See & Do

Dorchester's rich history means there are lots of things to do here. We have hillforts, henges, an amphitheatre, Roman walls, a Roman town house complete with mosaics and a six brilliant museums! Plus, we forgot to mention all of our play parks, river walks and town trails. It is impossible for anyone, of any age, to be bored in Dorchester.

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Inspiration

We have pulled together some suggested itineraries and more detailed information about how to make the most of your visit to Dorchester. Click on the link to be inspired.

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Eat & Drink

Dorchester has a brilliant range of independent and nationally established places to eat and drink at any time of day.
Many of them utilise and celebrate the wonderful food and drink produced in the local area.
Dorchester has an amazing brewing history and we are fortunate to have a few local micro breweries and distilleries in the town.

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Shopping

Dorchester has a variety of different shopping areas. All of them have a great balance of national favourites and independent shops. Homewares, gifts, clothing, shoes, toys, essentials, refills and more can all be found in our vibrant county town.

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Discover Dorchester

Dorchester – Thomas Hardy’s Casterbridge, or the Roman town of Durnovaria – is awash with history and sights to explore.

Whether it’s the two (where else has two?) Iron Age hill forts of Maiden Castle and Poundbury, the Roman Town House close to the line of the old Roman Walls (the only example of a fully exposed Roman town house in the country); the fantastic Georgian Architecture in the picturesque town centre; 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 the former brewery with its dancing fountains – there is lots for everyone to enjoy.

Dinosaurs and Romans, literary giants, great scientists, military history, art and architecture, beautiful green spaces, interesting and independent shops and great places to eat – there really is something for everyone.

 

What's On?

A Kingston Christmas

A Kingston Christmas – Kingston Maurward Christmas

This Christmas, Kingston Maurward is set to transform into a winter wonderland as it welcomes Santa Claus himself for an exclusive, enchanting event created by Dorset based producers, ABC (Andy Brennan Creative).

Sat 7th Dec - All day
and 5 future schedules

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Community Quilt Display

The Community Quilt is a collaborative project where community groups and individuals crafted small squares that were then joined together to create a quilt to display in the Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Community Space at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

Sat 7th Dec - All day
and 82 future schedules

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Where’s Snowy? Competition

Our Where's Snowy competition goes live on Saturday the 30th November and runs until January the 3rd 2025! If you look around the centre of Dorchester you will find various kinds of snowmen/women in the windows of businesses and if they are wearing one of our ‘I LOVE Dorch’ badges then they are in our Where’s Snowy? competition!

Sat 7th Dec - All day
and 27 future schedules

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Elf Trail

Elf Trail at Kingston Maurward Animal Park & Gardens

Join us this Christmas holiday and find all the elves!

Sat 7th Dec - All day
and 16 future schedules

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Dorchester Christmas Market

Brewery Square is about to transform into a winter wonderland, bursting with 30 festive stalls packed with artisan treats

Sat 7th Dec - 10:00am
and 15 future schedules

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Meet Santa in Brewery Square!

Santa and his cheerful elf will be waiting to meet you in their magical Grotto!

Sat 7th Dec - 10:00am
and 15 future schedules

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Bauble painting

Christmas Bauble Painting

Get festive with our Ceramic Bauble Painting event at Creative Image Studio!

Sat 7th Dec - 10:00am

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Mini Messiah Web image landscape

Christmas Lunchtime Concert – Mini Messiah!

Free Lunchtime Concert

Sat 7th Dec - 12:30pm

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Mosaic – Facebook Event Banner

Mosaic Charity Event

Join us for a heartwarming afternoon of creativity and holiday spirit at our Festive Wine Glass Paint & Sip, raising funds for Mosaic!

Sat 7th Dec - 1:30pm

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Dorchester Prison Zombie Experience

Zombie Infection are taking the fight to Dorchester Prison, this new event format will have you choosing a side and racing to save your own around this huge complex

Sat 7th Dec - 5:00pm
and 2 future schedules

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Planning a trip to Dorchester?

Visiting Dorchester?

Dorchester is a compact Market town, nowhere is more than a 20 minute or so walk from the town centre. It’s easy to get in a sustainable way too. There are direct train services from Bristol, Bath, London, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. We are part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network, well connected by bus and we have lots of electric car charging facilities dotted about the town as well.

YOUR VISIT
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Train

Dorchester has two train stations meaning we are well connected for visitors from across the country. London to Dorchester takes less than three hours and Bournemouth to Dorchester takes less than an hour!

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Bike

There are lots of cycle parking points to lock your bike up around the town and it is well connected to the Sustrans National Cycle network.

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Bus

We have a regular bus service to local major towns including Bridport, Weymouth and Blandford.

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Car

There are lots of car parks dotted around and lots of e-car charging points too.

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Download the Discover Dorchester App

Your guide to everything you need during your visit to discover Dorchester.

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