work features landscapes in all its guises - from realistic to abstract with stunning colour guaranteed! See opening hours below. Go to TripAdvisor to see the stellar reviews!
Thu 5th Feb - 8am to 4pm until the end of March
and 45 future schedules
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Howl Open Mic
All are welcome to perform, or just listen in!
Thu 5th Feb - 8:30pm
and 7 future schedules
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Dorchester Beerex
West Dorset CAMRA and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club proudly present the 37th Dorchester Beerex.
Fri 6th Feb - 11:00am
and 3 future schedules
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Family History Surgery
One-hour booked sessions with a trained genealogist
Fri 6th Feb - 1:00pm
and 11 future schedules
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Martin James Bartlett and Mariam Batsashvili (piano duets)
Mariam Batsashvili and Martin James Bartlett share a mutual love for music making infused with wit and expressive variety.
Fri 6th Feb - 7:00pm
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Tom Brown’s Creative Flow Night
An evening designed to slow down, connect, and create freely.
Fri 6th Feb - 7:00pm
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Quiet Opening
Explore the Museum and take part in drop-in activities during our Quiet Openings. Especially suitable for visitors with autism or other sensory conditions, and their siblings, parents and carers. The sessions are also suitable for any group or individual who would like to visit our museums and galleries at a quieter time.
Sat 7th Feb - 10:00am
and 9 future schedules
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Where to stay in Dorchester
Dynamic Dorchester
Dorchester town centre is the ideal location for your business. Here, you will find a wealth of resources, including testimonial videos from thriving local businesses, footfall counter data demonstrating the steady stream of potential customers, and detailed insights into what makes Dorchester a vibrant, welcoming, and profitable environment for enterprises of all kinds.
