Tank Museum
https://www.tankmuseum.org/home
Brings history to life and has the world’s best collection on display. Sometimes there are special events on and live tank displays – see website for info. This is really enjoyable for the whole family!
Close to the Tank Museum – if you have loads of energy you could do them both in 1 day!!
Monkey world is an Ape rescue centre which has been featured on TV. It has a play park, woodland walk, cafe and places to picnic. Very easy to get around – not massive.
Europe’s largest collection of Royal Navy aircraft. You will get up close to lots of different helicopters and planes and it also has the Concorde on display which you can walk through. Book online and save 20% on admission tickets.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cerne-giant
About 10 mins away from us, this ancient naked giant is carved into the hillside using chalk. Always gets a giggle! It is a lovely walk up a steep hill and, in the village, there are a few pubs and a nice tea room where you could get a spot of lunch after burning off all those calories!
https://www.visit-dorset.com/things-to-do/lulworth-cove-p807263
An iconic image of Britain. Lovely pebble beach with crystal clear waters. Large parking area but can get very busy during school holidays. Nice beachfront café.
https://charmouth.org/charmouth_village/charmouth-fossil-hunting/
Britain’s premier fossil beach – it is unusual not to go home with some sort of fossil! There are regular guided fossil hunts but may be best to book. Fossil shop and toilets on the beach. Could tie this in with a visit to West Bay or Lyme Regis.
https://www.visitsealife.com/weymouth/
indoor and outdoor attraction so it is nice to go when weather is favourable and make sure the kids take their swimming stuff as there is an outdoor splash park. Favourites must be the penguins and sharks!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle
Originally built by William the Conqueror, these castle ruins with its fallen walls and secret places will keep children entertained with its historic past.
In the village there are a few quaint shops and a model village which is worth a visit if you have small children. There is also a train station where you can catch the steam train to Swanage. It can be busy at weekends but there is a large car park on the left before you enter the village
https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/
Travel by steam through villages such as Corfe Castle to Swanage or simply look at the trains at various points throughout this heritage railway. Swanage railway has a small café in an old carriage and you can see the steam trains arrive, load up with coal and set off again. Visit the website for the timetable. If you are in Swanage, then a trip to the beach for fish and chips is a must!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island
Home of the scouting movement. This wildlife haven is free of traffic and easily walk-able – spot red squirrels and migrating birds or take a picnic and find your own beach cove for a quiet afternoon. Get to the island by boat from Poole Quay.
