If you’re looking for fun, budget-friendly activities in Dorset, you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there are plenty of options to keep your family entertained without breaking the bank.
From exploring the historic Tyneham Village or fossil hunting on the beach, this is a guide for free and cheap days out with the family.
Some may require a small fee or have a parking charge, but nothing on this list will cost a fortune and is guaranteed to give you hours of fun and keep little ones occupied.
Dorset is jam-packed with history, country parks, National Trust destinations and more and here are some of the best for you to put in the diary.
Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Walk to Old Harry Rocks
Take the family on a walk to Old Harry Rocks for scenic and breathtaking views.
Start from the Studland South Beach Car Park and follow the path. It’s an easy walk, even for the kids.
Old Harry Rocks is one of Dorset’s most famous landmarks and perfect for lots of photo opportunities. If you’re feeling in the mood for an even bigger hike, then you can walk down to Swanage from Old Harry, with great views and lots of sheep to spot on the way down.
Time to soak in the beauty and get those steps in!
Check out The National Trust for more information about the walk, and take care on the clifftop.
Go Fossil Hunting or Explore a Rock Pool
Finding ancient treasures is an exciting activity for all the family and The Jurrasic Coast is a hotspot for them.
Head down to the likes of Charmouth Beach, Kimmeridge Bay and Lyme Regis. They’re fossil hotspots for ammonites and belemnites, especially after a storm.
Make sure to explore the rock pools, too!
They’re packed with little marine critters and perfect for a bit of summer paddling. Many memories can be made looking for sealife in the pools and hours of fun can be had for all the family for next to nothing.
Visit The Famous Gold Hill
If you pop over to Shaftesbury, a visit to Gold Hill is a must. This steep, cobbled hill became famous thanks to a 1970’s Hovis advert.
The hill itself is a delight to walk on with the charming row of cottages; see who can race to the top of the hill first and take in the amazing views.
Shaftesbury is a quaint little town with a few shops, restaurants and pubs to visit also.
Explore Durlston Country Park
Durlston Country Park in Swanage offers 320 acres of countryside and stunning views, a great space for the family to enjoy a day out and have a picnic lunch.
Check out the Durlston Castle with its interactive displays and fossil room. Kids will love the live wildlife cameras and colourful exhibitions.
Entry to the park is free, though there’s a small car park fee. Don’t miss the Seventh Wave café for a tasty treat!
Have an Adventure at Moors Valley Country Park
Head to Moors Valley Country Park for a fun day out with the family. The park is free to visit, but there is a car park fee, but for the amount of fun the family can have, it’s worth it.
You could spend the whole day at Moors Valley with lots of family friendly fun available. Throughout the park, you will find lots of nature-inspired play trails the children can play on, make friends and use up some energy!
There are lots of scenic walks and bike trails to discover around the park; bike hire is also available.
If you want to spend a little bit more, there is a Go Ape treetop experience and a narrow gauge steam railway that everyone will love.
Moors Valley also often have scavenger hunts and trails that children can complete, a cafe, lots of picnic areas and a fantastic park for the children to use.
Visit a National Trust Site
Visiting a National Trust location is a fantastic way to spend time with your family. There is a wide range of places to visit in Dorset.
Each location is full of history and activities for children and families to enjoy.
This is only a cheap activity if you’re a member, a small fee each month (£13.50 for a family) is worth it in the long run on the countless places and activities to see and do.
Being a member means you can get into National Trust locations for free, and parking is free in all the National Trust car parks.
If you’re ever bored and looking for something to do but don’t have the funds to do anything, then a National Trust pass is a godsend.
The children will love looking around the ruins of Corfe Castle or visiting the manor house at Kingston Lacy. It’s an interesting and fun day for everyone.
Splash Around at Hamworthy Park
Hamworthy Park is a brilliant place for a family day out. You’ll find plenty of green space for flying kites, playing frisbee, and running around.
There is also a large play area the children will love!
For hot sunny days and a splash of fun, there’s a lido they won’t want to leave. There’s also a cafe that serves great value food.
Perfect for all ages!
Get Active at Littledown Leisure Centre
If you’re looking for something fun to fill a morning or afternoon, then Littledown Leisure Centre in Bournemouth has it all.
It’s set in 47 acres of parkland, with swimming pools, a soft play area, an 8-court sports hall, spa facilities and a train that takes you around the park.
Not only does the centre have great swimming pools but at the weekend there are ‘Wet and Wacky’ sessions running with inflatables and pool toys galore!
There are also events held at Littledown, such as open-air cinemas, fireworks and fun fairs.
There’s even a Terrace Café for a quick snack. Plus, you can enjoy up to three hours of free customer parking.
For more info, visit Littledown.
Take a Stroll To Hengistbury Head
Hengistbury Head is a fantastic spot for a family day out. This nature reserve offers a lovely blend of history and scenery.
Take a stroll along the green-marked route, which spans 4.4 km. You can explore the Iron Age Double Dykes and visit the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre.
For a relaxing break, head to Hengistbury Head Beach, a great spot to set up for the day with a picnic and endless beach fun for the family.
Mudeford Spit is a stunning place to walk to if sitting on the beach isn’t for you, and there’s a land train that runs every day to take you back to the car park if you don’t fancy walking back.
Don’t miss the Mudeford Ferry, where kids (and even dogs) ride for free!
Visit the Abandoned Tyneham Village
For a delightful day out, head to Tyneham Village, Dorset’s own “lost village.”
This abandoned gem was evacuated in 1943 during WWII. Walk through history as you explore the ruins and learn about the villagers’ lives with lots of information spots to educate you on what happened to the village.
Don’t miss the nearby Worbarrow Bay for stunning views. Entry is free, though donations are welcome!
Go Crabbing
Crabbing is a delightful way to spend time with your family without spending much.
You don’t need fancy equipment.
A simple line with a small net bag, some bacon or fish off-cuts as bait, and you’re set.
One of the top spots is Poole Quay. Park nearby and head to the harbour wall. The kids will love the anticipation of waiting for a catch!
Other great locations for crabbing include Swanage, Mudeford Quay and Weymouth Harbour.
Just remember, no hooks – keep it friendly for the crabs!
Feed the Ducks at Poole Park
Take your family to Poole Park for a fun and affordable day out.
There’s lots to do, from playing football, riding a bike or playing in one of the two huge play parks they have there.
Not forgetting the miniature train that travels around Poole Park. Feeding the many ducks is also on the list of activities to do, and there are pedalos and kayaks you can rent.
💡 Note: Please use bird-friendly feed, as bread is not good for the ducks.
Parking is free, and if you fancy a bite to eat, there are cafes and ice cream huts around, too.
Finding Sea Glass Treasure
Dorset’s beaches are perfect for finding sea glass.
Head to Charmouth Beach, where you might uncover colourful sea glass pieces or pretty pottery pieces.
Keep an eye out for rare sea glass such as blue, red and purple pieces!
It’s like a treasure hunt for the whole family. Hunting for sea glass can be addictive, trying to find new and unique pieces, and hours can be spent looking around.
Look out for fossils and rare shells to add to your collection!
Pick Your Own Fruit
Pick your own fruit in Dorset for a fun, hands-on experience!
It’s great for children and a new and exciting way to get some healthy food into them!
They’ll love picking strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, and not forgetting pumpkins in the spooky season!
Great places to go in Dorset include Cat and Fiddle farm and Blagdon Fruit Farm.
Visit the many Dorset Museums
Dorset boasts some great museum options!
The Dorset Museum lets kids explore 250 million years of history every weekend for free; there is a small charge for adults.
There is also the Dinosaurland Museum Lyme Regis, bursting with all things dinosaurs, the Jurassic coast and lots of fossils.
Other museums to look at are the Tank Museum, Lyme Regis Museum, Bournemouth Aviation Museum and more.
A fantastic educational day for the family.
Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve
Tout Quarry is an abandoned stone quarry which has been turned into a stone sculpture park; there’s an amazing collection of sculptures, each one with its own unique charm.
To see the park it is free and also has free parking.
You can spice this activity up a bit by playing a scavenger hunt of the different sculptures around the park and seeing what wildlife you can spot around the area.
Pet some Animals at Nick’s Farm
Nick’s Farm is a charming spot in Dorset that’s perfect for a family visit. Founded by Lucy and her partner Kieran in 2012, the farm offers an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.
Entry is just £5 per person, and little ones under two get in free!
The farm park is open daily except Thursdays from 10am to 4pm.
Want to feed the animals? You can buy bags of food on-site. You can read more about Nick’s Farm here.
Go to the Beach
If you love seaside fun, Dorset is packed with beaches for you to spend the day, walk along or just go for a paddle.
From quiet, rustic beaches like Knoll Beach to traditional seaside towns such as Swanage.
Enjoy fish and chips or grab an ice cream, sit back and relax.
Parking varies from beach to beach; you can, however, find out more about Swanage Parking here.
Visit a Market Town
Exploring a market town in Dorset is a fantastic family adventure.
Bridport Market is a gem where you can enjoy vibrant market stalls and charming shops. The town has a lovely atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed day out with the family.
There are many pubs and great places to eat in the town, and whilst you’re in the area, check out West Bay, which is a charming fishing village. Broadchurch was also filmed there!
Have a Fun-Filled Day at Lodmoor Country Park
Lodmoor Park in Weymouth is packed full of independent activities for the family to spend the day doing.
From the Sea Life Centre, railway, Sandworld and crazy golf.
Not to worry, though, if you don’t want to spend time or money on these attractions, you can visit the nature reserve, have a picnic and let the children play in the pirate-themed play park.
It is free to access the park; however, the other independent activities charge a fee.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your next family day out!
