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 October
Estimated hotel price
£86
1 night at 3-star hotel
Dorchester in October
Estimated hotel price
£86
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 9h 30m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 2h 14m and costs around £30 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Newcastle upon Tyne, expect to pay about £77 for a 6h 08m 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 Turo and U-Save, 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 40 miles and will cost you around £9. From London, the ticket costs about £11 for a journey of 130 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 9h 30m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 2h 14m and costs around £30 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Newcastle upon Tyne, expect to pay about £77 for a 6h 08m 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 Turo and U-Save, 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 40 miles and will cost you around £9. From London, the ticket costs about £11 for a journey of 130 miles.

Airports near Dorchester

BRSBristol
SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Dorchester

KLM
Good (1,406 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,992 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,485 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,776 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,001 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,482 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,659 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,283 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (882 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,187 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,361 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,840 reviews)
Pegasus Airlines
Good (634 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,121 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (286 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (670 reviews)
Vueling
Good (1,204 reviews)
IndiGo
Good (489 reviews)
Jet2
Excellent (172 reviews)
AccesRail
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Find flights to Dorchester

Where to stay in Dorchester

Average rates range from around £106 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £176 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Dorchester

Most booked hotels in Dorchester

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Marley House Bed and Breakfast
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£131+
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Woodbury Court
0 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£119+
View
Bay Tree House
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£106+
View
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£244+
View
The King's Arms
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£122+
View
The Duchess of Cornwall
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£113+
View

Hiring a car in Dorchester

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £49 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.36 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 £16.23 and £21.64. The most frequently booked car type in Dorchester is Intermediate (Vauxhall Zafira Tourer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 69% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £49 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.36 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 £16.23 and £21.64. The most frequently booked car type in Dorchester is Intermediate (Vauxhall Zafira Tourer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 69% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

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.