From its fossil-filled coast to some stunning countryside, in addition to a string of household sights, there’s a lot to tempt you to Dorset – but when the climate isn’t as attractive because the surroundings, you’ll find loads of issues to do in Dorset within the rain with youngsters too.
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Whether or not you’re visiting in the summertime holidays (as anybody who’s explored the UK is aware of, there’s no assure of excellent climate in July and August!) or escaping the crowds by exploring exterior peak season, there’s tons to find throughout the nation.
From quirky museums to animal sights, lively enjoyable or a historic web site, right here’s my decide of the most effective household days out for a wet day in Dorset with youngsters.
Contents – click on to leap to a piece
Etches Assortment, Kimmeridge
Well-known for its Jurassic coast, Dorset is a implausible place to seek out fossils, from the ammonite pavement at Lyme Regis to the fossil-packed seashores round Charmouth and Kimmeridge Bay… but when it’s lashing down with rain, looking for historic indicators of life is a bit much less enjoyable.
As a substitute head to the Etches Assortment in Kimmeridge – the Museum of Jurassic Marine Life is full of fossils and takes guests on a journey again in time to the Kimmeridgian Seas, 157 million years in the past.
Discover sea monsters and prehistoric predators, in addition to wildlife relationship again to the occasions when the Jurassic Coast was a shallow tropical sea. There’s CGI imagery to convey creatures to life as you notice the fossils, in addition to household occasions and actions on throughout the college holidays.
Hengistbury Head Customer Centre
The proper place to go to to find extra concerning the space’s wildlife and geology, the Hengistbury Head Customer Centre is filled with interactive shows and makes an excellent start line if you happen to’re planning to go to Dorset’s nature reserves or go fossil looking when the solar does come out once more.
The exhibition right here takes you again 65 million years, in addition to 12,000 years of human occupation, together with the time when Hengistbury Head was one among Britain’s most necessary Iron Age ports. There are common momentary exhibitions too, so there’s all the time one thing new to find.
When you’re solely braving the drizzle, hop on the little land practice for some nice views of Christchurch harbour (the land practice doesn’t run throughout winter months however is an efficient choice for a wet day in Dorset in summer season).
Sea Life Centre, Weymouth
Escape the rain to find creatures who’re fully at residence within the water. Weymouth’s Sea Life Centre is residence to sharks, rays and crafty octopus, alongside creatures native to Dorset within the Harbourside Zone – plus the UK’s solely colony of fairy penguins.
In addition to an enormous number of marine creatures, there’s an out of doors rockpool and also you’ll discover momentary actions throughout college holidays, such because the Halloween ‘a-scarium’ spooky path, plus an journey playground and mini golf to find.
Prebooking is suggested, and you may normally discover a low cost on the on-the-door worth by reserving on-line for Sea Life Weymouth.
Rise up to 40% off weekday visits, excluding college holidays, as a part of the Midweek Insanity deal till mid October – click on right here to e book
The Oceanarium, Bournemouth
On the different finish of the county, you’ll be able to uncover penguins and sea turtles, together with dwarf crocodiles and otters (plus big numbers of fish, after all) on the 12 themed environments of The Oceanarium in Bournemouth.
There’s an Journey Quiz Path to finish, whereas youngsters can measure themselves towards a penguin (in addition to watching them waddle).
Preserve a watch out on the day’s actions for talks and feeding occasions, with an opportunity to see otters, penguins and sharks getting fed. Plus there are particular animal experiences so as to add some VIP enjoyable to your go to.
Take a look at my Bournemouth Oceanarium evaluation after our personal go to throughout a really wet day in Bournemouth with youngsters
Lyme Regis aquarium
A lot smaller than Dorset’s different two sealife centres, the Lyme Regis marine aquarium remains to be value preserving on the record if you happen to want wet day concepts – throughout our journey to Lyme Regis, the waves have been crashing excessive over the ocean wall at one level so indoors was undoubtedly tempting.
It’s only some rooms, so don’t plan to spend all day, however there nonetheless plenty of enjoyable choices to entertain youthful youngsters. Within the first room, you’ll be able to feed gray mullet, a swirling mass of silver our bodies which converge on each flake thrown in – my daughter’s delighted look was well worth the small further payment.
On the opposite aspect sit the primary of the tanks, with extra within the second room exhibiting the marine lifetime of Lyme Bay and the native space: we noticed crabs, lobster, vibrant wrasse, watched blennies peek out of the rocks and you may generally maintain a starfish too.
Within the ultimate room, there are movies to look at, together with one of many dreadful 2014 storms which battered the coast: the waves deluging the Cobb again then put our occasional breakers into perspective!
Portland Fort
Portland Fort is probably not the oldest citadel in Dorset, however it’s nonetheless a venerable 470-something years outdated – constructed by Henry VIII to guard towards French and Spanish invasion.
And with a lot to find indoors, it’s a great choice for a time out in Dorset within the rain with youngsters – they will costume up, discover a Tudor kitchen and uncover its personal wartime historical past, from the Civil Conflict to the Second World Conflict.
If the rain lets up, head as much as the gun platform for some nice views as effectively. Tickets don’t should be prebooked however it’s suggested at peak occasions.
Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster
This stunning English nation home has a much more dramatic historical past than the elegant façade would possibly counsel – remodelled to appear to be a Venetian palace, its former proprietor was additionally a famend Egyptologist so you’ll be able to see the biggest personal assortment of historic Egyptian artefacts at Kingston Lacy too.
The artwork gallery is residence to paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel, resulting in it being known as the South West’s ‘nationwide gallery’.
If the rain lets up, the large property is residence to Iron Age hill forts, the world’s oldest pedigree herd of Ruby Pink Devon cattle, and gardens so spectacular that Queen Victoria despatched her gardeners right here to get inspiration. There’s a woodland path and walks galore too, plus an illuminated path in winter known as Ignite.
Timed tickets should be prebooked if you arrive, with restricted numbers allowed in the home.
Highcliffe Fort, Christchurch
Constructed within the 1830s, Highcliffe Fort has performed host to royalty over time – however with youngsters’ actions and a few spectacular rooms to find, it’s additionally an excellent place to go to with household in Dorset within the rain.
Attempt some dressing up or different actions, together with make your individual stained glass window – plus there are some extra exercise concepts on the web site to attempt at residence, if a torrential downpour cuts quick your go to.
As ever, if you happen to’re solely braving a little bit of drizzle, you can too take a look at the formal gardens and woodlands within the grounds, plus a seaside and nature reserve. Prebooking will not be important however is suggested at busy occasions.
Lulworth Fort and Park
One other of Dorset’s stately properties, the 17th century constructing was initially meant as a looking lodge to entertain royalty and the aristocracy earlier than turning into a household residence – and now you can discover inside Lulworth citadel, which was restored after a fireplace in 1929.
There’s a youngsters path to seek out bats as you discover, plus you can too climb the tower and there are generally household actions throughout the holidays. If the rain isn’t too heavy, there are woodland walks – and the kids’s playground is tempting sufficient even within the drizzle.
The citadel isn’t open every single day, so do test earlier than you go to and prebooking tickets is beneficial, with morning or afternoon entry slots. Entrance is free to English Heritage members.and there could also be tickets obtainable on the day.
Athelhampton Home and Gardens, Dorchester
This Tudor manor home dates again 500 years – good in case your youngsters love being transported again to the previous, plus there are household occasions on some weekends.
The Nice Corridor at Athelhampton Home was in-built 1485 and nonetheless has its (primarily authentic) hammerbeam roof, amongst different Tudor options, which have survived down the centuries.
For older youngsters, there’s an opportunity to find how the Catholic household survived the non secular conflicts of the later Tudor reigns, whereas there’s additionally an opportunity to see what life would have been like for servants in addition to the rich homeowners.
When you fancy just a few spine-chilling tales, it’s often known as some of the haunted homes in England, with ghosts together with a gray woman, a hooded priest and an ape!
Swanage Railway
When you’re trying to discover Dorset with out getting too moist, this beautiful heritage steam railway chuffs by the countryside alongside the outdated Southern Railway line between Swanage and Norden, stopping on the ruins of Corfe Fort – so you can too use it as a extra uncommon technique to get from A to B as effectively if the climate brightens up.
Look out for the providers marked with an ‘O’ when the particular Remark Automotive can also be working, with its big home windows for the most effective views, in addition to particular themed providers on the Swanage Railway year-round.
Bovington Tank Museum
With 9 totally different galleries, the museum tells the story of tanks – and different armoured autos – from the First World Conflict onwards, however with a lot to maintain even youthful youngsters entertained, together with interactive actions and the prospect to go for a trip in one of many museum’s autos.
In addition to greater than 300 on show, you’ll discover exhibitions to inform the tales of the folks behind their invention and who’ve pushed them all through historical past on the Tank Museum.
Bournemouth Aviation Museum
In case your youngsters love all issues transport, Dorset can also be residence to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum the place you’ll be able to sit contained in the cockpit of a wide range of planes and helicopters, in addition to getting palms on with a number of the interactive shows, to not point out a flight simulator.
As an added bonus, it’s close to the airport for some added aircraft recognizing! It’s value realizing that the plane are all outdoor, so the museum does often shut in very dangerous climate, significantly if there are excessive winds – finest for a drizzly day when you’ll be able to sprint from one aircraft to a different.
The Tutankhamun Exhibition, Dorchester
Though you’ll be able to’t see the true artefacts recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb (these at the moment are on show in Egypt, besides for infrequent loans to exhibitions), you’ll be able to see these implausible recreations on the Tutankhamun Exhibition.
The little museum additionally homes a recreation of the pharaoh’s tomb on the day that Howard Carter entered it, again in 1922, so you’ll be able to relive the fun of his discovery.
Whereas the exhibition isn’t massive, it’s an effective way to study extra concerning the discovery of the tomb: higher for older youngsters as there’s not an excellent deal that’s interactive. It’s value realizing too that no photographs are allowed inside (the picture under of a reproduction of Tutankhamun’s golden masks is simply to whet your urge for food!)
The Dinosaur Museum, Dorchester
Set not removed from the Jurassic Coast, the place Mary Anning famously discovered her ichthyosaur fossil, the Dinosaur Museum is the proper place to study extra about these prehistoric creatures – together with the prospect to the touch fossil shows (together with tooth, heads and poo!) and even odor the breath of a T-Rex.
There are additionally varied interactive shows too, with puzzles, digital flashcards and an excavation pit to make your individual discoveries.
Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, Lyme Regis
You’re not in need of locations with hyperlinks to fossils and dinosaurs in Dorset however the Dinosaurland Fossil Museum has the bonus of a hyperlink to Mary Anning, the inspiration for the rhyme ‘she sells seashells on the seashore’ and the lady who found the icthyosaur.
Set inside Mary Anning’s outdated church, the museum has its personal large assortment, with 1000’s of displays starting from tiny microfossils to a part of an ichthyosaur, discovered within the native space.
And together with fossils galore, crystals, dinosaurs and the pure historical past room, there’s additionally a intelligent Time Line working up the steps, an effective way to get a way of the immensity of geological time (and humanity’s tiny place inside it).
Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester
Dorchester appears to concentrate on quirky museums – in addition to historic Egyptian artefacts and dinosaurs, you’ll be able to uncover a household of people-sized bears, plus a group of teddies from antiques to present TV favourites (from Winnie the Pooh and Paddington to Sooty) on the Dorset Teddy Bear Museum.
They’re all organized in a Victorian constructing, arrange as a home – so you’ll be able to uncover Edward Bear and his household going about day by day bear life with their very own assortment of teddies. There are presently restricted opening hours at weekends and college holidays.
Dorset County Museum, Dorchester
The Dorset County Museum in Dorchester tells the story of 250 million years of Dorset’s previous, spanning the pure world, archaeology, historical past, artwork, and tradition, with loads of fascinating exhibitions.
The museum is extraordinarily family-friendly, with interactive shows, enjoyable household trails, and object-handling trolleys. The museum’s John White Studying Centre additionally has loads of messy craft actions for little ones to take pleasure in.
Preserve a watch out for household occasions going down on the museum too, with particular excursions, storytelling periods, and extra going down all year long.
Shire Corridor Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester
Get a style of crime, punishment and justice on the Shire Corridor Museum in Dorchester, which goals to convey two centuries of legislation (and injustice) in Dorset to life.
There’s a lot that’s appropriate for households as effectively – you’ll be able to discover the cells, and uncover what it will have been like if you happen to have been held prisoner right here, together with tales from youngsters in addition to adults tried on the Shire Corridor.
There’s a path with tokens to gather, whereas youngsters may get palms on with dressing up (together with wigs and robes), digital interactives, quizzes and video games, in addition to pretending to be a journalist at one of many trials.
There are common household actions and different occasions throughout the 12 months too, particularly in class holidays.
The Preserve Army Museum, Dorchester
Positioned inside a Nineteenth-century stone tower designed to resemble a Norman Fort, The Preserve Army Museum is residence to 4 tales detailing the historical past of native army regiments.
Younger historical past buffs will benefit from the many desirable displays that includes uniforms, medals, army gear, and extra. There are additionally loads of interactive digital shows, enjoyable actions (together with the prospect to fireplace a rifle), household trails, and life-sized fashions to maintain the museum participating for youths of all ages.
And if the rain does cease for a couple of minutes, don’t neglect to go out onto the museum’s rooftop terrace for some implausible views over Dorchester.
Mr Mulligan’s Bournemouth
This loopy golf course is really out of this world – and because the intergalactic course (suppose area invaders relatively than sci-fi) at Mr Mulligan’s is all indoors, it’s an excellent choice for wet days in Dorset.
Enable round an hour for the 18-hole course (relying on the variety of gamers) which sees you attempt to putt previous aliens and spaceships. Over-18s solely after 8.45pm however in any other case households are welcome to tackle the problem.
Oasis Enjoyable Indoor Centre, Bournemouth
Oasis Enjoyable Bournemouth is the final word rainy-day vacation spot in Dorset with youngsters of all ages.
The big indoor play centre has greater than sufficient to do to maintain youngsters and teenagers occupied for hours, together with a spacious gentle play space for little ones, 6 bowling alleys, an journey golf course, arcade video games, pool tables, and a restaurant.
The number of actions makes Oasis Enjoyable an excellent spot in case you have youngsters with totally different pursuits too, as everybody can discover one thing to entertain them throughout the day, and with top-of-the-line gentle play areas in Dorset, it’s a should with toddlers.
Seals Cove, Bridport
There’s one other nice choice if you happen to’re on the lookout for household enjoyable at Dorset’s leisure centres – Seals Cove indoor journey centre is full of wet day actions.
With has every little thing from the Reef Tender Play to the Jurassic Ridge Climbing Centre, it’s designed to encourage and empower youngsters, with loads of alternatives to problem themselves and get their hearts racing.
In addition to the climbing wall, which welcomes novices (age 5+) trying to have a go, the three-level Reef Tender Play has tunnels, slides and interactive zones over 550 sq. metres…. in addition to a 4m drop ‘Huge Wave’ dying slide! Tender play is for youths underneath 1.4m solely.
Madness Gaming Arcade, Poole
Madness Arcade is a household pleasant retro gaming arcade in Poole, with over 60 traditional arcade video games and gaming consoles for all youngsters and adults of all ages to take pleasure in.
You’ll discover every little thing from Guitar Hero and Avenue Fighter to Mario Karts, Sonic the Hedgehog, and extra, so you’ll be able to share a few of your favorite childhood video games along with your little ones.
Fairly than utilizing the usual token system, the arcade expenses a per-hour entry payment which will get you limitless free use of all the video games and machines. There’s additionally an on-site bar and grill to seize lunch when you’re finished gaming, making Madness the proper rainy-day exercise in Dorset for households.
Attempt an Escape Room
An escape room is all the time a implausible indoor household exercise for when it’s pouring exterior, particularly with older youngsters and teenagers. You possibly can take a look at your loved ones’s teamwork abilities as you race to seek out clues, resolve puzzles, and try to flee the room earlier than the time runs out.
There are some nice escape rooms in Dorset, together with Marvo Mysteries, U-Escape, and the Lockey in Bournemouth, The Nice Huge Escape in Dorchester, and Participant Prepared VR escape rooms in Weymouth.
Centre VR Bournemouth
Centre VR Bournemouth is the biggest VR Centre within the UK and has one of many largest picks of video games and titles in all of Europe.
The indoor centre has an enormous number of multiplayer VR experiences that the entire household can take pleasure in, from taking pictures zombies or defending Mars from assault to taking part in a digital recreation of loopy golf or laser tag collectively.
Whereas there is no such thing as a strict age restrict, the centre means that VR is simply appropriate for kids above 7 years, whereas some video games are finest for these 12+.
Splashdown, Poole
When you’re on the lookout for one thing enjoyable to do on a wet day in Dorset with youngsters, why not make getting drenched enjoyable with a go to to Splashdown waterpark in Poole.
Nice whether or not you’re visiting Dorset with toddlers or older youngsters, there’s the Ricky’s Reef for youthful ones, Buccaneers’ SplashZone for underneath 8s and 13 flumes starting from light to high-speed thrills, and slides that includes black holes.
Some do enterprise outdoor however you’ll principally be inside. There’s a minimal top restriction of 1m. Youngsters can’t go on the slides with dad and mom. Tickets should be prebooked.
Rock Reef, Bournemouth
Deliberate to spend the day at Bournemouth Seaside however acquired caught out by the rain? Head to the top of Bournemouth Pier and search for Rock Reef, an thrilling indoor exercise centre for youths that’s ideally suited for adventurous youngsters.
Finest-known for its zip-wire to the seaside (save that for a sunny day), the adrenaline-fuelled journey centre additionally has 28 themed indoor climbing partitions with totally different levels of problem for youths 4 and above (and adults too, after all).
There’s additionally a vertical drop slide, a excessive ropes aerial impediment course, and an indoor caving expertise to attempt.
Flip Out Poole
Flip Out Poole is Dorset’s greatest indoor journey park, with loads of all-weather enjoyable for households.
Positioned contained in the Dolphin Procuring Centre in Poole, the thrilling journey park contains actions resembling interactive soccer, laser tag, bumper automobiles, a battle cannon space, a curler skating rink, arcade video games, and a gentle play space for toddlers.
You possibly can e book a 2 or 3 hour expertise which will get you limitless entry to all the park’s actions. The park is open to youngsters of all ages, however some actions do have a top or age restrict, so ensure that to test upfront.
Not like plenty of different Flip Out areas, it’s value realizing there are not any trampolines at Flip Out Poole.
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Bournemouth Oceanarium/Swanage railway copyright MummyTravels, Preserve Army Museum courtesy Picfair, all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
