Cheap and fun family Day Out in Dorset
We’ve partnered up with Great Western Railway to promote Dorchester. It’s easy to get to Dorchester from the surrounding areas, just hop on the Great Western Railway line for an quick journey and a fun day out!
Here’s some inspiration for a cheap and WILD day out this summer…
Hop on a train to Dorchester with Great Western Railway
Whether you’re coming from further away or just down the road, Great Western Railway has you covered.
The journey from Bristol to Dorchester takes around 2 hours. Leave at 8, by 10 you can be here for the whole day.
The 1 hour and 45 minutes from Bath is an easy length for a fun journey to Dorchester.
From Weymouth to Dorchester, the journey takes just 11 minutes – what could be easier!
Book your tickets at www.gwr.com.


Visit Dorset Museum - KIDS GO FREE!
Under 16s go FREE this summer at Dorset Museum! (21 July – 29 October 2023)
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.
This summer…
Dorset Museum hosts Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the world-famous exhibition from the Natural History Museum. Over 100 powerful photographs capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species, and the breathtaking beauty of our planet. The images shine a light on stories and species from around the world and show the impact of human activity on the planet, in ways that words cannot.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world for over 55 years. You can’t miss this one!
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.
Use your inspiration from Dorset Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition to take your own amazing wildlife pictures!
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…
