Dorset Visitor Attractions
Along with the attractions listed on this page you may also find places of interest on the Dorset Heritage and Nature pages. We suggest that you also visit the pages for the neighbouring counties to see what else there is in the area.
We support ‘Accessible Countryside for Everyone’ in providing a brief guide as to the access / facilities for the sites listed, where we have them.
Adventure Wonderland - Christchurch - family run theme park aimed primarily towards families with young children, 30 rides and attractions, indoor adventure play centre - "Paths around our main attractions are tarmac and level. (where possible)...Our Restaurants, Gift shops and the Happydrome Theatre are wheelchair/mobility scooter accessible...A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available to hire", accessible toilets,
www.adventurewonderland.co.uk
Ancient Technology Centre (ATC) - Cranborne - "Our Viking open weekend each summer is already very popular, with an interesting mix of re-enactors, market stalls, story telling, Dark Age music, ATC demonstrations and activities and refreshments, it is the perfect way to spend a summer’s day!" - Unfortunately we have no accessibility information for this site
www.ancienttechnologycentre.co.uk
Compton Abbas Airfield - Ashmore, Nr Salisbury - Situated at 800ft above sea level with spectacular views, enjoy a flight or just watch the aircraft, experiences such as trial flights and wing walking available, restaurant - Unfortunately we have no accessibility information for this site
www.comptonabbasairfield.co.uk
Dinosaur Museum - Dorchester - "The museum combines life-sized reconstructions of dinosaurs with fossils and dinosaur skeletons to create an exciting hands-on experience. Hands-on displays help tell the story of the giant prehistoric animals and their enthralling world millions of years ago" - "There is one step access to the Dinosaur Museum which has displays and exhibits situated over two floors. There is a temporary ramp available at the front door to assist with entrance. The ground floor is fully accessible. We regret that the upper floor is inaccessible to wheelchair users because of the nature of this period building". No accessible toilets on site
www.thedinosaurmuseum.com
Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park and Rescue Centre - Verwood - "interesting tours, talks and displays, FREE Heavy Horse Wagon Rides, Tractor and Trailer rides and even the chance to Drive a real Farm tractor!! There's a busy timetable of hands on interaction with the friendly farm animals including over 20 rescued heavy horses, donkeys, miniature ponies, kunie kunie pigs, goats, sheep, alpacas, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, snow dogs and many more!" - fully wheelchair accessible, baby changing facilities
www.dorset-heavy-horse-centre.co.uk
Farmer Palmers Farm Park - Poole- animals and attractions that are designed specifically with under 8's in mind, hands-on animal experiences, play areas, - "Disabilities should not impair the fun of a visit to Farmer Palmer's to meet our lovely animals....Our site is not large but a wheelchair can be borrowed from the admissions desk, free of charge, 1st come, 1st served...Menus are available in larger print", accessible toilets, baby changing facilities
www.farmerpalmers.co.uk
Henley Hillbillies - Buckland Newton - "Ride a quad bike, smash a clay pigeon, accelerate a Polaris Ace out of the bend, fly a hovercraft 6 inches from the ground, hit the target straight in the bullseye!" - Unfortunately we have no accessibility information for this site
www.henleyhillbillies.co.uk
Honeybrook Farm - Wimborne - Honeybrook carries special breeds of every sort of ‘domestic’ animal and most wildlife species too. The Riverside Park runs to some 84 acres, indoor and outdoor adventure play, tractor and pony rides, rural craft and wild skills courses available, cafe, tea room - Unfortunately we have no accessibility information for this site
www.honeybrook.org
Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park - Dorchester - The Gardens are grade II listed, 35 acre formal gardens were created by the Hanburys between 1915 and 1922 within the existing framework of an eighteenth century Capability Brown style parkland setting and the vestiges of a Victorian garden, has the Penstemon and Salvia national flower collections. Animal Park has sheep, alpacas, chickens and goats to feed and see piglets, miniature Shetland ponies, alpacas, giant rabbits and many more including rare breeds - "The garden is grade II listed and therefore certain parts of it are inaccessible for visitors with mobility difficulties and those with pushchairs. However, many parts of the garden are accessible but visitors should be advised that there are gravel paths, steps and steep slopes in places...access to the cafe is possible via the use of ramps", a garden accessible route map is available, accessible toilets
www.kmc.ac.uk
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest - Ashley Heath - visitor centre ,walk & cycle trails, cycle hire, narrow-gauge steam train, Go Ape treetop adventure and Segways, play areas, audio trail, golf, fishing - - visitor centre is accessible and has disabled toilets including a Changing Places, wheelchair accessible picnic tables, accessible trails, wheelchair and mobility scooter hire,wheelchair bikes & adaptive bikes for hire
www.moors-valley.co.uk
Portland Bill Lighthouse - Portland - Portland Bill Lighthouse built in 1906, Visitor Centre with exhibits, learn about the lighthouse and its keepers and find out about Trinity House, the organisation that operates the lighthouse and has safeguard the mariner for over 500 years - "all visitors (including children) must be able to ascend and descend the stairs unaided". Unfortunately we have no other accessibility information for this site
www.trinityhouse.co.uk
Splashdown Waterpark - Poole - "home to 13 thrilling indoor and outdoor flume rides and 3 under 5's splash zones...under 7's can splash about in our interactive water play area", cafe - Unfortunately we have no accessibility information for this site
www.splashdownwaterparks.co.uk/poole
Royal Signals Museum - Blandford Forum - Note - "The Royal Signals Museum is within the confines of Blandford Camp. All adults (16+) must bring a valid personal PHOTO ID (driving licence, passport or UK military ID Card)" - see how military communications progressed from the use of torches and sunlight, through flags, the Semaphore and the Shutter Telegraph, to Morse Code, the telephone, the wireless, through to encryption, interception and modern communications, cafe, gift shop - There is an access ramp for the disabled at the front entrance to the Museum, and a lift between lower and upper levels. There are toilets, and toilets for the disabled
royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk
Swanage Railway - award-winning standard gauge steam railway, "heritage steam and diesel timetable train service...Steam and diesel galas, Family events plus regular Evening Dining and Sunday Lunch...experience a unique journey through six miles of beautiful scenery passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle, travelling down to the blue flag beach at Swanage" - "All our trains accommodate wheelchairs and the Swanage Railway has also a specially adapted carriage for mobility impaired visitors - our 'open access' carriage...All Swanage Railway station platforms offer step-free access and Disabled access is available to most trains...Disabled toilets and baby-changing facilities are only available at Norden."
www.swanagerailway.co.uk
Tank Museum - Bovington - unique collection of over 300 vehicles is regarded as the best in the world, The Vehicle Conservation Centre (VCC) houses over 100 vehicles, many of which have never been on public display before, Tanks in Action displays, guided tours, experience days, indoor play area, cafe, shop "The Tank Museum is committed to a policy of accessibility, providing excellent access in and around the site with lifts, ramps and broad pathways. There is ample disabled parking and wheelchair access to a viewing point over the arena", accessible toilets
www.tankmuseum.org
Terracotta Warriors Museum - Dorchester - "This small but inspiring exhibition on the Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor of China's famous Terracotta Army brings together all the wonder of the discovery of these amazing treasures of ancient China" - "The Museum is fully accessible to people using a wheelchair, with a temporary ramp to aid entrance and the remainder of the Museum being all on one level"
www.terracottawarriors.co.uk
Tutankhamun Exhibition - Dorchester - "It features Tutankhamun's major treasures meticulously recreated, wherever possible, in their original materials...In addition, the ante-chamber and burial chamber Tutankhamun's tomb have been accurately recreated together with all the tomb furniture and treasures" - "The Exhibition is suitable for those with impaired mobility. Two steps at access point - temporary ramps available. Other special needs:- Hearing Impaired - Although there are several audio programmes, all information is clearly labelled. Partially Sighted - some difficulty may be experienced with the low level of atmospheric lighting, but it is generally overcome by the audio programmes"
www.tutankhamun-exhibition.co.uk
