Whether it is at the weekend or in the school holidays if you are looking for things to do in Dorset for families we have a great list for you. We’ve chosen activities that have an ‘educational’ element, but are also fun and engaging for all the family – whatever their age.
National Tank Museum
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Would your children stare in amazement seeing the world’s best collection of tanks and explosive live displays? Come face-to-face with over 300 huge military machines, and hear about amazing experiences covering over a century of history! A full day out for the whole family, with lots to see and do!
-Indoor and Outdoor play areas
-Trails and Quizzes
-Interactive Games
-Exhibits
-Free Talks and Tours
-Getting inside a REAL Tank!
-See tanks in action
-Craft Activities
Find the Tank Museum in Bovington, Wareham, Opening every day from 10:00am til 5:00pm.
Wimborne Model Town and Gardens
Wimborne Model Town is a tenth scale of the centre of Wimborne as it was in the 1960s! This unique educational piece of social history has over 100 miniature shopfronts representing goods and service available in Wimborne more than 60 years ago.
There is plenty to see for all the family, including a model railway, a river system, 1950s school and shop, crazy golf and a souvenir and gift shop.
See if you can spot our Museum building?
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Ticket prices are £10 per Adult and £7 per child (Under 3’s go FREE)
Opening daily from 10am-5pm
Moors Valley
Why not plan a visit to one of the most popular parks in the south, seeing 750,000 visitors each year!
Get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine! Put down the Tablet, put your phone on silent and get active in your local countryside! You can even take the dogs too!
Whether you want to have an adventure walking around the trail, a cycle ride through the forest, maybe ride on the steam train or even take the leap and head up high on the Go Ape, high wire for a swing through the treetops, there is plenty to do for all the family.
Following the play trail, you’ll find several stopping points, each with its own unique piece of wooden play equipment: wriggling through the snake pit, adventuring across the crocodile crossing and balancing on the fallen forest of timber. There are also more play areas, parklands, a lake, sensory activities, a  tree-top trail, Gruffalo sculptures, self-service dog wash and a café and shop too!
Gates open at 8:00 am and there is NO admission charge, BUT parking charges do apply, so make sure you check out the visitor information here before leaving.
Weymouth Sealife Centre
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Take the family on a fantastic Sea Life Adventure both above and below the ocean. Start your journey from the coastline to the depths of the ocean, discovering a magical underwater world of creatures.
This would most definitely be a great family friendly, fun-filled day out in Dorset. Weymouth Sea Life Centre was established in 1983 and was the second sea life park to be built in the UK.
Enjoy 7 acres of exploring, spotting the sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish, stingrays, watching the otters play, penguins, seals, crocodiles, and more!
If you’re planning a trip out to the Sea Life Centre, take note of their talk and feeding times too – don’t miss out on the seals feeding time or the penguins learning about their cheeky personalities and funny stories.
Opening Times are all week 10 am-4 pm
And of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning us…
The Museum of East Dorset
We are a double award winning museum welcoming visitors of all ages to come along and discover the fascinating insights of the local history and heritage of Wimborne Minster and the surrounding area. We have signed up to the Kids in Museums manifesto, demonstrating our commitment to being welcoming and accessible to all children, young people and families.
There is a lot to explore for families, including:
- Hands on History Resources to help you explore the Museum, including trails, magnifying glasses, torches and eye spy games
- Dress up as a Victorian child
- Delve into an activity box
- Get crafty with our team (during the school holidays)
- Try an interactive gallery quiz
- Challenge the family to a traditional garden game
- Search for the pixie doors (charge applies)
- Refresh yourselves with a drink and a snack in the café
- Treat yourselves to a souvenir in our gift shop
- Have a picnic in our beautiful garden
Find out more about what’s on offer for families at the Museum of East Dorset here https://museumofeastdorset.co.uk/families/
There is also a whole calendar of events for families throughout the year check out at our events page for more information, make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment. https://museumofeastdorset.co.uk/events/
We are open Monday to Saturday from 10 am – 4.30pm (4pm close from November to March)
You can book your tickets here https://museumofeastdorset.co.uk/product/book-your-visit/
We hope this article has given you some inspiration for things to do in Dorset for families and that you have an amazing time making memories with your loved ones!