Dorchester travel guide

Dorchester Tourism | Dorchester Guide

You're Going to Love Dorchester

With a population of 16,879, Dorchester is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. Consider staying at least one whole day in Dorchester to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Dorchester

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Fox Inn (Pound Hill) and Al Molo Dorchester (High W St) are great picks.

When to visit Dorchester

Dorchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£70
1 night at 3-star hotel
Dorchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£70
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Dorchester

Plane

Although Dorchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 48 miles from Dorchester. Bristol Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from easyJet, British Airways, Loganair and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Dorchester departs from London and takes around 4h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 1h 55m and costs around £16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Glasgow, expect to pay about £69 for a 7h 28m trip. Located 0.3 miles from the city centre, Dorchester South is the busiest station in Dorchester. Another popular train station is Dorchester West, located 0.0 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Dorchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 114 miles from Dorchester. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

National Express operates bus routes to Dorchester. From London, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 120 miles and will cost you around £25. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £31 for a journey of 290 miles.

Plane

Although Dorchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 48 miles from Dorchester. Bristol Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from easyJet, British Airways, Loganair and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Dorchester departs from London and takes around 4h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 1h 55m and costs around £16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Glasgow, expect to pay about £69 for a 7h 28m trip. Located 0.3 miles from the city centre, Dorchester South is the busiest station in Dorchester. Another popular train station is Dorchester West, located 0.0 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Dorchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 114 miles from Dorchester. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

National Express operates bus routes to Dorchester. From London, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 120 miles and will cost you around £25. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £31 for a journey of 290 miles.

Airports near Dorchester

Airlines serving Dorchester

KLM
Good (848 reviews)
SWISS
Good (954 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,590 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,594 reviews)
Air France
Good (981 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,435 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (726 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (765 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,439 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (3,400 reviews)
GOL
Good (698 reviews)
Vueling
Good (801 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (498 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (160 reviews)
Aegean Airlines
Excellent (495 reviews)
Jet2
Excellent (99 reviews)
SunExpress
Good (105 reviews)
Corendon Airlines
Okay (9 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Dorchester

Average rates range from around £113 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £189 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Dorchester

Most booked hotels in Dorchester

Marley House Bed and Breakfast
3 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£136+
Little Court
5 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£93+
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£284+
Bay Tree House
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£84+
Best Western Wessex Royale Hotel Dorchester
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£99+
George Albert Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£103+

Hiring a car in Dorchester

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £44 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 11% cheaper than airport locations in Dorchester.

Expect to pay £1.49 per litre in Dorchester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £17.81 and £23.75. The most frequently booked car type in Dorchester is Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Vauxhall Astra or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £44 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 11% cheaper than airport locations in Dorchester.

Expect to pay £1.49 per litre in Dorchester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £17.81 and £23.75. The most frequently booked car type in Dorchester is Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Vauxhall Astra or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.