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
£78
1 night at 3-star hotel
Dorchester in November
Estimated hotel price
£78
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, Loganair, British Airways and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Dorchester departs from London and takes around 9h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 2h 05m and costs around £52 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about £36 for a 3h 28m 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 Birmingham, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 700 km and will cost you around £31. From Norwich, the ticket costs about £41 for a journey of 716 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, Loganair, British Airways and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Dorchester departs from London and takes around 9h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to London takes 2h 05m and costs around £52 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about £36 for a 3h 28m 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 Birmingham, the bus ride to Dorchester takes 700 km and will cost you around £31. From Norwich, the ticket costs about £41 for a journey of 716 km.

Airports near Dorchester

BRSBristol
SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Dorchester

KLM
Good (1,432 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,007 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,571 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,810 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,045 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,677 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,504 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,331 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (902 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,218 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,394 reviews)
Pegasus Airlines
Good (635 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,850 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,127 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (287 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (675 reviews)
Vueling
Good (1,219 reviews)
WestJet
Good (3,195 reviews)
IndiGo
Good (507 reviews)
AccesRail
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Find flights to Dorchester

Where to stay in Dorchester

Average rates range from around £81 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £126 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Dorchester

Most booked hotels in Dorchester

See all
Marley House Bed and Breakfast
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£131+
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Bay Tree House
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£72+
View
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£176+
View
The King's Arms
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£75+
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The Duchess of Cornwall
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£63+
View
George Albert Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£74+
View

Hiring a car in Dorchester

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £38 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 £21.63. 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 Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 63% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £38 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 £21.63. 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 Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 63% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Dorchester