Group and Tours
Visiting with special interest clubs, university students, or others?
We welcome groups and offer a discount to self-guided groups of 10 or more if you book ahead.
Why not enhance your visit with a tour or talk by one of our knowledgeable and friendly team, who add extra colour and richness to Dorset’s fascinating stories. We also offer specially tailored tours and workshops, including tours for those with particular access requirements.
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Opening hours:
Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 4.00pm -
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For more information
[email protected]
Self-guided Tours
Pre-booked groups of 10 or more benefit from the discounted entry of £10 per head.
Welcome Talk
This seated talk by a Museum Guide is an ideal way to begin a self-guided group visit. It gives a brief overview of the Museum’s history, including our recent redevelopment, and shares some highlights of our permanent galleries. There’s time for questions too.
Up to 100 people | 45 mins
Book 28 days in advance
Highlights Tours
Join one of our knowledgeable guides for a tour of the Museum’s highlights. Find out about the building’s fascinating history, and its latest transformation. Discover some of Dorset’s most intriguing objects and stories as you walk through our magnificent Atrium and visit the stunning new galleries and spaces. Then get top tips on where to head for the rest of your visit.
This FREE tour is included as a part of your entrance ticket/annual pass or membership.
Collections Discovery Centre Tours
Visitors will have the opportunity to join our Collections Team to explore behind the scenes in our state-of-the-art Collections Discovery Centre.
Tours are included with Museum entry but must be booked. There is a limit of 10 people on each tour.
Accessible Tours
We are happy to accommodate requests for accessible tours including BSL deaf-led tours, touch tours, and audio-descriptive tours where possible. As some of these require the expertise of external guides, please let us know as far in advance as possible.
Roman Town House Tours
The Roman Town House in Dorchester is the only example of a fully exposed Roman Town House in the country.
The grounds are free to visit and tours of the internal structure are offered by us for a small fee.
Upcoming Tours
21 March 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Archaeology Highlights Tour
Explore archaeological treasures held by Dorset Museum – from Bronze Age gold to medieval silver - in this volunteer-led tour.
Find out more28 March 2023, 11:00am - 12:00noon
Dorset Museum Highlights Tour
Explore 250 million years of Dorset’s history in this volunteer-led highlights tour of Dorset Museum. Discover Roman mosaics, fossils from the Jurassic Coast, Thomas Hardy manuscripts and the sculptures of Elisabeth Frink – and plenty more along the way.
Find out moreTASTE Café
If you’d like refreshments on your visit, take a look at our range of menus for groups, all available to pre-order and served in welcoming surroundings.