Plan Your Visit
Visitors are central to all that we do at Dorset Museum.
We pride ourselves on the quality of our customer service and our commitment to offering access to all.
Given the richness of our collection, the size of the Museum, and the quality of the visitor experience we offer, our admission prices represent great value for money.
Pay once and visit for a whole year FREE of charge.
Dorset Museum offers an Unlimited Ticket valid for a whole year from the date of purchase. The Ticket is great value, allowing for repeat visits throughout the year to view our permanent galleries and special exhibitions, as well as free entry to a selection of daytime events including talks, tours and family activities.
🎫 Dorset Museum Unlimited Ticket
Book online in advance and save 10%. Just use code DM01 when checking out.
| Type | Online | On the door |
|---|---|---|
| Adult 26+ | £12.60 | £14 |
| Young Person 16-25 | £9.90 | £11 |
| Child 0-15 | FREE | FREE |
| DNHAS Members | FREE | FREE |
| Carer Ticket | FREE | FREE |
You can help support the Museum even more – at no extra cost!
Dorset Museum is a charity and receives no public funding. We rely on the generosity of our Members and visitors to maintain our collections and continue our programme of exhibitions.
If you are a UK taxpayer we can claim Gift Aid on your admission, worth more than £3.50 extra from the Government on top of every adult ticket sold, at no additional cost to you.
This means as well as having a great day out you will also be supporting the important work of the Museum.
How Gift Aid Works
The government’s Gift Aid scheme allows us to reclaim 25p for every £1 of your Unlimited Ticket. All we need is your consent – no extra payments! We will ask you to make a simple declaration at the time of purchase.
For more information-
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Opening hours:
Dorset Museum & Art Gallery
Daily: 10.00am - 5.00pm
TASTE Café
Daily: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
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Museum Map
You can also purchase a copy of our map which features in our Guidebook.
Download MapVisual Story
Download our visual story with pictures of the Museum and information about what to expect.
Download StoryAccessibility
Everyone is welcome at Dorset Museum. Our teams are here to offer support and resources and help you make the most of your visit.
Find out more
Discounts and Offers
KIDS GO FREE!
We are delighted to announce that children under 16 can enjoy free admission to the Museum when accompanied by a paying adult aged 18 or over.
10% Discount if you book online
Visitors do not have to book in advance, but buying online is cheaper than purchasing on arrival. A 10% discount is offered for Annual Pass or Day Entry booked online using discount code DM01
Parking Voucher Scheme
Any visitor parking in any of the Dorset Council Pay and Display car parks in Dorchester, will find the pay and display machine gives them a two-part ticket. Part one stays in the car, part two has the Dorchester BID either ‘Max £1 refund voucher’ or ‘Dorchester BID voucher’ printed on the lower part of the ticket.
This voucher can be redeemed against an Adult or Family full price entry ticket to the value of £1. This cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Get Around for £2 by bus
The UK Government has announced an extension of the £2 Fare Cap scheme from 01 April 2023 to 31 December 2024 which will see single tickets on most bus routes across England continue to cost no more than £2. This scheme is aimed at allowing millions of people to access affordable bus travel as part of the Government’s wider measures to support households with cost-of-living pressures.
So visitors will not pay more than £4 for a return if they are to travel to the museum.
Athelhampton / Dorset Museum & Art Gallery Discount
Athelhampton visitors with a ticket purchased on or after 1 April 2024 can get 25% off a Dorset Museum & Art Gallery entry ticket when they present their Athelhampton ticket to the Front Desk. Dorset Museum & Art Gallery ticket holders can also redeem this offer at Athelhampton with valid proof of purchase of a Museum ticket (bought on or after 1 April 2024) or membership (membership must be valid for intended date of visit).
Getting here
By Car
The Museum has a set-down point, but no car park. The nearest car park of substantial size is the Top o’ Town, just beyond the roundabout at the top of High West Street. It has six accessible spaces in total. The museum is a five-minute walk (500 metres) along High West Street on an even tarmac surface. The route is slightly downhill and is a short, smooth walk to the Museum. There is one road to cross on the way, using a Zebra Crossing.
Find car parksBy Train
Dorchester has two railway stations, both of which are less than 12 minutes’ walk from Dorset Museum.There is no step-free platform access at either Dorchester station. Find more information on using these stations, including accessibility, on their websites.
Dorchester SouthDorchester West
By Bus
These buses stop outside the Museum entrance. Services can change, so please check with the bus companies before travelling. All First Wessex Dorset buses have disabled access with a ramp or hydraulic system to lower the bus to the kerb level
Find BusesDiscover
Galleries
Let us take you on a journey spanning 250 million years, and explore Dorset’s natural world, archaeology, history, art and culture along the way.
Library
Spend some quiet time in our stunning, light-filled Library with its magnificent Victorian oriel window, coats of arms, carved arches and fireplace.
Victorian Hall
Dating from 1883, the arches of fine cast ironwork are offset by the simple elegance of a single rose window pouring soft light down onto the exhibits below
What's On
3 February - 30 May 2024
John Brown in Dorchester: Rebuilding a Life after slavery
Discover the little-known story of John Brown, in this new showcase display outside the Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more2 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.
Find out more11 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tour
Join our trained guides through the history of the Roman Town House site and and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Find out more16 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.
Find out more16 May 2024, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Paul Nash in Dorset | Professor Paul Gough
This richly illustrated lecture explores over 80 Paul Nash artworks created from the mid-1930s until his death in 1946. They range from ancient places such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings to the limestone promontories and fossilised forests on the Purbeck coast.
Find out more22 May 2024, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Collections Discovery Centre Tour
Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more22 May 2024, 7:30pm
25 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tour
Join our trained guides through the history of the Roman Town House site and and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Find out more30 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
May Customs and Ooser Mask Making
Our themed event will delve into the customs and traditions surrounding the merry month of May, learn about the famous horned Ooser mask displayed in the museum, and have a go at making one.
Find out moreTASTE Café
Food and Drink
Our new café is welcoming and inviting with freshly prepared food from Taste*.