12 Best Things to Do in Dorset with Kids

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Dorset, nestled along England’s picturesque south coast, is a treasure trove of family-friendly activities and I’ve hunted out 12 of the best things to do with the kids. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventures, educational experiences, beach days, picturesque views, country parks or animal adventures, Dorset has something to offer every family. (Honestly you won’t have time to get bored!)

Dorset is a such beautiful county, sandwiched between Hampshire to the east and Devon to the west, with Somerset just above. It’a brilliant base for visiting both the Jurassic Coast and the New Forest National Park which is just over the county border in Hampshire. Here are 12 fabulous days out that you’ll definitely want on your Dorset family holiday itinerary – these are some of the best things to do with the kids:

1. Enjoy a visit to Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre

Situated near Wareham, Monkey World is a 65-acre sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating primates from around the world. Home to over 250 monkeys and apes, the centre offers families a unique opportunity to learn about these fascinating creatures and the challenges they face. The informative talks and feeding sessions provide educational insights, while the extensive play area ensures that younger visitors can burn off some energy. Children can enter free with a Blue Peter Badge – making it a really affordable day out too.

2. Admire Durdle Door & Lulworth Cove

Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are two of Dorset’s most iconic (and totally breathtaking) spots. They’re completely free to visit so they’re perfect for a budget-friendly family day out – though the parking is pretty pricey so you’ll need to factor that it. You can park up at Lulworth and enjoy a scenic walk along the coastal path to Durdle Door – it’s a bit steep in places, so pack sturdy shoes, but the views are absolutely worth it. (If you want to take a closer look you can even grab a boat tour from Weymouth, with a chance for some dolphin spotting too!) The walk is spectacular, the kids can enjoying playing on the beach and there’s plenty of space for a picnic with a view – it’s absolutely stunning!

3. Get stuck in Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park

Designed specifically for children aged eight and under, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park near Poole provides a delightful farm experience. Kids can engage in hands-on activities such as feeding lambs, stroking guinea pigs and taking tractor rides. The park also features indoor and outdoor play areas, ensuring fun regardless of the weather. With ride on go-karts, bouncy castles and a summer maze the farm park has loads for the little ones to do – it offers a fantastic day out in Dorset for families with younger kids. (They even have pig racing!)

4. Take a trip on Swanage Railway to Corfe Castle

Step back in time with a journey on the Swanage Railway, a heritage steam train that chugs through the stunning Purbeck countryside. The line connects the charming seaside town of Swanage with the historic village of Corfe, where you can explore the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle which are managed by the National Trust. Combining the train ride with a castle visit makes for a magical day out with the kids, and (for lots of wet and muddy fun!) Dorset Adventure Park is by the castle too – more on that below! Or, for a more budget-friendly option, you can get a ‘Short Hop’ train ticket for just a few pounds per person for short ride on the steam train.

5. Have fun at Dorset Adventure Park

Nestled near Corfe Castle, Dorset Adventure Park offers an exhilarating outdoor experience. The park features a water-based obstacle course set on two lakes where families can slip, slide and splash their way through inflatable challenges. We didn’t have time for a visit on our last trip to Dorset so the kids were a bit miffed – it looks like the perfect thing to do on a warm day, especially with older children. If you’re up for getting really mucky, there’s also a mud trail with a fun-filled assault course that guarantees laughter and muddy clothes. Suitable for children aged six and above, it’s an ideal spot for active families seeking adventure.

6. Let off steam at Moors Valley Country Park

Located on the Dorset/Hampshire border, Moors Valley Country Park is a fantastic place to spend a day with the kids – there’s so much to do! The park boasts adventure play areas suitable for all ages, a tree-top walkway and it’s home to Go Ape with a ‘Net Adventure’ for the little ones and high ropes course for the more adventurous. Families can enjoy cycling and walking trails that meander through the forest, with bike hire available on-site. The Moors Valley Railway offers delightful steam train rides through the park and, with picnic spots and a café, it’s easy to spend an entire day immersed in nature here. We had a fantastic time on our last visit, check out my Moors Valley Country Park Guide for more info.

7. Step back in time at The Tank Museum

For budding historians, The Tank Museum in Bovington is a must-visit – and it’s a good option for something to do in Dorset on a rainy day too. Housing the world’s finest collection of tanks, the museum showcases vehicles from World War I to the present day. For those with younger children, you might be surprised to hear that The Tank Museum caters for the little ones too with a soft play area and interactive play spaces. You’ll also want to check the dates for their experience days as they run events with live tank battles and life-like explosions during some school holidays – that’ll definitely go down a treat with kids of most ages!

8. Go fossil hunting in Charmouth

The stretch of coastline in Dorset (and into Devon) is famously known as the Jurassic Coast and it’s one of the best places in the UK to go fossil hunting. The kids will love digging for ancient treasures on the beaches at Charmouth or Lyme Regis, and you can pop into Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre which has helpful guides – entry is free although donations are welcome. We found it super interesting, and you can grab a free fossil (or purchase a larger one from the shop below) if you don’t find anything on the beach. The staff will help you to identify what you find, and you’ll be blown away by the size of some of the creatures and finds preserved in the centre. Finn and Lola loved fossil hunting and we even found a piece of ammonite.

9. Take a walk at Durlston Country Park

Nature walks are another free and fun way to explore Dorset. The South West Coast Path offers plenty of family-friendly routes, such as the cliff-top walk to Old Harry Rocks which comes with breathtaking views. Durlston Country Park is another gem, perched on the cliffs near Swanage, it offers breathtaking coastal walks and a chance to immerse yourself in nature. The park is home to the historic Durlston Castle and the Great Globe, a massive stone sphere engraved with a world map. Families can enjoy spotting wildlife, including dolphins and seabirds, making it a perfect spot for a chilled day out with the kids.

10. Have an underwater adventure at SEA LIFE Weymouth

Dive into the underwater world at the SEA LIFE Centre in Weymouth – this was our favourite day out on our recent Dorset trip. It’s not like your usual SEA LIFE Centres, this one a 5 acre site (you’ll need a dry day as lots of it is outdoors) with play areas, splash zones, penguins, seals, otters and an underwater tunnel where sharks and turtles swim right above your head. The whole site is spread out across a large outdoor park and the keeper talks throughout the day were fantastic. There’s plenty of space for children to run around, you can bring a picnic and it’ll easily fill a whole afternoon. For all the details check out my SEA LIFE Weymouth Aquarium Review.

11. Thrill-seek at Splashdown Waterpark

Splashdown Waterpark, in Poole, is one of Dorset’s most popular family attractions, with 13 indoor and outdoor water slides suitable for a range of ages. It offers everything from gentle family flumes to high-speed thrill rides, making it a great option whether you’re visiting with younger children or older kids looking for more excitement. Much of the waterpark is indoors, so it’s a useful rainy-day activity, while the outdoor slides are perfect during the summer months.

12. Spend a day in Weymouth

Weymouth is our favourite Dorset seaside town – we ended up there twice on our last visit! There’s a gorgeous stretch of white sandy beach with amusements and a ferris wheel on offer too. The town offers restaurants, fish & chips (The Old Harbour Fish & Chip shop is really tasty and has gluten-free options!) and plenty of ice-cream shops, as well as a theatre. Slightly away from the seafront you’ll find the marina – with benches and restaurants lining the street, you can enjoy lunch with a great view of the water and boats. If you’re visiting over the summer months, Weymouth is absolutely perfect for a budget-friendly family beach day.

And hop over to Hampshire…

As I mentioned above, Dorset isn’t far from the New Forest National Park at all – in fact it’s just a 15 minute drive from Bournemouth so it’s well worth a visit if you’re in the area. The New Forest National Park is home to a charming collection of free-roaming ponies, deer and cattle with over 140 miles of trails perfect for walking, cycling, picnics and letting the kids burn off some energy. Bournemouth is also just a 30 minute drive from Paultons Park (with Peppa Pig World) if you fancy a theme park day. It’s absolutely fabulous for families!

Where are the best places to stay in Dorset with kids?

There are some fabulous places to stay with the kids in Dorset. Here’s a sneaky peak at my top 5 picks, but check out my article on the 12 Best Holiday Parks in Dorset for Families for all of the details and even more places to stay!

Haven Holidays: Littlesea: The park boasts both indoor and outdoor swimming pools as well as loads of activities including: 4×4 ride ons, crazy golf, bungee trampolines, a NERF training camp, an inflatable arena, a climbing wall and more! No chance of getting bored at this one!

Haven Holidays: Rockley Park: The park offers its own private beach, ideal for water sports like paddle-boarding and kayaking. There’s an indoor swimming pool (with a waterslide), an outdoor pool, crazy golf, climbing, crafts, junior segways, a NERF training camp and nature activities – the kids will be spoilt for choice!

Parkdean Resorts: Warmwell Holiday Park: One of the best options for year-round family getaways – this holiday park offers so much for the kids to do whatever the weather. It boasts a 110m dry ski slope, an indoor heated pool with a waterslide, a roller rink, high ropes, adventure golf, a clip and climb, a VR area, hoverboards, a sports dome, crafts and all sorts! We had an amazing time – check out my Warmwell Review for more info.

Haven: Weymouth Bay Holiday Park: The park has an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor pool with a lazy river. There’s absolutely loads of activities on offer for the kids including: high ropes, an inflatable arena (one for little ones and another for teens), bungee trampolines, pedal-karts, aqua jets, archery, bike hire, the jump, crazy golf and a climbing wall!

Parkdean Resorts: Sandford Holiday Park: The kids can enjoy the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, complete with a waterslide and splash play areas. There’s also high ropes, a VR area, crazy golf, bungee trampolines, archery, soft play, sports courts, pedal karts and the Bear Grylls Survival Academy – so there’s plenty to keep kids of all ages busy.

I hope that this article has been helpful for your family holiday itinerary – there are so many fabulous things to do in Dorset with kids! If you’re visiting over the summer months, you’ll also want to check out the firework displays in Weymouth which take place on Mondays over the summer holidays. Just head to the Weymouth seafront – the firework displays begin at 9.30pm – and they’re completely free! (Perfect for a budget-conscious holiday itinerary!) Have a great trip and check out my article on the 12 Best Holiday Parks in Dorset for Families if you’re still hunting for the best place to stay. 😍