This weekend (13 to 15 Nov) · All of Dorset
Open all year
Weymouth's sandy beach sits below the Georgian seafront, with a gently sloping seabed and clean water for swimming and water sports, making it a good choice for families. In summer there are deckchairs, a land train, sand sculptures and Punch and Judy, and RNLI lifeguards patrol from May to the end of September. There's ramp and level access, and beach wheelchairs can be hired.
Open all year
A rural estate near Bridport offering miles of footpaths through hills, farmland and woodland, including a walk to the summit of Colmer's Hill with views towards the Jurassic Coast. Visitors can also explore The Holloways, a network of ancient sunken pathways shaded by trees. Entry and parking are free, and dogs are welcome across the estate.
Open all year
A fully surfaced, signposted 2-mile route between Weymouth and Portland along a disused railway line, suitable for walkers, cyclists and mobility scooters. It passes old station platforms and Sandsfoot Castle, with views across Portland Harbour, and is rich in birds, plants and butterflies. The walk can be extended to 4 miles using the Wild About Weymouth and Portland Legacy Trail.
Open all year
Around 300 tanks and military vehicles fill the halls of The Tank Museum at Bovington, the home of the tank. Nine exhibitions in seven large halls follow the story from the Somme to the beaches of Normandy and the deserts of Iraq, with stories from the soldiers who fought in them. Allow four to five hours. Parking is free, and there is a café, soft play and a shop. New exhibition work causes some disruption until January 2027.
Open all year
Nothe Fort is Weymouth's historic sea fort, with a maze of underground tunnels, a Victorian gun deck and a secret nuclear bunker to explore. Up on the ramparts there is a Second World War gun and views along the Jurassic Coast. Volunteers are on hand, there are trails to keep children busy, and the café serves light lunches and cakes. The fort is closed for maintenance from 2 November 2026 until February 2027.
Open all year
A large urban park beside a boating lake, with play areas, a café, tennis, bowls, minigolf, a fitness trail and water sports. The Poole Park railway runs through the park seven days a week. There are three free car parks with maximum stays, plus free parking on the park's roads, but cars can't drive in from 7.30am to 10am, Monday to Saturday. Dogs are welcome except in the fenced play areas.
Open all year
One of Dorset's finest Iron Age hillforts, set in chalk grassland that is home to ground-nesting skylarks, wild orchids and butterflies, with an avenue of beech trees and views across the Dorset countryside. It's free to visit from dawn to dusk, and parking is free for National Trust members. The ground is uneven and steep in places and there are no toilets. Sheep and cattle graze here, and dogs must be on a lead from late February to August.
Open all year
Two shingle beaches by the harbour: East Beach, below golden sandstone cliffs, and the smaller West Beach, sheltered and shallow for paddling and popular with young families. West Beach has ramps, summer beach matting and free beach wheelchairs. East Beach shelves steeply with a strong undertow, and after recent cliff falls you should keep well away from the base of the cliffs. Dogs aren't allowed on the main beaches from 1 May to 30 September.
Open all year
A 250-passenger cruise vessel departing from Weymouth Harbour, sailing along the Jurassic Coast towards landmarks such as Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. Daytime cruises suit families, couples and groups, while evening sailings feature themed parties and live music, with indoor and outdoor seating and a licensed onboard bar.
Open all year
One of the Symondsbury Estate's two holloways, with Shute's Lane: an ancient sunken lane worn deep over centuries by people and livestock, with ivy-draped walls, gnarled roots and a high canopy of trees overhead. Look for carvings etched into the banks and rare plants such as navelwort, bellflowers and goblin's gold moss. Pick up a map at the Visitor Centre, and wear sturdy boots or wellies, as the ground can be uneven and muddy.
Open all year
Swanage's gently shelving golden sand and clear water have earned the Blue Flag and Seaside Award for 24 years in a row. RNLI lifeguards cover Central Beach in the summer season, 10am to 6pm, and there's a clearly marked area where boats and other craft aren't allowed. Dogs aren't allowed on Central Beach from 1 May to 30 September, but are welcome all year on Monkey Beach, between the Stone Quay and Swanage Pier.
Open all year
Wareham River Boat Hire, in the town centre, rents motor boats, kayaks, canoes, rowing boats and paddleboards for exploring the River Frome and its swans, ducks and herons. There is no need to book: just turn up, though larger groups can book. Life jackets are included and dogs are welcome aboard. Under-8s must share a craft with an adult, and motorboat hirers must be over 18. A wheelchair accessible boat can be booked in advance.
Open all year
A large arts centre in the heart of Poole offering theatre, live music, comedy, dance, cinema and exhibitions. It has multiple performance and exhibition spaces including a concert hall, theatre, studio and cinema, with children's theatre and family shows also on offer.
Open all year
Golden Cap is a flat-topped hill of orange sandstone on the cliffs between Charmouth and Bridport, the highest point on the south coast at 191 metres. Walkers climbing to the top pass through fields, wind-scoured oaks and heathland, with views to Portland Bill, Start Point and Dartmoor. The National Trust estate also includes the ruined church of St Gabriel's and a row of thatched cottages, remnants of the former fishing village of Stanton.
Open all year
A designated naturist area on Knoll Beach at Studland, where clothing is optional along a 900m stretch marked by green-topped posts and signs. The National Trust asks naturists to be clothed outside the marked area and everyone to respect others. It's about half an hour's walk from the Shell Bay and Knoll Beach car parks, and there are no toilets at the naturist beach itself. To avoid the area, use the Heather Walk trail through the dunes.
Open all year
A Blue Flag stretch of sand and shingle at the eastern edge of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, on the Hampshire border, popular with swimmers and body boarders. Grassy dunes and low cliffs sit behind it, with paths through to Steamer Point Nature Reserve. The cliff top car park has a café, toilets and disabled parking. Dogs aren't allowed between groynes H4 and H8 from 1 May to 30 September.
Open all year
A quiet cliff top grassed open space above Bowleaze Cove, with wide views across Weymouth Bay to Portland, good for a picnic, a dog walk or flying a kite. Bowleaze Coveway, the road down to the beach, has a café, shops, a family pub, an amusement arcade and a funfair. There's free on-street parking, public toilets opposite the Oasis Café, and wheelchair access, though some inclines are steep.
Open all year
A 64 mile long distance walking route that follows the River Stour from its source at Stourhead down to Christchurch Harbour, where it meets the sea. In Dorset it passes through Sturminster Newton, Wimborne Minster, Ferndown, Bournemouth and Christchurch, and is signposted with a kingfisher logo.
Open all year
A secluded pebble cove on Portland's sheltered eastern side, popular for swimming, snorkelling and fishing, and thought to be the site of the first recorded Viking attack on the British Isles. The main path follows the road past Portland Museum and under the arch of Rufus Castle, then down steps on the South West Coast Path; another runs through woodland and the ruins of St Andrew's Church.
Open all year
Mapperton is a Jacobean manor house in West Dorset overlooking award-winning Italianate gardens with fountains, statues, topiary and herbaceous borders. These flow into woodland walks, wildflower meadows and ponds, with the Mapperton Wildlands rewilding project beyond. The estate also has a café, children's play areas and free parking.
Open all year
A historic manor house in the Piddle valley between Tolpuddle and Puddletown, continually lived in since Saxon times and mentioned in the Domesday book. Its Great Hall, built in 1485, is considered a fine example of Tudor architecture, with an original hammer-beam roof and stained glass. The surrounding gardens were created in the 1890s and have won a Christies' Garden of the Year award.
Open all year
A pebble beach in a sheltered cove on the Jurassic Coast, popular for its blue waters and rock pools that are good for exploring with children at low tide. Walkers can reach it via the South West Coast Path, with nearby landmarks including Stair Hole and Durdle Door. A visitor centre by the car park offers information, toilets and baby changing facilities.
Open all year
Monkey World is a 65-acre rescue centre for primates near Wareham, home to rescued and endangered apes and monkeys. Visitors can watch keepers' talks, take guided or self-guided tours, and let children play in the Great Ape Adventure Play Area. Cafés and picnic areas are also available on site.
Open all year
A nature reserve on the edge of Poole Harbour with heathland, ancient oak woodland and shoreline habitats. Visitors can spot all six native UK reptile species along with birds such as White-Tailed Eagles and Dartford Warblers, and there is a café and shop on site. Pushchair friendly paths and baby changing facilities make it suitable for families.