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
Wolfeton House
Camping
Clay Pigeon Caravan Park
Sandyholme Holiday Park
Cinema
Club
Cottage
Autumn Cottage
Dream Cottages
Fryermayne
Garden Cottage
Primrose Cottage
River Cottage
Rose Cottage
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
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
Golf Club
Holiday Park
Inn
Acorn Inn
Brace of Pheasants
Kings Arms Hotel
Manor Hotel (The)
Sydney Arms
The Coach and Horses
The Fox Inn
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
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
Fryermayne
Sandyholme Holiday Park
Solicitor
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
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
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
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)
Places to Stay near Dorchester
Wessex Royale Hotel (0.13 miles)
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
Westwood House Hotel (0.13 miles)
The Junction Hotel (0.17 miles)
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
The George (0.17 miles)
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
Dorchester Apartments (0.21 miles)
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
The Victoria Hotel (0.28 miles)
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
Kings Arms Hotel (0.35 miles)
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
The Casterbridge (0.40 miles)
Breakfast, in dining-room or conservatory, is a generous affair from healthy ... More | visit website
Bay Tree House (0.69 miles)
Poundbury Village B & B (0.83 miles)
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
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