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
£86
1 night at 3-star hotel
Dorchester in November
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 15h 35m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to Edinburgh takes 7h 30m and costs around £108 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Manchester, expect to pay about £196 for a 9h 05m 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 Hertz, 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 £55. From Liverpool, the ticket costs about £56 for a journey of 595 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 15h 35m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Dorchester, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Dorchester to Edinburgh takes 7h 30m and costs around £108 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Manchester, expect to pay about £196 for a 9h 05m 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 Hertz, 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 £55. From Liverpool, the ticket costs about £56 for a journey of 595 miles.

Airports near Dorchester

BRSBristol
SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Dorchester

KLM
Good (1,405 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,001 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,500 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,779 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,007 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,661 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,484 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,285 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (893 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,188 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,365 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,841 reviews)
Pegasus Airlines
Good (635 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,126 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (286 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (672 reviews)
Vueling
Good (1,206 reviews)
IndiGo
Good (496 reviews)
Jet2
Excellent (175 reviews)
AccesRail
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Find flights to Dorchester

Where to stay in Dorchester

Average rates range from around £103 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £179 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)
£134+
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Woodbury Court
0 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£121+
View
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£248+
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Bay Tree House
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£108+
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The King's Arms
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£124+
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The Duchess of Cornwall
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£115+
View

Hiring a car in Dorchester

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £41 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 £16.32 and £21.76. 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, 66% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Dorchester costs £41 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 £16.32 and £21.76. 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, 66% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Dorchester