Theme Parks and Family Attractions in Dorset: A Camping Day-Out Guide
· Updated
Dorset does not have a big-name rollercoaster park, and that is fine, because the county's best family days out are its rescue centres, farm parks and country parks. For a camping trip you can pitch up once and reach Monkey World, the Tank Museum, Farmer Palmer's, Adventure Wonderland, Weymouth SEA LIFE, Moors Valley and Durlston all within a short drive. Each covers a different age and a different sort of weather, which is exactly what you want across a week under canvas.
This guide sits alongside our main guide to child-friendly campsites in the UK, and it comes from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the country. Pair the pitch with the right attractions and a rainy afternoon stops being a problem.
The best family attractions in Dorset at a glance
Seven attractions cover most family needs, from toddlers to teenagers and from wall-to-wall sun to steady drizzle. Here is who each one suits and why it earns a place on the itinerary.
| Attraction | Near | Best for | Good in rain? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey World | Wareham | All ages, animal lovers | Partly, mostly outdoors |
| The Tank Museum | Bovington | Ages 5 and up, curious kids | Yes, largely indoors |
| Farmer Palmer's Farm Park | Poole | Under-8s and toddlers | Yes, indoor barns and play |
| Adventure Wonderland | Hurn | Under-10s | Yes, indoor play centre |
| Weymouth SEA LIFE | Weymouth | Ages 2 to 12 | Yes, mostly indoors |
| Moors Valley Country Park | Ringwood edge | All ages, active families | Partly, forest and trails |
| Durlston Country Park | Swanage | All ages, wildlife and walks | No, best in fair weather |
Monkey World, near Wareham
Monkey World is a working ape rescue centre, not a zoo, and that is what makes it special. It is home to chimpanzees, orang-utans, gibbons and various monkeys rescued from the illegal trade and the pet and laboratory industries, spread across a large woodland park just off the A352 near Wareham. Keepers give talks through the day, and the animals have proper space to behave like animals, which children pick up on quickly.
Plan for most of a day. There is a big Great Ape Play Area for when the kids need to burn energy, cafes on site, and plenty of shaded and covered spots. Most of the viewing is outdoors, so pack for the weather. It works for all ages, and it slots neatly into a trip built around making a camping trip educational for kids. See current opening times and tickets on the official Monkey World site.
The Tank Museum, Bovington
The Tank Museum at Bovington holds the best collection of armoured vehicles in the world, and it is one of Dorset's strongest wet-weather options. Nearly all of it is under cover across a run of large halls, with hundreds of vehicles from the First World War to the present day, hands-on exhibits and a Tank Story that walks children through the machines up close. In the school summer holidays there are usually live tank displays in the arena.
It suits ages five and up, and older children and teenagers tend to stay engaged for hours. A ticket normally lasts the full year, so it is good value if you camp in the area more than once. The cafe and playground handle the breaks. Confirm display dates and prices on the Tank Museum website before you go.
Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, near Poole
Farmer Palmer's is built for under-eights, and it does that one job very well. Set on a working farm off the A35 between Poole and Dorchester, it runs a timetabled day of animal handling, bottle-feeding, pig races and tractor rides, with big indoor and outdoor play areas so the fun carries on whatever the sky is doing. Toddlers are properly catered for rather than tagging along.
Half a day is plenty for the youngest, though many families stay longer. Because so much is indoors, it is a reliable back-up when the forecast turns, in the same spirit as our campsite games for rainy days. Check the daily activity timetable and tickets on the Farmer Palmer's website.
Adventure Wonderland, Hurn
Adventure Wonderland is a small theme park aimed squarely at under-tens, sitting opposite Bournemouth Airport at Hurn. It has gentle rides, a maze, outdoor play and a large indoor play centre called Wonderland Indoors, which is the reason it earns its keep on a camping trip: when it rains, you still have somewhere warm and active to send the children. The scale is manageable for little legs, so a half or full day works without the meltdowns a bigger park can bring.
It is best for toddlers up to around age ten; older children will find it tame. Booking online ahead of time is usually cheaper than paying at the gate. See ride details and current prices on the Adventure Wonderland site.
Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park
Weymouth SEA LIFE is the county's main aquarium and a dependable rainy-day pick on the seafront at Lodmoor. Displays run from a shark tank and an ocean tunnel to rays, seahorses and a jungle-themed area, with daily feeds and talks that give the day some structure. There is a small outdoor splash and play zone for warm days too. Note that the old Jurassic Skyline observation tower next door closed permanently in 2022, so do not plan around it.
It suits roughly ages two to twelve, and a visit runs about half a day. Booking online in advance is noticeably cheaper than buying on arrival, which matters for a family. Check opening times and tickets on the official SEA LIFE Weymouth site.
Moors Valley Country Park
Moors Valley is the pick for active families who would rather be outside than queuing for rides. Run by Forestry England on the Dorset and Hampshire border near Ringwood, it packs a Play Trail, a Go Ape high-ropes course, a narrow-gauge steam railway, a tree-top trail and miles of walking and cycling routes into one large forest park. You pay for parking and then for individual activities, so a scaled-back day can be genuinely cheap.
It works for every age and is ideal if you want to combine a day out with our family-friendly cycling routes near campsites, as you can hire bikes on site. Most of it is outdoors, so it is at its best in dry weather. See activity prices and cycle hire on the Forestry England Moors Valley page.
Durlston Country Park, Swanage
Durlston is the free one, and it is a brilliant fair-weather day for families who like wildlife and clifftop walks. This National Nature Reserve above Swanage has a Victorian castle visitor centre, the famous stone Great Globe, meadow and woodland trails, and some of the best coastal wildlife watching in Dorset, with dolphins, seabirds and butterflies depending on the season. There is no admission charge, though you pay to park.
It suits all ages, but it involves proper walking on cliff paths, so it is one for a settled day rather than a downpour. Bring binoculars and a picnic. Check the ranger events and centre opening on the Durlston Country Park site.
Where to camp for easy access
Base yourself in the Wareham, Poole or Purbeck area and every attraction above is within about a 45-minute drive. That central belt gives you Monkey World and the Tank Museum to the west, Farmer Palmer's and Poole in the middle, Durlston down at Swanage, and Moors Valley and Adventure Wonderland out to the east near the Hampshire border. Browse and compare pitches on our Dorset campsite listings, or widen the search across the whole of our campsite directory.
A little planning saves a lot of grief. Alternating a big active day with a slower one, and keeping a wet-weather option in reserve, avoids most of the common blunders that spoil family camping trips.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any big theme parks in Dorset?
No. Dorset has no large rollercoaster park. The nearest big theme park is Paultons Park, home of Peppa Pig World, over the border in Hampshire. Within Dorset the family days out are rescue centres, farm parks, aquariums and country parks instead.
What is the best Dorset attraction for toddlers?
Farmer Palmer's Farm Park near Poole is designed for under-eights and caters well for toddlers, with animal handling, tractor rides and indoor play. Adventure Wonderland at Hurn is a good second choice for the same age group, with its indoor play centre for wet days.
Which Dorset attractions are good in the rain?
The Tank Museum, Weymouth SEA LIFE, Farmer Palmer's and Adventure Wonderland are all largely or partly indoors, so they hold up when the weather does not. Monkey World, Moors Valley and Durlston are better saved for a dry day.
Is Longleat in Dorset?
No. Longleat Safari Park is in Wiltshire, not Dorset, though it is within reach of north Dorset campsites. For a wildlife day inside the county, Monkey World near Wareham is the closer option.
How much do Dorset family attractions cost?
Prices vary by attraction and change each season, so check the official website before you travel. Durlston Country Park is free to enter with paid parking, Moors Valley charges per activity, and booking online in advance is usually cheaper than paying at the gate elsewhere.
The short version
Dorset rewards a camping trip with variety rather than a single big park: Monkey World and the Tank Museum for older children, Farmer Palmer's and Adventure Wonderland for the little ones, SEA LIFE and the Tank Museum for the rain, and Moors Valley and Durlston for fresh air. Base yourself around Wareham or Poole and you can reach the lot. Start with our guide to child-friendly campsites in the UK, then find your pitch in the Dorset campsite listings.
