23 Things to do in Dorchester in 2023
1. Go back in time with Dorchester’s museums.
Museums and exhibitions are the heart of Dorchester, showcasing the incredible history of the town and the surrounding area. With everything from dinosaurs to military history, and Teddy bears to Tutankhamun, there’s eight brilliant museums and exhibitions to choose from. But why not see a few at once? All are a short walk away from each other, making it an easy day out!
2. Celebrate the town’s brewing history with BrewDorch, the festival of drinks!
Date: 16th-19th February
Venues across the town are celebrating the town’s prestigious brewing and distilling history and organising some refreshing (see what we did there!) events that will involve a fair amount of frivolity! There is something for everyone at Brew Dorch
Events include: Beer & Gin tasting sessions, a 4-course tasting dinner, Brewing Heritage tours, DJ and Cocktail tasting, Open Brewery Days, Make your own tankard, Comedy in the Courthouse. The festival ends with the Dorchester Pub Race and BrewDorch Finale with live music.
3. Visit Thomas Hardy’s famous Cottage
See where Hardy wrote ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’ and ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. Hardy’s Cottage is a beautiful Dorset cob and thatch cottage and sits just next to Thorncombe Woods, an ancient woodland and nature reserve that opens out onto heathland and the beginning of Hardy’s Egdon Heath. The perfect autumnal day out but especially idyllic on a sunny Summer’s day with flowers blooming. It’s hard to find a prettier place in Dorset to spend a couple of hours!
All admissions to Hardy’s Cottage, including for National Trust members, must be pre-booked online. The Cottage reopens for Spring in March.
4. Explore our delightful independent shops
Wander down Antelope Walk, on South Street, a beautifully charming historic walkway. With a range of independent businesses, it’s a perfect spot for some retail therapy. Peruse boutique style shops such as the Cranbournes, selling gifts, cards, jewellery and more.
Fancy a bit of colour in your life? Head to Belle Modelle in Brewery Square for some bright interiors and pop into Vinyl Van to pick up some new releases.
Just a short walk away in Poundbury there are some more beautiful independent homeware shops like Cherryade and The Rhubarb Candle Company and more.
5, Inspire the budding scientist in you with Family Science Day!
Date: 12th March 2023
The hugely successful Dorchester Science Festival returns with a bang with Family Science Day! Part of a 10-day programme of events (10th March-19th March) to celebrate British Science Week, Family Science Day gives you the opportunity to get involved with some fascinating hands-on learning and experiments. To add to the fun, The Critter Clan also presents a chance get up close and personal with some amazing creatures from all over the world. The perfect family fun day!
6. Grab a bargain at the local Dorchester market.
Date: Every Wednesday throughout the year, 6.30am-2.00pm
A favourite with local and visitors alike, Dorchester Market sees over 200 traders attend regularly selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, quality meats, clothes, plants and hot food. Just a short walk from the town centre, it’s the perfect place with live like a local and grab some brilliant sustainable bargains.
7. Enjoy stunning panoramic views from Maiden Castle
A huge open space with a rich history and epic views, Maiden Castle is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Britain. Maiden Castle sits at a massive 47 acres of imposing earthworks and is an essential day out for visitors to Dorchester!
An easy walk from town for active families and located just off the A345, visiting Maiden Castle is easy – there is plenty of free parking a short walk from the fort. Maiden Castle is open, all year round, for public visiting and entry is free.
Download the Echoscape sound piece from the Maiden Castle website for an immersive audio experience to enjoy on your visit.
8. Brighten up your year with Dorchester’s Summer of Sunflowers!
Visit the town centre this Summer to see the sunflower sculptures suspended across Dorchester, view the spectacular sunflower themed shop windows across town, and the sunflower varieties in Dorchester’s Borough Gardens.
In August, follow a scenic walk to The Dorset Sunflower Trail leading you to a colourful spectacle at Maiden Castle Farm, at the foot of the historic Maiden Castle. A bright and exciting day out for everyone!
9. Indulge in delicious vegan comfort food.
Pop on down to Brewery Square and treat your taste buds at Vibes café. Vibes is an exciting vegan and vegetarian cafe offering hearty home cooked dishes, as well as some tasty ‘junk food’ options. It’s just one of the amazing cafes, pubs and restaurants in Dorchester!
10. Surround yourself in history at the Roman Town House
Part of Dorchester’s rich Roman history, our Roman Town House is the only example of a fully exposed Roman Town House in the country! This is the most delightful example of our history in Durnovaria (the Roman name for the town). The Town House is just a five-minute walk from the town centre, and is free to visit, with a range of tours offered.
You can also walk the route of the Roman wall of Dorchester, now lined with beautiful trees!
11. Relax at Monart Day Spa
Treat yourself to a luxury with a day at the 5-star Monart Day Spa in Poundbury where you can truly rest and relax in a beautiful environment. Enjoy a variety of lavish facilities and treatments by expertly trained spa therapists. Monart Spa offers evening, half day and full day packages, perfect for date night or a day to yourself!
12. Take a walk through Borough Gardens.
Dorchester’s Borough Gardens is the perfect place to spend a summer’s day. The gorgeous Victorian garden has luscious scenery, a historical bandstand, tennis courts, and a great play park. This open green space is the ideal place to bring a picnic, and even has fountains to play in for the hottest summer days!
13. Eat & shop till you drop in Brewery Square.
Brewery Square has everything you could need for a day of shopping, eating and leisure. Among the square are hidden independent gems like Vinyl Van, the funkiest record shop ever, and Loco Loves, who sell beautiful fashion, gifts and lifestyle pieces. Spend time sat by the fountains on a hot day or watch them light up the square in the evening.
Head on down during ReThink Fashion week. A store in Brewery Square is being taken over to 26th-29th April and transformed into a sustainable swap shop. Just bring some unwanted clothes and swap them for clothes tokens – an ethical alternative to fast fashion!
14. Challenge yourself to an escape room.
Solve puzzles and find clues with your friends or family to figure your way out at The Great Big Escape. Test your logic, intuition, and teamwork in two themed rooms ‘The Barber of Pope Street’ and ‘Hop House Homicide’. The ultimate rainy-day activity for groups!
15. Enjoy the sun at the historic Maumbury rings.
Neolithic Henge? Roman amphitheatre? Civil War army camp? Maumbury Rings was all of these! This epic neolithic henge is nearly five thousand years old. Now, it’s a hub for outdoor summer events so take a picnic here, play outside, and roll down the steep henge sides!
16. Get spooky in the Museums After Dark
History gets spooky for Halloween! Three of Dorchester’s fabulous museums open their doors for the night for you to explore the exhibits – in the dark! Mannequins, ghosts, and cells make more a spooky evening. Adult tickets are £10, and children go free.
Want to get freakier? Head off on a gripping ghost walk to learn about the grisly history of Dorchester.
17. Follow the Poppy Trail
Learn Dorchester’s First World War history and pay your respects to those we lost by following the Poppy Trail around the town. Look for plaques with a poppy symbol and tour important history sites. Head down to the Keep Military Museum for more information about the Dorset Regiment and the First World War.
18. Walk Dorchester’s history.
A more active approach to exploring the town is to walk it! Discover all of Dorchester illustrious history right back to Roman times and take in all the sights along the way with the Historical Dorchester walk. The hour long route takes you along footpaths around the town centre.
19. Browse Poundbury Independent Market
A project of King Charles III himself, Poundbury has an iconic history and beautiful architecture. With a variety of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants, including an art gallery and garden centre, Poundbury has something for everyone.
The Poundbury Independent Market brings this all together on Sunday 14th May 10am-4pm. Hosting the most amazing Dorset makers, bakers, crafters and artists with 70+ stalls across Poundbury! Their goal is to ‘champion local, small, and independent’. Name a better way to spend your Sunday!
20. Hop on your bike and explore Dorset.
Get active and follow one of many great cycle routes around the area with amazing coastal views and so much to explore. For example, The From Valley Cycle Ride takes you through pure Thomas Hardy Country, expansive views, and even a 180ft naked figure of the Cerne Abbas Giant!
21. Catch a blockbuster at the Plaza Cinema.
The Plaza Cinema opened in 1933 and has kept its doors open since to bring you the best current films. Its affordable prices makes it the perfect place to bring your family and friends.
22. See a show with Dorchester Arts.
Stop by and see a show at Dorchester Arts, who host comedy, music and theatre shows all throughout the year! They have something for everyone, with special performances and workshops for children and young people. Based in the Corn Exchange, they have a huge space and a fully licensed bar.
23. Get festive at the Poundbury Christmas Market
Enjoy a day full of festive fun and entertainment for the whole family at Poundbury Christmas Market on Saturday 2nd December 10am till 4pm. It’s also small business Saturday.
See over 70 fabulous independent makers, retailers, foods and so much more.
