Jane's Midlife Journey

Dorset’s county town of Dorchester is steeped in history. The historic market town can trace its history back to Roman times, when it was called Durnovaria. But the town is probably best known for its connections with the writer, Thomas Hardy.

There is plenty to see on a visit to Dorchester. The town boasts a whole range of museums, housing collections of dinosaurs, Terracotta Warriors, teddy bears and military history. With limited time and funds, I recommend picking just one for a day trip – I opted for the Shire Hall Museum.

How to get to Dorchester

Dorchester, situated in central Dorset, is 30 miles west of Bournemouth along the A35.

By train:

Dorchester has good public transport links with two rail stations. Dorchester South is on the Weymouth to London Waterloo line, while Dorchester West is on the Weymouth to Bristol line.

By bus:

There are local buses to Dorchester from Weymouth, Bridport and Poundbury. National Express offer a service to Weymouth, Bournemouth and London.

I opted to travel with Highcliffe Coaches, who run day trips to Dorchester offering pick ups across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Parking

If you decide to drive, there is a large Pay & Display car park at Fairfield, opposite Brewery Square. Parking costs £3.70 for 4 hours. Further details can be found here.

Getting around Dorchester

The old town is best explored on foot. My itinerary covers a circuit of around 1.3 miles.

Dorchester in 1 Day Itinerary

1	St Peter’s Church
2	Dorset Museum
3	Shire Hall Museum
4	Thomas Hardy Statue
5	Roman Walls
6	Borough Gardens
7	Brewery Square
8	Dorchester Market

St Peter’s Church

St Peters Church dates back to the 15th Century. Outside, is a statue of local poet William Barnes.

The church’s interior has caused controversy due to a memorial to a local plantation owner, which praised his bravery in putting down a slave rebellion. The plaque has now been removed.

The church is open daily from 10 am until 4 pm.

Dorset Museum

Dorset Museum is a local history museum and art gallery. The purpose built Victorian museum tells the county’s history. A large section of the first floor is dedicated to Thomas Hardy.

The museum is usually open daily from 10 am until 5 pm, except in January, when it remains closed. There is no day ticket option – adult entry costs £15.50 per annum (£13.95 if purchased online in advance). I though this was a bit steep for a day trip, so made do with admiring the museum’s architecture.

Shire Hall Museum

The Shire Hall Museum is housed in the old town’s former court house. The museum tells the story of over 200 years of justice and injustice in Dorset. You can visit the cells and the courtroom and learn about the people whose lives were forever changed here.

The court house’s most infamous trial was that of the Tolpuddle Martyrs; six local farm labourers, who were held and tried here, before being transported to Australia in 1834 for forming a friendly society to protest wage cuts. Their trial sparked massive public protests and they were eventually pardoned and returned home in 1836-1839. This event is a pivotal moment in the history of the British trade union movement.

The museum is open daily except Sunday from 10 am until 4 pm. Adult entry costs £10.50 per annum.

Thomas Hardy Statue

At the top of the High Street, overlooking a roundabout is a statue of the writer Thomas Hardy, whose books are based on Dorchester and the surrounding area. The statue was unveiled to the public in 1931 by another famous writer, J.M. Barrie (creator of Peter Pan).

Roman Walls

Dorchester was founded by the Romans around 60 AD. In line with most Roman towns in Britain, Durnovaria was walled. A fragment of surviving Roman Wall is located just north of the entrance to the Borough Gardens.

Borough Gardens

The beautifully kept Borough Gardens were planned by William Goldring of Kew and opened to the public in 1896.  Amidst the lawns and flower beds, you can find a clock tower, bandstand, fountain, war memorial and sundial. The park also contains a bowling green, tennis courts, a playground and snack kiosk, rather grandly named the Temple of Refreshment.

Clock Tower

The magnificently ornate cast iron Clock Tower is brightly painted in red, green and gold. The clock was a gift to the town from local businessman and magistrate Charles Hansford in 1905.

Brewery Square

Brewery Square is a shopping and leisure complex in a former brewery. As well as shops and a cinema, the complex boasts a total of 17 Restaurants, Bars & Cafes – the ideal place to relax and fuel after a busy day of sightseeing.

Dorchester Market

Dorchester Market is a weekly partially covered market with up to 200 traders. The market, which dates back to 1305, takes place on Wednesday mornings from 6:30 am until 2.pm opposite Brewery Square. Vendors offer a wide range of produce including  fruit and vegetables, bread, meats, cheeses, clothes, plants, bric-a-brac and hot food. On Sundays, the market is transformed into one of the area’s largest car boot sales.

• Updated: January 2026