Serviced Apartments in Dorset

Discover the best activities and attractions Dorset has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Jurassic Coast (including Charmouth and Lyme Regis fossil sites)
The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage coastline stretching 95 miles, famed for its dramatic cliffs, rock formations (such as Durdle Door) and exceptionally rich fossil beds around Charmouth and Lyme Regis. Its impact on the local community and economy is substantial: it drives year‑round tourism, supports local businesses (cafés, B&Bs, outdoor guides), funds conservation and coastal management projects, and provides educational opportunities through guided fossil walks and museum partnerships. Visitors come for the scenery, fossil hunting, coastal walks and geology — features that make it globally unique and a major draw for families, schools and science tourism.

Corfe Castle and Village
The medieval ruins of Corfe Castle, set in a picturesque Dorset village and cared for by the National Trust, are an iconic historic attraction offering dramatic views and layered English history from Norman times to the Civil War. The site supports the local economy by attracting visitors who use village shops, pubs and accommodation, and National Trust stewardship channels revenue into maintenance, local employment and volunteer engagement. Corfe’s combination of accessible ruins, storytelling events, and the surrounding Purbeck countryside makes it popular for heritage tourism, weddings, and community festivals.

The Tank Museum (Bovington)
The Tank Museum houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of armoured fighting vehicles, from WWI models to modern tanks, with immersive exhibits and live‑display events. It contributes significantly to the local economy by drawing international visitors, creating skilled museum and event jobs, partnering with schools for educational outreach, and supporting restaurants and hotels in the area. Its mix of unique artifacts, restoration workshops and annual live demonstrations makes it a specialist attraction that appeals to military history enthusiasts and families alike.

Bridport Pannier Market and Local Food/Arts Scene
Bridport’s historic Pannier Market, together with the town’s independent shops, galleries and vibrant food scene, showcases Dorset producers — from fisheries and cheesemakers to craft potters and textile artists. The market and associated events provide vital retail and promotional space for micro‑businesses, help keep town centres economically viable, and attract food and craft tourism that sustains hospitality jobs. Its appeal lies in the authentic local character, regular themed markets, and easy access to nearby beaches and cultural trails, making it a hub for both shopping and tasting Dorset’s culinary heritage.

Great Dorset Steam Fair
The Great Dorset Steam Fair is one of Europe’s largest vintage vehicle and steam‑engine festivals, held annually and featuring parades, working engines, demonstrations and family entertainment. The event produces a major seasonal boost to the regional economy — filling campsites, hotels and local businesses — while also preserving rural and industrial heritage through volunteer-run displays, restoration projects and apprenticeship opportunities. Its scale, living history atmosphere and hands‑on demonstrations make it a singular cultural event that draws collectors, historians and families from across the UK and beyond.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Dorset, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Local bus network - Extensive daytime and evening services linking towns and villages across Dorset (Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Dorchester, Blandford, Wimborne, Bridport, etc.); services operated by several companies with frequent coastal and urban routes and less frequent rural services.
- Interurban and regional coaches - National Express and other coach operators provide longer-distance links (e.g., to London, Bristol, the Midlands) and airport connections from key towns.
- Rail services - Regular rail links on the South Western Main Line (Bournemouth/Poole/Weymouth to London Waterloo), the Heart of Wessex Line (Weymouth–Bristol), and other regional routes, served mainly by South Western Railway and Great Western Railway; stations at Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Dorchester (West & South/East), Wareham, Sherborne, Gillingham (Dorset) and others.
- Park & Ride and town shuttles - Park-and-ride sites and frequent shuttle services in and around Bournemouth/Poole (reducing town-centre car traffic) plus seasonal town shuttles in seaside resorts.
- Ferry and harbour services - Passenger and tourist boat services in Poole and Weymouth and the vehicle Sandbanks–Studland chain ferry across Poole Harbour; seasonal leisure crossings to islands and coastal attractions.
- Community transport and demand-responsive services - Volunteer car schemes, dial‑a‑ride, community minibuses and local on‑demand services (run by councils and charities) serving rural and low‑demand areas.
- Taxis, private hire and ride‑hail - Wide availability of licensed taxis and private-hire vehicles in urban areas, plus app-based ride-hailing in larger towns.
- Freight and logistics links - Road and rail freight connections serving industrial zones and ports (Poole Harbour and local freight terminals) supporting commercial transport across the region.

Major Highways
- A35 - Principal east–west trunk road along the south coast linking Honiton/Devon, Bridport, Dorchester and into the New Forest/Hampshire.
- A31 - Coastal corridor linking Wimborne/Bournemouth/Poole area westwards toward Ringwood and the M27/M3 network.
- A338 - Key north–south route from Bournemouth/Poole through Blandford Forum to Salisbury/M27 connections.
- A350 - Northbound trunk link from Poole/Bournemouth area toward Blandford, connecting with routes to the M4/M5 corridors further north.
- A354 - Connects Weymouth and Dorchester with the A303/A36 corridor toward Salisbury and the south-west.
- A37 - Connects Dorchester area northwards toward Yeovil and links into the A303/A303 corridor.
- M27 / M3 access - Motorway access via the M27 and M3 (into Hampshire and London routes) reachable from eastern Dorset via the A31/A338 corridors.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycling routes and lanes - Dorset hosts a mix of facilities: National Cycle Network routes (including NCN Route 2 along the coast), dedicated traffic‑free trails converted from former railbeds (eg. Castleman Trailway and other local greenways), segregated promenade and urban cycle lanes in Bournemouth and Poole, signed rural cycle routes through Purbeck and West Dorset, public bike‑hire schemes in larger towns, and ongoing local active‑travel schemes to improve links and commuting by bike.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Bus fleet upgrades and low‑emission vehicles - Operators and councils have been introducing low‑emission/electric buses and replacing older vehicles to cut emissions and improve reliability on core routes.
- Active travel and cycle improvements - Investment via national Active Travel funds, local transport plans and Levelling‑Up/UKSPF funding to extend segregated cycle lanes, improve junction safety for cyclists/pedestrians and upgrade town centre walking routes.
- Rail station accessibility and passenger facilities - Programmes of station enhancements (step‑free access, better shelters, real‑time information and improved car‑park/PR sites) funded by national Access for All and operator/local schemes.
- Road safety, junction and capacity works - Targeted junction improvements, safety schemes and resurfacing on busy corridors (A35, A31, A350 and other accident‑reduction projects) to tackle congestion and collision hotspots.
- Poole harbour and crossing projects - Ongoing maintenance and upgrades to harbour crossing infrastructure (Twin Sails/Poole Bridge maintenance and Sandbanks–Studland ferry operational improvements) to secure resilience of key links.
- Improved coach and airport connectivity - Enhanced coach services and better public‑transport links to Bournemouth Airport and regional airports, alongside improved interchange facilities at major towns.
- Digital and passenger information upgrades - Rollout of improved real‑time passenger information, mobile ticketing and journey‑planning tools to make multi‑modal travel across Dorset easier.