Dorset
Dorset is a county on England's south coast, known for the Jurassic Coast, where cliffs, coves and fossil beaches sit beside farmland and small villages.
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Dorset lies on the English Channel in the south-west of England, next to Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon. Most of the county's shoreline belongs to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, a stretch of roughly 155 km from Studland to Exmouth in Devon. Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Old Harry Rocks sit along it. In 1811, Mary Anning found the first complete ichthyosaur at Lyme Regis, a small coastal town.
Inland, Dorset is mostly farmland and small villages, with no cities at all. Dorchester is the county town and Weymouth a seaside resort. Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch form a single built-up area in the south-east. Thomas Hardy set many novels here, and Dorchester appears as Casterbridge in The Mayor of Casterbridge. The South West Coast Path, a National Trail, starts at South Haven Point at the entrance to Poole Harbour. Villages away from the main towns often have only a few buses, so plan on a car. The south coast is the sunniest part of the UK, with 1,541 to 1,885 hours of sunshine a year.
Dorset in five
- Walk a short stretch of the Jurassic CoastThe coast was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for its rocks, fossils and landforms, and it remains England's only natural World Heritage Site. Choose one stretch rather than the whole coast.Jurassic Coast
- Respect the cliffs at Durdle Door and LulworthThe arch and cove draw crowds, and cliffs and paths are unstable. Stay behind markers, check the current access and parking rules on the official pages, and visit early on summer days.
- Hunt fossils at Lyme Regis and CharmouthLook for loose fossils on the beach and check tide tables and any cliff-fall warnings first. Do not dig into the cliffs.
- Take the ferry to Brownsea Island from PooleThe island is a nature reserve in Poole Harbour, reached by boat from Poole Quay or Sandbanks. Check boat times and last return before you go.Isle of Wight
- Use a car, or base in Dorchester or WeymouthTrains from London Waterloo reach Dorchester, Weymouth and Poole, but coves and villages need buses or a car. Base where your main activity is.
Things to do in Dorset
See all attractions in Dorset
Need to know
- Airport
- Bournemouth (BOH); Southampton and Exeter are alternatives
- Getting there
- Trains from London Waterloo to Dorchester, Weymouth and Poole
- Getting around
- A car for coves and villages; buses on main routes
- Best base
- Lyme Regis, Swanage or Dorchester
- Time needed
- 3–5 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Mild, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Mild, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Cool, windyMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Spring bloomsAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring blooms
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Long daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Cold, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Dorchester, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Dorset
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 73%
- Wind
- 25 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Dorset
12:04 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today12°6°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed10°7°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu9°6°7%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Fri9°5°22%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Sat10°4°18%Saturday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sun9°4°18%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 18%.
Updated 08:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- JunIsle of Wight FestivalIsle of Wight, a day trip
- AugBristol International Balloon FiestaBristol, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Lulworth Cove and Durdle Doorby carA near-circular cove and a natural limestone arch on the coast.
- Lyme Regisby car or busA harbor town on the border with Devon, known for fossils.
- Brownsea Islandby boat from PooleA nature reserve in Poole Harbour with walks and wildlife.
Before you go to Dorset
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Rules for Dorset, checked
- Visa rules depend on your passport. Some nationalities need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying to the UK; check the official GOV.UK visa checker before you book.Source
- Declare food, plants and animal products on arrival. Some are banned or restricted, so check the gov.uk rules before you pack food.
- Dial 999 or 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Dorset.
- Lulworth Ranges, a military training area, is sometimes closed for manoeuvres. Check access with the Ministry of Defence before you walk the coast there.
- You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol, and staff may ask for photo ID. Carry your passport or driving licence.
Plan around Dorset
Cross the Solent from the Hampshire coast
Read the guideDevonThe Jurassic Coast continues west into East Devon
Read the guideBathRoman baths north by road or rail
Read the guideBristolA harbor city with trains to the south coast
Read the guideAll of EnglandSouth coast stops in a longer route
Read the guideTrains and cars in BritainRail versus rental on the south coast
Read the guideDorset FAQ
How many days do you need in Dorset?
Three days cover Lulworth, Lyme Regis and a day in Dorchester or Weymouth. A week lets you add Poole, Swanage and inland villages without a rush, and suits hikers on the coast path.
Is Dorset worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for coast walks, fossils and village scenery. It is less busy than Cornwall and easier to combine with Devon or Bath, though it does not have one headline city.
Where should I stay in Dorset?
Lyme Regis for fossils and a harbor, Swanage for beaches and steam trains, Weymouth for a beach town, and Dorchester for an inland base. Match the base to the coast stretch you want.
Is Durdle Door free to visit?
Access, parking and any charges are set locally and change, so check the current rules on the official pages for the car park you plan to use before you go.
What is the best time to visit Dorset?
May, June, September and early October. Summer weekends are busy at Lulworth and Durdle Door, and winter is bracing and quiet but beaches and attractions run shorter hours.