12 Best Places to Stay in Dorset (Location & Accommodation Guide)

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a thriving town with a cool and trendy vibe. The miles of stretching coastline boast several glorious beaches, including the award-winning Bournemouth Beach, Mudeford Sandbank Beach, Alum Chine Beach, and Hengistbury Head Beach.

It offers plenty for families, couples, groups of mates, and solo explorers, and the large number of galleries and museums make it an especially terrific destination for anyone who loves art and culture.

Don’t miss the excellent Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, situated right on the seafront. The Museum of Design in Plastics is interesting and unusual.  

There are charming gardens in the locale, including Boscombe Chine Gardens and Lower Gardens. Literary fans can pay their respects at the grave of Shelley, in the churchyard of the Neo-Gothic St. Peter’s Church, while fans of the performing arts can catch a show at the Art Deco Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre.

Bournemouth Pier is a fun place to hang out with amusements, rides, a thrilling zipline, boat rides, eateries, and more. Ride the Bournemouth Observation Wheel for far-reaching vistas. Shop till you drop at the Square. Practice your swing at Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf. Have a flutter at Genting Casino.

If you’re looking for tranquil days in stunning nature, the New Forest is just a stone’s throw from Bournemouth. Get active on the wide choice of walking and cycling trails.

Spot wild horses, deer, and cattle. Explore diverse terrain, such as ancient woodlands, rolling moorlands, enchanting glades, and craggy clifftops.

Bournemouth boasts numerous accommodation options, catering to varied tastes and budgets. There are many top-notch restaurants and cafes too, and you’ll find plenty to keep you amused in both the daytimes and the evenings.

Bridport

If you love long days hunting for bargains and indulging in some relaxing retail therapy, Dorset’s Bridport is sure to be right up your street. The many vintage shops, boutiques, galleries, and markets make it something of a mecca for shopaholics.

Take a stroll along South Street to browse (and buy!) in eclectic boutiques and cool artisan studios, and visit on the last Sunday of each month (April through to October) to pick up unusual items at the vintage markets. One of Dorset’s charming market towns and a place with a long rope-making heritage, Bridport is a top destination all throughout the year. 

There are heaps of things to do besides shopping, though. Soak up the beauty and bask on the sands of West Bay. Don’t be alarmed if it looks familiar – it was the setting for the TV show Broadchurch. Chesil Beach is another lovely place to enjoy the coast, and you can visit the cute village of Burton Bradstock at the same time.

Learn more about the local area at the interesting Bridport Museum, housed inside one of the town’s oldest buildings. If art speaks to your soul, check out Bridport Art Museum. The cool collections are located in a former church.

Hike up Colmer’s Hill for great views, play a round or two at Bridport Golf Course, and catch a show at the Electric Palace. You’ll find breweries and vineyards close to hand too – ideal for kicking back and enjoying your favourite tipple. 

Poole

Poole is a top destination for anyone who loves watersports. One of the best places to stay in Dorset if learning to surf appeals to you, there are rental shops, instructors, and of course, awesome conditions for hitting the waves and riding your board. Other watersports are available too, like kayaking, jetskiing, wakeboarding, and paddle boarding – head down to Poole Harbor for lots of water-based fun.

The ferry leaves Poole Harbor frequently throughout the week, connecting the UK with France and the Channel Islands. If you don’t want to go so far, how about a local city cruise instead?

Alternatively, catch a boat to Brownsea Island which boasts the splendid Brownsea Castle (now a luxurious hotel) form the 16^th century. There are nature-filled walking trails too, and you’ll likely spot inquisitive red squirrels.

Poole has beautiful sandy beaches where you can swim, sunbathe, and enjoy good old-fashioned fun like building a sandcastle and playing beach volleyball. For watery fun without the sand, take kids to Splashdown Poole, a water park with various slides, flumes, rides, and other attractions.  

Explore the Old Town to admire stunning homes from the Georgian era and uncover local history in the fascinating Poole Museum. 

Sandbanks is a small peninsula with an air of exclusivity. You’ll find lavish homes, a Blue Flag Beach, and a plethora of eateries. You can even grab a bite to eat in Rick Stein’s owned by a celebrity chef.

The Isle of Purbeck is just across the water (or a short drive away around the coast). Surrounded by water to three sides, it was difficult to access in times gone by, hence the Isle name. There are numerous attractions and activities, including Corfe Castle, Studland Bay, a nature reserve, an ancient stone circle, cool rock formations, and more. 

Corfe Castle

Located on the peninsula known as the Isle of Purbeck, Corfe Castle is a must for history lovers. Step back in time as you explore the 1,000-year-old ruins and learn about the various conflicts that the castle has seen. If only the walls could talk!

A fortress for the Saxons and Normans, Corfe Castle has also been a grand royal abode and a stately family home. There are a number of walking trails around the atmospheric ruins, each offering incredible views.

Visit Corfe Castle Model Village to see what the castle looked like in the past, and appreciate its glory and splendor before it was destroyed in the 1600s by Oliver Cromwell’s troops.

Nearby, art afficionados can enjoy the Boilerhouse Gallery, and Vineyard Farm Cottage makes for a pretty picture.    

Continue the historic theme with visits to the nearby ancient Rempstone Stone Circle and Spyway Dinosaur Footprints. Of course, you’re also not far from the coast, whose dramatic landscapes have been naturally carved and created over thousands and thousands of years. 

On a warm day, you can take a dip in the nearby Blue Pool where the shimmering mineral-rich waters change from green to blue. Hartland Moor Nature Reserve and Stoborough Heath Nature Reserve offer nature-spotting opportunities close to hand.

Lulworth Cove

Sitting on the spectacular Jurassic Coast, Lulworth Cove is one of the best places to stay in Dorset for amazing scenery. The landscapes have seemingly been cut in a sweeping crescent shape, with sandy beaches fringing the shoreline and gentle walks along the coast. The sheltered location makes it a prime spot for paddling and swimming in the sea.

Lulworth Cove is part of the extensive Lulworth Estate which has been in the hands of the same family since the mid-1600s. Call into the Visitor Centre to learn more. 

To the western side of the cove, Stair Hole has small stone arches and caves. 

You can also wander the unusual terrain at Fossil Forest (access available at selected times), situated towards the eastern edge of Lulworth Cove. The now-rocky landscapes were once covered in lush forest, with the flora dying when the area was again flooded. Parts of the trees were preserved in the rocks, leaving bowl shapes in the rocks as the trunks decayed.   

A major natural attraction near Lulworth Cove is the photogenic Durdle Door, a striking rock arch that snakes into the blue sea. It’s one of the most photographed spots in all of Dorset. There are many gorgeous viewpoints too along the coast, and the South-West Coast Path passes past Lulworth Cove.

Christchurch

Christchurch boasts fine family-friendly and award-winning beaches close to hand, including Southbourne Beach, Avon Beach, Hengistbury Head Beach, and a little farther afield, Boscombe Beach. The stretching Mudeford Sandbank is a prime place for fun days at the seaside, and you can hop on the ferry for a trip around the scenic Mudeford Bay. For fun in the water without the sand in your shoes, check out Splashpark. 

Various watersports are available, like kayaking and paddle boarding. Go boating along two rivers and explore two historic quays. The natural Christchurch Harbour is a hive of activity with terrific vistas.  

The countryside is easy to reach too, with excellent walking and cycling opportunities. Spend wonderful days in nature in the nearby New Forest National Park, and watch diverse wildlife in the many nature reserves just outside the town. You’ll find splendid golf courses in the locale too.   

Explore the ruins of the 11^th-century Christchurch Castle built within the walls of an earlier Saxon fortress, and soak up the historic vibe at Priory Church. Believed to be one of the longest churches in England, the Priory is one of just a few monastery churches not to have been destroyed during the reign of Henry the Eighth. The nearby Highcliffe Castle is an elegant 19^th-century building perched atop the cliffs. 

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway is sure to delight little ones, while the Adventure Wonderland offers heaps of fun for people of all ages.

Subterranean tunnels lie under the town’s streets, once used by smugglers and pirates. Today’s visitors, however, won’t run into swashbucklers. You’ll find, instead, plenty of bounties from the sea on local menus, cafes selling decadent cream teas, traditional pubs, a lively weekly market (held each Monday), modern shopping, and a variety of accommodation options to suit all tastes – all within around a half hour drive from Southampton in the neighboring county of Hampshire.   

Sherborne

A quaint market town on the banks of the River Yeo, Sherborne is located inland in Dorset. Steeped in history, it remains an awesome destination for anyone who loves walking around bustling markets and hunting for great buys.

Every Thursday morning the Church Hall hosts the Country Market. Also held on Thursdays (and Saturdays), Pannier Market on the Parade draws a sizeable crowd. Do you love reading? If so, check out the Book Fair that takes place on the third Saturday of each month. Search for rare or unusual items at the monthly Antiques and Flea Market on the fourth Saturday of the month, and pick up fresh local produce at the Farmers’ Market on the third Friday of every month. Want even more retail therapy? The independent shops along the aptly named Cheap Street are great for window shopping and, of course, buying.

The town sits in the shadow of a ruined 11^th-century castle, which lends a rather romantic air to the streets. The old castle is in contrast with the newer Sherborne Castle.

Sherborne Castle (the newer one) was constructed in the late 16th century by Sir Walter Raleigh, a famous explorer, writer, soldier, and spy. Today, the castle showcases various designs from several hundred years of English history, and it’s filled with beautiful furnishings and artworks. The gardens are well worth a stroll, and you can relax in the tea room.

The Abbey Church is another significant historic landmark. Founded in the first century AD, the present building has sections that date as far back as the mid-1000s. The glorious church features several architectural styles, a testament to its long history at the heart of the local community.  

Other historic hotspots around the town include the delightful almshouses near the abbey, the 18^th-century schoolhouse, traditional pubs, and a number of buildings from the Georgian and medieval periods.

Evershot

Located inland almost halfway between Dorchester and Yeovil, Evershot is a lovely Dorset village. It’s the source of the Frome River and has a long literary association. Indeed, it’s a must-visit for fans of novelist Thomas Hardy.

Visiting Evershot is like taking a journey back in time, with little having changed since the days when Hardy (1840-1928) included the village in many of his works. That said, you’ll still find a good selection of modern amenities for a comfortable getaway. 

Call by places associated with Tess of the d’Urbervilles, one of Hardy’s most well-known works. Tess Cottage is thought to have been where the literary heroine paused to eat and drink, and the Acorn Inn is widely believed to have been the inspiration behind the fictional Sow and Acorn.

There are a couple of historic sites in the village, including the charming St. Osmund’s Church and St. John’s Well. Nearby, Deer Park and Melbury Park are ideal for a few hours in nature. The mysterious Cerne Giant, a naked male figure carved into the chalky hillside, is just a short drive to the east.