Affordable and Fun Family Days Out in Dorset
Here’s some inspiration for a very fun and affordable family day out with the kids in Dorchester, Dorset. Its a great mix of indoor and outdoor experiences. We can guarantee some smiles with these cracking ideas.
Visit a Museum!
Under 16s go FREE at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery!
Located in the centre of Dorchester this award-winning Museum is one of the cultural centres of Dorset with four themed galleries, special exhibitions area, library and café.
With a huge Natural Dorset Gallery, the world’s largest Thomas Hardy collection, half a million year worth of history in the People’s Dorset exhibition and much much more, Dorset Museum has something for everyone.
Picnic lunch in Borough Gardens
Dorchester’s Borough Gardens are 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.
The Gardens are located within a few minutes walk of the town centre. This open green space is the ideal place to bring a picnic to eat in the sunshine.
Then relax in the sun and grab a drink and a snack from Borough Gardens’ outdoor café, Kiosk on the Green, while your kids go WILD in the super fun outdoor fountains and play park!
Explore local wildlife at Maumbury Rings and let your kids roam wild and free!
Maumbury Rings is a free place to visit in Dorchester that has an amazing history. Nearly five thousand years old, it started out as a Neolithic Henge, then was adapted to become an amphitheatre by the Romans. It was even used for public hangings at one point.
Now, it’s a hub for outdoor summer events so take a picnic here, play outside, and roll down the steep henge sides! It is a great place for kids to go wild and burn off some steam running round the henge walls and sliding down them.
Play in the greatest park in Dorset!
Poundbury is home to a new mega park that has become a favourite with children in the local area and will be a sure-fire hit with your children too, whatever the age.
The unique design of the park is based on iconic Poundbury itself, a settlement designed by Prince Charles and built on the Duchy Estate. Achitectural features from around Poundbury have been replicated within the park to make incredible play towers and structures.
See if you can spot The Butter Cross, Brownsword Hall and another recognisable building locally known as The Whistling Witch!
It is a park for all ages of children. For young children there are small swings, a wooden horse and carriage to ride on and the Brownsword Hall, a low play structure with seating underneath and a shallow slide that is perfect for small children. For older children there are steep climbs up tall play structures and big, whizzy tunnel slides. There is a climbing wall, bouncy tyres and high ropes course.
Enjoy a nice afternoon cuppa
Dorchester has a selection of scrumptious places to enjoy an afternoon tea, coffee and cake.
From Maumbury Rings, wander into the town centre where you’ll find lots of fabulous, coffee shops, cafes, pubs and more. Or head up to Poundbury and admire the beautiful architecture while you take a well-deserved afternoon sit-down.
Find a selection of our favourite cafe’s below…
