Dorset County Museum Museums
Welcome to the Dorset County Museum, where the story of Dorset's rich landscape unfolds in a range of fascinating displays. The Museum was founded in 1846 to help protect and record the county's unique historical and natural environment.
Today visitors to the Museum can find out about local writers,history, archaeology, geology and the natural sciences in one of the Museum's many galleries. There are also video displays, activity carts for children and an audio-guide to take you round the exhibits.
The Museum is housed in a beautiful, gothic-style building, which dates from 1884. Its diverse collections include Roman mosaics, original Thomas Hardy manuscripts and fossilised dinosaur footprints. And behind the scenes there is a great deal more
The Museum is an ideal place to come if you are visiting Dorset, and a great place for local people to find out more about where they live. This web site will give you a taste of what is in the Museum, but we hope you will want to come and see it for yourself.
Looking at the street frontage of the Dorset County Museum, you could be forgiven for not realising just how much is contained inside. The Museum has an array of fascinating galleries, dealing with a wide range of subjects from the natural sciences and geology to art, history and literature. The galleries include many video displays, interactive exhibits and activity carts for children. .
Attraction Details
For enquiries about Dorset County Museum, please contact the attraction using the details below.
AddressHigh West Street, Dorset, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA
Opening times10am - 5pm
Entry costs
Attraction typeMuseums
Hotels near Dorset County Museum
Staying overnight in Dorchester?
Wondering where to stay that's close to Dorset County Museum? We've teamed up with Booking.com to provide the best room rates for hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs near Dorchester in Dorchester.
The Old Ship Inn
During the week, The Old Ship Inn is a picturesque traditional pub and on Friday and Saturday nights it transforms into a lively venue for karaoke, DJs, and live bands until late into the night..
Wessex Royale Hotel
The Wessex Royale is a delightful Georgian hotel with an excellent location in the centre of Dorchester. It has free Wi-Fi and an � la carte restaurant..
The Old Tea House
Built in 1635, The Old Tea House provides bed and breakfast in one of Dorchesters oldest houses. With free Wi-Fi, this Dorset guest house serves homemade food including a full cooked breakfast..
The Casterbridge
In the centre of Dorchester, The Casterbridge provides comfortable accommodation a 20-minute drive from Weymouth coast. Hardys Cottage, where Thomas Hardy was born, is less than 3 miles from the building..
The Junction Hotel by
A 3-minute walk from Dorchester West Train Station, The Junction is a Marstons Inn offering bed and breakfast in this historic Dorset town. Stylishly furnished rooms have free Wi-Fi and the ground floor location offers disabled access..
Bay Tree House
Situated just 15 minutes walk from the centre of historic Dorchester, the family-run Bay Tree House offers free Wi-Fi and free onsite parking, the award-winning property also boasts a restaurant and coffee shop, which is just 10 minutes walk away..
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