Brewers Quay
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01305 777 622
www.brewers-quay.co.uk
Open all year
Hope Square, Old Harbour, Weymouth (signposted from the A354)
Imaginatively redeveloped Victorian Brewery at the heart of Weymouth's picturesque Old Harbour now housing the award winning Timewalk Journey attraction and unique indoor Shopping Village. Other attractions include craft centre, Quay Brewery and Discovery Centre.
Dinosaur Museum
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01305 269 880
www.dinosaur-museum.org.uk
Open all year
Icen Way, Dorchester.
Explore the thrilling world of dinosaurs in one of Britain's top ten 'hands on' museums. Fossils, skeletons, and life-size reconstructions combine with hands on, video, and computer displays.
Dorset County Museum
Tel: 01305 262 735
www.dorsetcountymuseum.org
Open Monday to Saturday
High West Street, Dorchester.
This is Dorset's biggest and best general museum, founded in 1846. Sixteen display rooms tell the story of local wildlife, rocks and fossils, archaeology, history and a gallery dedicated to Thomas Hardy. See also the story of Maiden Castle and the walk of Roman mosaics in the atmospheric Victorian Gallery built in 1880.Computer interactive.
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01935 840 565
www.fleetairarm.com
Open daily except 24th, 25th, and 26th December
On the B3151, just off the A303/A37 at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset
The fleet air arm museum is one of the largest aviation museums extending over 6.5 acres. Learn about flight through the ages and let the hands on equipment and interactive pods assist you on your journey.
Harbour Life Exhibition
Tel: 01308 420 997
Open April to October. Accompanied children free.
The Old Salt House, West Bay.
Discover the history of West Bay, the Bridehaven of Harbour Lights. Includes displays, films, free activity sheets and much more.
Haynes Motor Museum
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01963 440 804
www.haynesmotormuseum.co.uk
Open daily
Sparkford, Nr Yeovil, Somerset
Travel through motoring history at Britain's most spectacular international collection of historic cars.
New Barn Field Centre
www.newbarn.co.uk
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01305 267 463
Off the A37 at Bradford Peverell, North of Dorchester.
A fascinating and educational day out. Iron age homestead authentically recreating life 2,000 years ago. Working pottery with an opportunity to "throw" a pot. Wild flower reserve. Nature trail and farm animals.
Only open August to general public except pottery which is open all year round.
Nothe Fort
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01305 766626
Open daily from end of April to middle of September
Barrack Road, Weymouth.
Museum of coastal defence. Explore the 70 rooms and enjoy superb views over Portland and the Ridgeway from the ramparts.
Royal Signals Museum, Blandford Camp
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01258 482248
www.army.mod.uk/royalsignalsmuseum
Open all year except for 2 weeks at Christmas and New Year. Mon - Fri 10am - 5pm. Sat, Sun & BH 10am - 4pm.
East of Blandford Forum off the A350.
The history of Military communications, science and technology, from the Crimea to the Gulf. Special interactive displays designed particularly for younger visitors. Please take a driving licence or something similar which contains your name, address and signature for identification purposes.
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum
russell-cotes.bournemouth.gov.uk
Tel: 01202 451 800
East Cliff, Bournemouth.
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum houses, in a colourful, eccentric and unique Victorian Villa and Galleries, important collections of paintings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics, world-wide collections and contemporary craft commissions.
Sturminster Newton Museum & Mill
www.sturminsternewton-museum.co.uk
Tel: 01747 854355
Open Easter to the end of September on Saturdays, Sundays, and Thursdays from 11am until 5pm.
250yds upstream from the town bridge on the A357.
This is one of the few remaining watermills in Dorset and was repaired and restored to working order in 1981 by the Mill Trust. Situated on the banks of the River Stour in idyllic Hardy country.
Sturminster's small museum is now housed in Market Cross House in the centre of Sturminster and will re-open in summer 2008.
Tank Museum, Bovington
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01929 405 096
www.tankmuseum.co.uk
Open all year
Near Wool.
The world's finest international indoor collection of armoured fighting vehicles.
Teddy Bear House
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01305 263 200
www.teddybearhouse.co.uk
Open all year
Antelope Walk, Dorchester.
Visit Edward Bear and his large family in their "Edwardian Home".
The Terracotta Warriors Museum
www.terracottawarriors.co.uk/
Dorchester - 01305 269741
Open all year daily, including Sundays, from 10.00am to 5.00pm (10.00am to 4.30pm November to March). Closed 24-26 December inclusive.
This is the only museum outside China exclusively dedicated to the Terracotta Warriors. The terracotta warriors created worldwide fascination when discovered in 1974 at Xian, China. Now regarded as the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World, the terracotta warriors guarded the tomb of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, who lived over 2200 years ago.
The museum displays unique replicas of the terracotta warriors re-created by museum technicians at the site in Xian. There are various types including crossbowmen, a charioteer, an officer and a general. The whole group of warriors is extremely impressive. Audio programmes inform visitors as to their type and origins.
All year daily, including Sundays, from 10.00am to 5.00pm (10.00am to 4.30pm November to March). Closed 24-26 December inclusive. The Keep Military Museum
www.keepmilitarymuseum.org
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01305 264 066
Open Monday to Saturday
Dorchester.
A modern military museum with IT & audio technology and creative displays of the infantry, cavalry and artillerymen of the West Country. Childrens activities and spectacular views from the battlements.
The Old Crown Court & Cells
Tel: 01305 252241
Open from end July to middle of September. Monday to Friday 2-4pm. Wednesdays from 10am-noon. Private group bookings available all year round.
High West Street, Dorchester.
Fascinating experience, encompassing four centuries of crime and punishment. This is a place most famous for the trial of the six Tolpuddle Martyrs in 1834 who were sentenced and eventually transported to Australia - the court remains almost as it was at that time. Sit in the dimly-lit cells where prisoners once waited for their appearance before the judge.
The Roman Town House
Tel: 01305 262735
Open all year admission free.
Colliton Park, Dorchester
Of the many Roman buildings discovered in Dorchester (DVRNOVARIA) this is the best preserved and was excavated in 1936/9, prior to the building of County Hall. Recently the site was re-excavated revealing a range of mosiac floors and these are now protected by buildings with a reconstructed Roman roof. Many excavation finds are on display in the County Museum.
Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum
Tel: 01305 848 237
www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk
Admission free - open Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays
TUC Memorial Cottages, Tolpuddle, Dorchester
Featuring a new multi-media interpretation, the Museum tells the story of the six agricultural workers who were transported to Australia in 1834, after forming a trade union.
Tutankhamun Exhibition
Tel: 01305 269 571
www.tutankhamun-exhibition.co.uk
Open all year
High West Street, Dorchester.
Experience the excitement of the world's greatest discovery of ancient treasure through sight, sound and smell . Tutankhamun's tomb, treasures, and mummified body are superbly recreated in this spectacular exhibition.
Waterfront Museum
Suitable for Children
Tel: 01202 683 138
Open all year
Poole Quay, Poole.
Set in historic buildings overlooking Poole Quay the museum tells of the town's past. Visitors can learn of the Roman occupation, of smugglers the Studland Bay Wreck, an Iron Age log boat and much more.
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