Things to do in Dorchester
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Surf & Turf at Shelley's Plaice
Lobster pots and life belts dangle from the rafters at this kooky bistro, where the chalked-up menu depends entirely on what local fishermen have caught. Flavoursome delights range from fish soup to perfectly cooked cod, monkfish or lemon sole; or get cracking on a whole Portland crab.
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Hardy Literary Locations
Mayor of Casterbridge locations hidden among modern Dorchester include Lucetta's House, a grand Georgian affair with ornate door posts near the tourist office, while in parallel South St, a red-brick mid-18th-century building (now a bank) is named as the inspiration for the house of the mayor himself. The tourist office sells book location guides.
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Roman Town House
The knee-high flint walls and beautifully preserved mosaics here powerfully conjure up the Roman occupation of Dorchester (then Durnovaria). Peek into the summer dining room to see the underfloor heating system (hypocaust), where charcoal-warmed air circulated around pillars to produce a toasty 18°C.
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Sienna
Dorchester's Michelin-starred eatery casts a culinary spell over seasonal produce. Look out for wild garlic and pungent truffles; duck might be teamed with spiced blackberry purée. The cheeseboard bears the very best of the west, served with apple chutney and homemade digestives. Booking is required.
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Terracotta Warriors
Whisks you off to 8th-century China for a reconstruction of the famous figures.
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Tutankhamen
Recreates the sounds, smells and sights of ancient Egypt, including a fake-gold mock-up of a pharaoh's tomb.
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Maiden Castle
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No 6
Much of the fish at this cosmopolitan bistro comes straight off a Weymouth trawler. The French chef specialises in giving local produce a Gallic makeover – look out for lamb’s kidney on brioche, and crab baked Creole-style.
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Tutankhamen Exhibition
At the Tutankhamen Exhibition you get to experience the sights, sounds and smells of ancient Egypt in a fake-gold mock-up of the Pharaoh's tomb.
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Terracotta Warriors Museum
The Terracotta Warriors Museum whisks you off to 8th-century China for an atmospheric reconstruction of the famous figures, as well as assorted costumes and armour.
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Teddy Bear Museum
Populated by historical and famous bears, plus a disconcerting family of human-sized teddies.
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Prezzo
A typically reliable outpost of this Italian chain; the baroque interior is filled with black leather sofas and twisted willow - top-notch pizzas and pastas are on the menu.
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Lee
Ornate, carved tables and chandeliers dominate this popular eatery which specialises in Peking, Szechwan and Thai food. Try the sliced squid Cantonese style, or the sizzling tofu in black bean sauce.
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Hardy's Birthplace
This picturesque cob-and-thatch house is the birthplace of Thomas Hardy. It's perhaps a little short on attractions, but makes an evocative stop for Hardy completists. It's in Higher Bockhampton, 3 miles northeast of Dorchester.
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Maumbury Rings
Just south of the town centre are the Maumbury Rings. These steep-sided, grass-covered ridges were a Neolithic henge before the Romans turned them into an amphitheatre. These days they're an idyllic picnic spot and venue for open-air music and drama events, check locally for listings.
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Sienna
Indulge in some fine, pan-European cooking which combines complex flavours: rare roast Scottish sirloin with mushrooms sits on the same menu as fresh tagliatelle with roasted artichokes, and a goat's cheese and pepper tart with sherry vinegar. The décor is simpler - light woods and red padded seats.
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Roman villa
Dorchester was once a thriving Roman settlement and excavations have uncovered the foundations of a 1st-century Roman villa behind the town hall on Northern Hay. The layout of the house is clearly visible and the remains of the main building, enclosed in a glass structure, boast remarkable mosaic floors.
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Hardy's statue
Look out for Hardy's statue at the top of High West St in Dorchester. You can also try and track down what's thought to be the red and grey brick inspiration for the Mayor of Casterbridge's house, now a Barclays Bank branch, in South St, and visit the Maumbury Rings; the location of Henchard's secret meetings in the same book.
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Max Gate
Thomas Hardy was a trained architect and designed this attractive house, where he lived from 1885 until his death in 1928. Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure were both written here, and the house contains several pieces of original furniture. It's a mile east of Dorchester, on the A352.
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Dorset County Museum
The Thomas Hardy collection here is the biggest in the world, offering extraordinary insights into his creative process – reading his cramped handwriting, it's often possible to spot where he's crossed out one word and substituted another. There's also an atmospheric reconstruction of his study at Max Gate and a letter from Siegfried Sassoon, asking Hardy if Sassoon can dedicate his first book of poems to him.
As well as the superb Hardy exhibits, look out for Jurassic Coast fossils, especially the huge ichthyosaur and the 6ft fore paddle of a plesiosaur. Bronze and Iron Age finds from Maiden Castle include a treasure trove of coins and neck rings, while Roman artefacts…
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