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, Rajpoot Restaurant (43 High West Street) and Al Molo Dorchester (High W St) are great picks.

When to visit Dorchester

Dorchester in November
Estimated hotel price
£93
1 night at 3-star hotel
Dorchester in November
Estimated hotel price
£93
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 5h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Dorchester. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 1h 55m and costs around £51 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Edinburgh, expect to pay about £219 for a 11h 35m 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 Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Dorchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Manchester, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 465 miles and will cost you around £68. From Leeds, the ticket costs about £64 for a journey of 485 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 5h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Dorchester. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 1h 55m and costs around £51 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Edinburgh, expect to pay about £219 for a 11h 35m 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 Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Dorchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Manchester, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 465 miles and will cost you around £68. From Leeds, the ticket costs about £64 for a journey of 485 miles.

Airports near Dorchester

BRSBristol
SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Dorchester

KLM
Good (1,467 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,779 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,269 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,889 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,131 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,744 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,543 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,424 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (965 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,288 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,471 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,880 reviews)
Pegasus Airlines
Good (641 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,184 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (295 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (680 reviews)
Vueling
Good (1,249 reviews)
WestJet
Good (3,283 reviews)
Jet2
Excellent (182 reviews)
IndiGo
Good (541 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Dorchester

Where to stay in Dorchester

Average rates range from around £86 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £141 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Dorchester

Most booked hotels in Dorchester

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Little Court
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£86+
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New Inn - Dorchester
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£86+
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The King's Arms
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£101+
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George Albert Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£75+
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The Rivers Arms
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£85+
View

Hiring a car in Dorchester

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £54 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.33 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 £15.93 and £21.24. 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 Standard car hire (Class Commercial Truck or similar) is, on average, 68% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £54 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.33 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 £15.93 and £21.24. 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 Standard car hire (Class Commercial Truck or similar) is, on average, 68% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Dorchester