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Family Holidays in Dorset

Photo: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Family Holidays in Dorset

Dorset is a natural fit for family holidays. Kids' clubs, beaches and entertainment for all ages. Compare the best-matched places to stay below.

Must-have facilities
Acton Field Campsite

Acton Field Campsite

✓ Breathtaking coastal views over Swanage Bay and the Purbeck Hills

🏖️ 2.53 miles from Swanage Central (Excellent water quality)

Langton Matravers

Check availability
Royal Bath Hotel

Royal Bath Hotel

✓ Prime seafront location overlooking Bournemouth Beach

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Bournemouth Pier (Excellent water quality)

Bournemouth

Check availability
Primrose Cottage

Primrose Cottage

✓ Most spacious cottage, ideal for wheelchair users

🏖️ 1.39 miles from Bournemouth Southbourne (Excellent water quality)

Christchurch, South West England

Sleeps 6

£447 per break

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What's on offer for families in Dorset

BritStays lists 64 family stays in Dorset, and most of them are outdoor options. Camping makes up 25, with 14 holiday parks and 14 caravanning sites. If you'd rather have four solid walls, the choice is much smaller: 9 hotels and just 2 cottages. That matters when you plan. A self-catering place for a larger family group is the scarcest thing here, so sort that out before anything else.

The facilities show who these places are built for. Of the 64 stays, 33 have a playground and 30 have a swimming pool, so a rainy-day backup on site is a realistic expectation. 37 are pet friendly, 32 list parking, 31 offer WiFi and 34 have EV charging nearby. 29 have a bar and 28 a restaurant, which helps on evenings when nobody fancies cooking.

Coast or countryside?

The listings cluster around the seaside towns:

  • Bournemouth has the most, with 10 stays, including Hoburne Park.
  • Lyme Regis has 8, ranging from the Dower House Hotel to self-catering.
  • Weymouth has 7, plus another 3 listed under Weymouth, South West England.
  • Poole has 5 and Swanage has 4.

If you want quieter countryside, look past the towns. Church Farm Campsite at Sixpenny Handley has a playground, baby changing and a gift shop, which makes it a practical pick with toddlers. Whitemead Caravan Park offers a pool, hot tub and gym. Several stays sit on Dorset's western edge, including Hawkchurch Country Park and Andrewshayes Orchard Retreat at Axminster. Lytton Lawn Touring Park at Lymington also appears in this set. Check each location against where you'd actually like to spend your days.

What the example stays tell you

The examples fall into a few clear groups:

  • Big groups: Coombehayes Barn near Lyme Regis sleeps 12 and has a swimming pool. Weymouth Bay Holiday Park at Preston sleeps 8, is near a bus stop and has EV charging nearby. Andrewshayes Orchard Retreat sleeps 6.
  • Parks with the works: Sandford Holiday Park in Poole adds evening entertainment to its pool and hot tub. Herston Caravan and Camp Site in Swanage and Hoburne Park both pair a pool with a hot tub and gym. Eype Beach Holiday Park at Bridport has a spa as well as a pool and bar.
  • Simpler set-ups: East Creech Farm Campsite has a cafe, takeaway food and a playground. Pebble Bank in Weymouth combines a bar and restaurant with a playground.
  • A hotel option: the Dower House Hotel in Lyme Regis has a swimming pool, bar and restaurant. It's worth a look if you're travelling as a couple or want someone else handling meals.

If you're bringing the dog, you have plenty of choice, since 37 of the 64 are pet friendly. Policies vary, though, so check the individual listing before you book.

What to do once you're there

The coast is the big draw. Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are the best-known coastal landmarks, and Corfe Castle (National Trust) makes a good family day out. Near Swanage you'll find the Corfe Castle Town Trust Museum and the Museum of Jurassic Marine Life.

With younger children, try Fancy's Family Farm in Weymouth or Bournemouth Aviary. The New Forest Water Park, listed under Bournemouth, suits older children who want something more active. On a grey day, the Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre is an indoor option.

For history, there's Forde Abbey, plus stately homes including Trafalgar House, Shute Barton, Fiddleford Manor and Ashcombe House. Check access and opening arrangements before you set off.

When to book, and what to check

Dorset's family stays are mostly pitches, caravans and holiday parks. The ones with pools and entertainment fill fastest during school holidays and half terms.

  • Book large stays first. With only 2 cottages in the set, places sleeping 8 or more go early.
  • Weigh the facilities. Decide whether a pool or playground on site is essential. It changes your options, and your rainy-day plans, a lot.
  • Confirm the details. Check pet rules, parking and EV charging on the listing itself rather than assuming.
  • Pack for the weather if camping. Outside the summer peak you'll often find more choice, but bring proper wet-weather kit.
  • Check where the stay really is. Make sure it's close to the beaches or attractions you most want to visit.

Frequently asked questions

How many family stays are there in Dorset on BritStays?

There are 64 family stays published in Dorset. Most are camping (25), holiday parks (14) or caravanning (14), alongside 9 hotels and 2 cottages.

Which Dorset towns have the most family stays?

Bournemouth has the most with 10. Lyme Regis has 8, Weymouth 7 (plus 3 listed under Weymouth, South West England), Poole 5 and Swanage 4.

Are many Dorset family stays dog friendly?

Yes. 37 of the 64 family stays are listed as pet friendly. Policies differ, so check each listing before booking.

Can I find a family stay in Dorset with a swimming pool?

30 of the 64 have a swimming pool. Examples include Sandford Holiday Park in Poole, Herston Caravan and Camp Site in Swanage, Hoburne Park in Bournemouth and the Dower House Hotel in Lyme Regis.

Is there anywhere suitable for a large family group?

Coombehayes Barn near Lyme Regis sleeps 12 and has a swimming pool. Weymouth Bay Holiday Park at Preston sleeps 8. With only 2 cottages in the set, book larger stays early.

What family attractions are there in Dorset?

Options include Fancy's Family Farm in Weymouth, Bournemouth Aviary, the New Forest Water Park, the Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Swanage, and landmarks such as Corfe Castle, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.

Dorset on the map

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🎭 Venues with something on in Dorset

What's on at each, with tickets and places to stay within walking distance.

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