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Hotel Summer Lodge Hotel Summer Lodge Hotel
B and B The Old Forge The Old Forge

"Dorchester - A very agreeable town to live in"
Daniel Defoe

Minterne Gardens
Minterne Gardens

Information

County - Dorset | Map
Tel code: 01305 | code search
Postcode: DT1 | code search
Population: 17000
Dorchester Jobs
Rather interesting Dorchester facts
Visitor reports
Famous Dorchester Dates
Dorchester History
Birthplace of:
Thomas Hardy
Peter Wilson

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Food Legends:
Thomas Hardys Ale
Cultural Britain:
Thomas Hardy Country
Hauntings and Ghosts:
The Ghostly Bike of T.E. Lawrence The Macabre Monkey of Athelhampton Hall
Folk Customs:
Purbeck Marblers Football Ceremony
The Dorset Ooser

Dorchester Events

February
Maiden Newton Potato Day
Snowdrop Sundays at Mapperton

April
Animal Handling Day

May
Minterne Gardens Family Open Day

June
Dorchester Festival

July
Summer Ball

September
Antique Fair
Dorchester County Show

October
Halloween
Wedding Fair

November
Christmas Craft & Gourmet Food Fair
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Latest reviews

The Poachers Inn
"We had as meal here on a Sunday. A very good selection on the menu. I had excellent roast beef and all the trimmings and treacle tart.....all delicious. Our vegetarian ..." More

Wolfeton House
"What a superb find! This house is a real gem - and in none of the guide books I found of the area. Not far from Dorchester we came upon ..." More

Goldcombe Farm
"Pitched our caravan on CC site for 4 nights and charged well over the going rate [£17] for this time of year and a site of this standard. We were ..." More

Travel Tip

"Dorchester is a lovely town at the heart of West Dorset or 'Hardy Country' and is believed to be the model for Casterbridge in Thomas Hardys novel. It has ..." More

Dorchester Reviews (61)

Best rates for a Local Hotel

Latest reviews | Events in Dorchester | 10 Places to Stay

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset and has been so since 1305. It lies on the River Frome, 20 miles west of Poole and eight miles north of Weymouth. Dorchester's roots stem back to prehistoric times. Settlements were first based around Maiden Castle, an impressive Iron Age hill fort that was one of the most powerful settlements in pre-Roman Britain. The fort had been inhabited by various tribes since 4000BC. The Durotriges were likely to have been there at the arrival of the Romans in AD43 and there's plenty of evidence of the battles fought on the massive earth ramparts. The town still has some Roman features, including part of the town walls and the foundations of a Roman town house. There are many Roman finds in the County Museum. Near the town centre is Maumbury Rings, an ancient British earthwork converted by the Romans for use as an amphitheatre. In 1613 and 1725 great fires destroyed large parts of the town, but some of the mediaeval buildings, including Judge Jeffreys' lodgings, and the Tudor almshouse survive in the town centre. The Town Pump is a central point in Dorchester - located next to Dorchester's Corn Exchange and the impressive clock tower. Here, visitors will find an information board, outlining four popular historic walks around the town.

Attraction

Athelhampton House and Gardens
Cerne Abbas Giant
Cerne Abbey
Domineys Gardens
Dorset County Museum
Dorset Teddy Bear Museum
Hardy's Cottage
Keep Military Museum
Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park
Maiden Castle
Maumbury Rings
Max Gate
Mill House Cider Museum, A Dorset Collection of Clocks
Minterne Gardens
Moreton Gardens
Nine Stones
Old Crown Court and Cells
The Dinosaur Museum
Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum
Tutankhamun Museum

Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows
Wolfeton House

Camping

Clay Pigeon Caravan Park
Sandyholme Holiday Park

Cinema

Plaza Cinema

Club

The Firestation Bar & Club

Cottage

Autumn Cottage
Dream Cottages
Fryermayne
Garden Cottage
Primrose Cottage
River Cottage
Rose Cottage

Council

West Dorset District Council

Dentist

A Country Practice
Poundbury Dental Practice
Princes Street Dental Surgery
The Gardens Dental Practice

Doctor

Cornwall Road Medical Practice
Dr Millner's Practice

Fordington Practice
Queens Avenue Practice
Trinity Street Practice

Estate Agent

Dickinson Bowden
Fox & Sons
Hull Gregson & Hull
Jeffs & Son
Jenkins S H & Partners
Perry & Perry
Roxland Estates

Farmers Market

Poundbury Farmers Market

Golf Club

Came Down

Holiday Park

Sandyholme Holiday Park

Inn

Acorn Inn
Brace of Pheasants
Kings Arms Hotel
Manor Hotel (The)
Sydney Arms
The Coach and Horses
The Fox Inn

The George
The Royal Yeoman
The Victoria Hotel

Market

Dorchester Country Market
Poundbury Farmers Market

Pub and Bar

Acorn Inn
Bakers Arms
Borough Arms
Bull's Head Inn
European Inn
Fox Inn
Greyhound Inn
Old George
Old Ship Inn
Rest & Welcome Inn
Riverhouse Village Inn
Royal Oak
Station Masters House
The Coach and Horses Inn
The Firestation Bar & Club

The Oak at Dewlish
Victoria

Restaurant

Acorn Inn
Bakers Arms
Fox Inn
Greyhound Inn
La Caverna
Manor Hotel (The)
Old Ship Inn
Rajpoot
Sienna Restaurant
Thai Palace
The Coach and Horses Inn
Walnut Grove
Yalbury Cottage

School

Dorchester Middle School
Dorchester Preparatory School
Sunninghill Prep School

Self-Catering

Dorchester Apartments
Dream Cottages

Frog Hall
Fryermayne
Sandyholme Holiday Park

Solicitor

Battens Solicitors

Taxi

A-Line Taxis
Abcars
Bobs Cars
Countylines
Dorchester Taxi
Dorset Cars
Poundbury Taxis
The Taxi Co

Venue

Athelhampton House and Gardens
Birkin House
Chantmarle Manor
Dorset County Museum
Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park
Manor Hotel (The)
The Coach and Horses Inn

Vet

Southfield Veterinary Centre

Sports Clubs

Charlton Down CC (Cricket)
Dorchester Judo Club (Martial Arts)
Dorchester RFC (Rugby Union)
Dorchester TC (Tennis)
Puddletown RFC (Rugby Union)
St Osmunds TTC (Table Tennis)

Shops

Ottakar's PLC
Diane's Flower Shop
Boots
Rymans
Wyevale Garden Centre
Carol Budd Conifers
Woodsford Nursery
The Pet Shop
Cannings Court Organic
Down to Earth
Longmeadow Organic Vegetables
Manor Farm Cottages
Tamarisk Farm
Whittard of Chelsea

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Market Pharmacy
Melson Wingate
White & Son
County Shoes
Waterstones
Carphone Warehouse
BodyShop
Blacks
Old Warehouse Gallery
Robert Dyas
Holland and Barratt
Trenchermansonline
Ford Farm
Green & Pleasant
Green Valley Farm Shop
Manna Organic
Rectory Farm
Thorncombe Farm
Sunnyside Organic Farm
Sydling Brook Organic Farm Shop
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H Samuel
Rowlands Pharmacy
The Horse with the Red Umbrella
The Oak Room Tea Room
Specsavers
Cerijan
White Stuff
J J B Sports
Mirari Lingerie
Goulds Ltd
Linus Moran Photography
Dorchester Sports Shop
Shop on the Green

Antiques

Box Of Porcelain
W & H Legg and Sons
Rustix Antiques
Three Legged Llama

Activities

Henley Hillbillies(Adventure)
Henley Hillbillies(Motor Sports)
Warmwell Ski Centre(Snow Sports)

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Places to Stay near Dorchester

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Wessex Royale Hotel (0.13 miles)

Wessex Royale Hotel

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The Wessex Royale is a delightful Georgian hotel with an excellent location in the centre of Dorchester. It has free Wi-Fi and an á la carte restaurant with an RAC Rosette.
All ... More

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Westwood House Hotel (0.13 miles)

Westwood House Hotel
Centrally located in the historic county town of Dorchester; Westwood House is an attractive Georgian property built in 1815 by Lord Ilchester we believe for his coachmen.Converted to a town house guest house and personally ... More | visit website
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The Junction Hotel (0.17 miles)

The Junction Hotel

The Junction Hotel is a traditional six bedroom coaching inn, located in the heart of this traditional market town on Great Western Road. Dorchester is an historic market town best known for its links with ... More | visit website

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The George (0.17 miles)

The George

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The George is a family run friendly bed and breakfast and public house, set in the centre of Dorchester. We are close to all local amenities including both train ... More

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Dorchester Apartments (0.21 miles)

Dorchester Apartments

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The 'Visit Dorchester' marketing team manage a number of apartments in the county town. We have stayed in each of the apartments we manage, and only those that meet our ... More

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The Victoria Hotel (0.28 miles)

The Victoria Hotel

Check availability and book this hotel online with Active Hotels

Situated in Victoria Park, this hotel is within 5 minutes’ walk of the town centre, close to the Dorchester bypass and adjacent to the county ... More

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Kings Arms Hotel (0.35 miles)

Kings Arms Hotel

A well-known local landmark in the centre of Dorchester, the Kings Arms has excellent rooms with en suite bathrooms. The Best Western Kings Arms Hotel was built in 1720 and has many interesting and classical Georgian ... More | visit website

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The Casterbridge (0.40 miles)

The Casterbridge
Our Georgian residence and concealed courtyard annex combine to provide a peaceful haven behind the bustling street scene of this pleasant and historic county town.

Breakfast, in dining-room or conservatory, is a generous affair from healthy ... More | visit website
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Bay Tree House (0.69 miles)

Bay Tree House
High Quality Bed and Breakfast Accomodation in relaxed and luxurious surroundings and have recently been awarded an AA 4 Star rating for standards of accomodation and service (March 2006). Bay Tree House is ... More | visit website
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Poundbury Village B & B (0.83 miles)

Poundbury Village B & B

A beautiful detached house in the heart of Poundbury, a thriving new development on the outskirts of Dorchester, designed by the Prince of Wales.

Three comfortable twin rooms with private bathrooms and excellent “Duchy” ... More | visit website

Brit Quote:
Andrew Marr looks like Martin Clunes with a little of the air let out of him - Jo Brand
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On this day:
Battle of Towton - 1461, Battle of Alresford - 1644, Albert Hall Opens - 1871, Captain Scott dies - 1912, First London Marathon - 1981
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