County
Activities In Dorset
Dorset tilts outdoors — ninety-three of 142 listings record outdoor space against seventy-six indoors — and the coast does most of that work. Lyme Rib Rides and Wareham Boat Hire both carry a perfect five, and both get families onto the water instead of beside it. Inland, The Tank Museum is the heavyweight at 4.9, and The Tunnel Tree Tops gives older children some height to deal with. For the youngest, Mini Monsters and Marlowe's Makes Imagiplay are indoor rooms designed around short attention spans.
Top picks in Dorset
Showing 1–12 of 142
Laser TagLaserguys Laser Tag
SightseeingLyme Rib Rides
SightseeingWareham Boat Hire
Children's FarmsDorset Country Pumpkins
Indoor PlayMarlowe's Makes Imagiplay
Indoor PlayMini Monsters
AdventureThe Tunnel Tree Tops
MuseumsThe Tank Museum
SightseeingMoonfleet Adventure Sailing
Water ParksDorset Adventure Park
Children's FarmsFoxdown Childrens Farm
Activity CentresBoom Battle Bar
At 142 attractions, Dorset holds more than one holiday can absorb, so treat the coast and the inland half as separate trips rather than one long itinerary. The Tank Museum carries a wet day better than almost anything else on the list.
Visiting Dorset with kids: FAQs
What can families do on the Dorset coast?
Lyme Rib Rides and Wareham Boat Hire hold a perfect five apiece, and between them they cover the business of getting children onto the water. Ninety-three of Dorset's 142 attractions record outdoor space, so the coastal options sit alongside a large inland choice rather than standing alone.
Is Dorset any good with a toddler?
Better than the outdoorsy reputation implies. Mini Monsters and Marlowe's Makes Imagiplay both carry a perfect five and are indoor play listings pitched at exactly that age. Seventy-six of the county's attractions record indoor space in total, which is a reasonable safety net for a family holiday.
How does Dorset do for children over ten?
The Tunnel Tree Tops at a perfect five is the physical option — an outdoor listing for children who like being well off the ground. The Tank Museum at 4.9 is the other one that holds that age, and it works as a full afternoon rather than a quick look round.
Where do we go in Dorset when the weather breaks?
Seventy-six of the 142 Dorset listings record indoor space, which is a big enough pool that a wet week is survivable. The Tank Museum is the strongest of them at 4.9 for mixed ages, while Mini Monsters and Marlowe's Makes Imagiplay take the pre-school end off your hands.