Getty Images/Moment RF

Dorset

Holiday hot spot Dorset offers a checklist of charms. Its shoreline is one of Britain’s best and boasts the Jurassic Coast – a World Heritage Site flecked with sea-carved bays, crumbly cliffs and beaches loaded with fossilised souvenirs. Swimming, kayaking and hiking here are memorable indeed. Inland, Thomas Hardy's lyrical landscape serves up vast Iron Age hill forts, rude chalk figures, fairy-tale castles and must-see stately homes. Then there are resorts alive with party animals, golden beaches flanked by millionaires' mansions, and sailing waters that have hosted Olympic events. Time then to add Dorset to your holiday list.

Explore Dorset

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Dorset.

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Dorset with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.