The only museum on mainland Britain dedicated to dinosaurs; the original Dinosaur Museum is a treat, especially for children. The museum combines life-sized reconstructions of dinosaurs with skeletons and fossils to create a hands-on and interactive experience. AV displays tell the story of the dinosaurs and their fascinating prehistoric world millions of years ago. The life-size dinosaur reconstructions, which include Tyrannosaurus rex, Deinonychus and Triceratops, are among the most popular displays. They beg to be touched by little hands - and that's encouraged.
The Dinosaur Museum is situated in the centre of Dorchester, just 8 miles from Dorset’s world famous Jurassic Coast. The hands on displays make discovering about dinosaurs is fun. They include the ‘feely box’ where you decide what a dinosaur might have felt like, the ‘feel a fossil’ where you touch fossils that are millions of years; and ‘dinosaurs and you’ where you compare yourself to a dinosaur using a computer program. The 'Dinosaur Discovery' Gallery upstairs is filled with even more interactive displays.
The museum is ideal for families and children and there is a special discounted Family Ticket. Through all school holidays the Dinosaur Museum runs special Great Dinosaur Hunt Trails around the museum with the chance to win a special Dinosaur Hunters Medal.
Local
Eat and Drink
- Sculpture by the Lakes - Dorchester (5.8 miles) - Nestled in 26 acres of Dorset’s glorious countryside lies Sculpture by the Lakes, an oasis for art...
- Mallams Restaurant - Weymouth (7.5 miles) - Established in 1990 we have been providing this fantastic food served in our beautiful grade 2 liste...
- The Boot - Weymouth (7.6 miles) - The Boot is Weymouth's Oldest and most traditional pub. We serve 10 award-winning cask ales, a g...
- Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre - Near Wareham (9.6 miles) - With over 250 primates of 20 different species, Monkey World is the largest sanctuary of its kind in...
- The Greyhound - Winterborne Kingston - Blandford Forum (11.3 miles) - Situated in the picturesque village of Winterborne Kingston & surrounded by the beautiful Dorset cou...
See and Do
- Dinosaur Museum Dorchester (0.0 miles) - The only museum on mainland Britain dedicated to dinosaurs; the original Dinosaur Museum is a treat,...
- Teddy Bear Museum Dorchester (0.1 miles) - This unique family museum has evocative and atmospheric displays of teddy bears from throughout the ...
- Terracotta Warriors Dorchester (0.1 miles) - The terracotta warriors were discovered in 1974 and have become known as the eighth wonder of the an...
- Dorset County Museum Dorchester (0.2 miles) - Discover 200 million years of Dorset’s past in this award-winning museum. Housing a wide variety o...
- Dorset County Museum Dorchester (0.2 miles) - A wealth of information about Dorset's history and culture awaits visitors to the Dorset County ...
Shopping
- Fossil Beach - weymouth (7.2 miles) - Situated at the beach end of St. Mary' Street Weymouth, Fossil beach is a unique gift shop based...
- Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre - Near Wareham (9.6 miles) - With over 250 primates of 20 different species, Monkey World is the largest sanctuary of its kind in...
- Dorset Holiday Barns - Over Compton (Sherborne) (17.6 miles) - Meadow View Barn and The Shippens offer an escape to the Dorset countryside with modern 2 and 3 bed ...
- Todber Manor Fisheries - Sturminster Newton (19.6 miles) - Todber Manor Fisheries is set in the heart of the Dorset countryside and is the home of some of t...