Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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 Rajpoot Restaurant (43 High West Street) are great picks.

When to visit Dorchester

Dorchester in November
Estimated hotel price
£80
1 night at 3-star hotel
Dorchester in November
Estimated hotel price
£80
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 77 km 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 18h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 1h 59m and costs around £19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Leeds, expect to pay about £1,145 for a 7h 59m trip. Located 0.5 km from the city centre, Dorchester South is the busiest station in Dorchester. Another popular train station is Dorchester West, located 0.1 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Dorchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 184 km from Dorchester. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Dorchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 80 km and will cost you around £17. From London, the ticket costs about £22 for a journey of 209 km.

Plane

Although Dorchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Bristol Airport (BRS), which is located 77 km 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 18h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 1h 59m and costs around £19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Leeds, expect to pay about £1,145 for a 7h 59m trip. Located 0.5 km from the city centre, Dorchester South is the busiest station in Dorchester. Another popular train station is Dorchester West, located 0.1 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Dorchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 184 km from Dorchester. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Dorchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 80 km and will cost you around £17. From London, the ticket costs about £22 for a journey of 209 km.

Airports near Dorchester

BRSBristol
SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Dorchester

KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (967 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,053 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (769 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,076 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,799 reviews)
Pegasus Airlines
Good (621 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,068 reviews)
Vueling
Good (1,159 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (262 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (642 reviews)
Jet2
Excellent (161 reviews)
AccesRail
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Find flights to Dorchester

Where to stay in Dorchester

Average rates range from around £108 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £175 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Dorchester

Most booked hotels in Dorchester

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Summer Lodge Country House Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£225+
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Woodbury Court
0 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£119+
View
Bay Tree House
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£46+
View
The King's Arms
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£125+
View
The Duchess of Cornwall
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£106+
View
George Albert Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£101+
View

Hiring a car in Dorchester

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £58 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.30 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 £15.58 and £20.77. Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Dorchester, while also 57% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £58 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.30 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 £15.58 and £20.77. Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Dorchester, while also 57% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car hire in Dorchester

Dorchester Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Dorchester city guide for the best Dorchester travel tips. To help you organise your Dorchester trip ideas, this Dorchester visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.