From its fossil-filled coast to some stunning countryside, in addition to a string of household points of interest, there’s loads to tempt you to Dorset – but when the climate isn’t as engaging because the surroundings, you will discover 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 outdoors peak season, there’s tons to find throughout the nation.
From quirky museums to animal points of interest, energetic enjoyable or a historic website, right here’s my choose of the very best household days out for a wet day in Dorset with youngsters.
Contents – click on to leap to a bit
Sea Life Centre, Weymouth
Escape the rain to find creatures who’re solely 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 short-term actions throughout faculty holidays, such because the Halloween ‘a-scarium’ spooky path, plus an journey playground and mini golf to find.
You have to prebook tickets on-line for Sea Life Weymouth.
The Oceanarium, Bournemouth
On the different finish of the county, you may uncover penguins and sea turtles, together with dwarf crocodiles and otters (plus large numbers of fish, in fact) 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 overview 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 continues to be value protecting on the listing when you want wet day concepts – throughout our journey to Lyme Regis, the waves had been crashing excessive over the ocean wall at one level so heading indoors was undoubtedly tempting.
The aquarium solely consists of some rooms, so don’t plan to spend all day, however there are nonetheless plenty of enjoyable choices to entertain youthful youngsters. Within the first room, you may feed gray mullet, a swirling mass of silver our bodies which converge on each flake thrown in – my daughter’s delighted look was definitely worth the small additional charge.
On the opposite facet 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 typically maintain a starfish too.
Within the last room, there are movies to observe, 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!
Etches Assortment, Kimmeridge
Well-known for its Jurassic coast, Dorset is a improbable place to search 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, attempting to find historical indicators of life outside is a bit much less enjoyable.
As an alternative 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 natural world relationship again to the occasions when the Jurassic Coast was a shallow tropical sea. There’s CGI imagery to carry creatures to life as you see the fossils, in addition to household occasions and actions on in the course of the faculty 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 a fantastic place to begin when you’re planning to move to Dorset’s nature reserves or go fossil searching 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 considered one of Britain’s most vital Iron Age ports. There are common short-term exhibitions too, so there’s at all times one thing new to find.
In case 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 possibility for a wet day in Dorset in summer time).
Portland Citadel
Portland Citadel will not be the oldest citadel in Dorset, but it surely’s nonetheless a venerable 470-something years previous – constructed by Henry VIII to guard towards French and Spanish invasion.
And with loads to find indoors, it’s a great possibility for a day trip in Dorset within the rain with youngsters – they’ll costume up, discover a Tudor kitchen and uncover its personal wartime historical past, from the Civil Warfare to the Second World Warfare.
If the rain lets up, head as much as the gun platform for some nice views as properly. Tickets don’t need to be prebooked but it surely’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 may counsel – remodelled to seem like a Venetian palace, its former proprietor was additionally a famend Egyptologist so you may see the most important personal assortment of historical Egyptian artefacts at Kingston Lacy too.
The artwork gallery is residence to art work 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 massive property can be 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.
Restricted numbers are allowed in the home, so it’s essential to ebook timed tickets if you arrive.
Highcliffe Citadel, Christchurch
Constructed within the 1830s, Highcliffe Citadel has performed host to royalty through the years – however with youngsters’ actions and a few spectacular rooms to find, it’s additionally a fantastic place to go to with household in Dorset within the rain.
Strive some dressing up or different actions, together with make your individual stained glass window, plus there are common seasonal occasions in the course of the yr.
As ever, when you’re solely braving a little bit of drizzle, you may as well take a look at the formal gardens and woodlands within the grounds, plus a seaside and nature reserve. Prebooking just isn’t important however is suggested at busy occasions.
Lulworth Citadel and Park
One other of Dorset’s stately houses, the 17th century constructing was initially meant as a searching lodge to entertain royalty and the aristocracy earlier than changing 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 search out bats as you discover, plus you may as well climb the tower and there are typically household actions in the course of the holidays. If the rain isn’t too heavy, there are woodland walks – and the youngsters’s playground is tempting sufficient even within the drizzle.
The citadel isn’t open day by day, so do verify earlier than you go to and prebooking tickets is advisable. Entrance is free to English Heritage members.and there could also be tickets out there on the day.
Athelhampton Home and Gardens, Dorchester
This Tudor manor home dates again 500 years – excellent 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 inbuilt 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 house owners.
In case you fancy a number of spine-chilling tales, it’s also referred to as one of the vital haunted homes in England, with ghosts together with a gray woman, a hooded priest and an ape!
Swanage Railway
In case you’re seeking to discover Dorset with out getting too moist, this beautiful heritage steam railway chuffs by means of the countryside alongside the previous Southern Railway line between Swanage and Norden, stopping on the ruins of Corfe Citadel – so you may as well use it as a extra uncommon approach to get from A to B as properly if the climate brightens up.
Look out for the providers marked with an ‘O’ when the particular Remark Automotive can be working, with its large home windows for the very best 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 automobiles – from the First World Warfare onwards, however with loads to maintain even youthful youngsters entertained, together with interactive actions and the possibility to go for a trip in one of many museum’s automobiles.
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 be residence to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum the place you may sit contained in the cockpit of a wide range of planes and helicopters, in addition to getting palms on with among the interactive shows, to not point out a flight simulator.
As an added bonus, it’s close to the airport for some added airplane recognizing! It’s value understanding that the plane are all outside, so the museum does sometimes shut in very unhealthy climate, significantly if there are excessive winds – greatest for a drizzly day when you may sprint from one airplane to a different.
For extra concepts of the very best issues to do in Bournemouth with youngsters, take a look at my high picks
The Tutankhamun Exhibition, Dorchester
Though you may’t see the true artefacts recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb (these are actually on show in Egypt, besides for infrequent loans to exhibitions), you may see these improbable 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 may relive the joys of his discovery.
Whereas the exhibition isn’t massive, it’s a good way to study extra concerning the discovery of the tomb: higher for older youngsters although, as there’s not a fantastic deal that’s interactive.
It’s value understanding too that no pictures 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 right place to study extra about these prehistoric creatures – together with the possibility 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 previous church, the museum has its personal huge 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, a good 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 specialize in quirky museums – in addition to historical Egyptian artefacts and dinosaurs, you may uncover a household of people-sized bears, plus a set 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 may uncover Edward Bear and his household going about each day bear life with their very own assortment of teddies. There are at the moment restricted opening hours, so you may solely go to at weekends and through faculty 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 happening on the museum too, with particular excursions, storytelling classes, and extra happening 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 carry two centuries of regulation (and injustice) in Dorset to life.
There’s loads that’s appropriate for households as properly – you may discover the cells, and uncover what it will have been like when you had been held prisoner right here, together with tales from kids in addition to adults tried on the Shire Corridor.
There’s a path with tokens to gather, whereas youngsters also can 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 in the course of the yr too, particularly at school holidays.
The Preserve Army Museum, Dorchester
Positioned inside a Nineteenth-century stone tower designed to resemble a Norman Citadel, 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 possibility to fireplace a rifle), household trails, and life-sized fashions to maintain the museum participating for teenagers of all ages.
And if the rain does cease for a couple of minutes, don’t overlook to move out onto the museum’s rooftop terrace for some improbable views over Dorchester.
Mr Mulligan’s Bournemouth
This loopy golf course is actually out of this world – and because the intergalactic course (suppose house invaders slightly than sci-fi) at Mr Mulligan’s is all indoors, it’s a fantastic possibility 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 kids and teenagers occupied for hours, together with a spacious comfortable 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 a fantastic spot if in case you have kids with totally different pursuits too, as everybody can discover one thing to entertain them in the course of the day, and with the most effective comfortable play areas in Dorset, it’s a should with toddlers.
Seals Cove, Bridport
There’s one other nice possibility when you’re in search of household enjoyable at Dorset’s leisure centres – Seals Cove indoor journey centre is full of wet day actions.
With has all the things from the Reef Gentle 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+) seeking to have a go, the three-level Reef Gentle Play has tunnels, slides and interactive zones over 550 sq. metres…. in addition to a 4m drop ‘Large Wave’ demise slide! Gentle play is for teenagers underneath 1.4m solely.
Madness Gaming Arcade, Poole
Madness Arcade is a household pleasant retro gaming arcade in Poole, with over 60 basic arcade video games and gaming consoles for all youngsters and adults of all ages to take pleasure in.
You’ll discover all the things from Guitar Hero and Road Fighter to Mario Karts, Sonic the Hedgehog, and extra, so you may share a few of your favorite childhood video games together with your little ones.
Fairly than utilizing the usual token system, the arcade prices a per-hour entry charge 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 carried out gaming, making Madness the right rainy-day exercise in Dorset for households.
Strive an Escape Room
An escape room is at all times a improbable indoor household exercise for when it’s pouring outdoors, particularly with older youngsters and teenagers. You’ll be able to check your loved ones’s teamwork expertise as you race to search out clues, remedy 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 and the Lockey in Bournemouth, The Nice Large Escape in Dorchester, and Participant Prepared VR escape rooms in Weymouth.
Centre VR Bournemouth
Centre VR Bournemouth is the most important 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 enjoying a digital recreation of loopy golf or laser tag collectively.
Whereas there isn’t a strict age restrict, the centre means that VR is just appropriate for youngsters above 7 years, whereas some video games are greatest for these 12+.
Splashdown, Poole
In case you’re in search of 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 outside however you’ll largely be inside. There’s a minimal top restriction of 1m. Youngsters can’t go on the slides with dad and mom. Tickets have to be prebooked.
Rock Reef, Bournemouth
Deliberate to spend the day at Bournemouth Seaside however acquired caught out by the rain? Head to the tip of Bournemouth Pier and search for Rock Reef, an thrilling indoor exercise centre for teenagers that’s perfect 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 teenagers 4 and above (and adults too, in fact).
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 largest indoor journey park, with loads of all-weather enjoyable for households.
Positioned contained in the Dolphin Procuring Centre in Poole, the thrilling journey park consists of actions comparable to interactive soccer, laser tag, bumper vehicles, a battle cannon space, a curler skating rink, arcade video games, and a comfortable play space for toddlers.
You’ll be able to ebook 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 be sure to verify upfront.
In contrast to plenty of different Flip Out areas, it’s value understanding there aren’t 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