Museums and Galleries

Museums and galleries to visit in Dorset

  • Roman Town House

    Roman Town House - Dorchester

    4th century Roman villa discovered during excavations in the 1930s.

  • Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum

    Russell Cotes Gallery & Museum
    Russell-Cotes Gallery

    Housed in a fine Victorian villa overlooking the beach the gallery and museum are home to an important fine art collection and extensive Victoriana from around the Globe

  • Portland Museum

    Portland Museum - Dorset

    Small museum housed in 2 historic cottages. Founded by Marie Stopes in 1930 the museum features exhibits on Portland Stone, the Jurassic Coast, shipwrecks and famous people linked with Portland

  • Museum of East Dorset

    The Priest's House Museum & Garden

    Formerly known as The Priest's House Museum, the Museum of East Dorset is located in the heart of Wimborne Minster, on the high street opposite the Minster Church. This historic building is Grade II listed and dates back to the 16th century; it has been restored to retain many of the original features including the 17th century main hall and 18th century parlour and Victorian kitchen. The museum is run by an independent charitable trust and supported by East Dorset District Council.

  • Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum

    Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum

    This museum tells the harrowing tale of the Martyrs arrest, trial and punishment, set out in four sections.

  • Royal Signals Museum

    Royal Signals Museum

    The national museum of Army communications, telling the story of military communications from the Napoleonic Wars onwards.

  • Museum of Design in Plastics

    MODIP - Pocket Simon hand held game

    University museum celebrating plastics in design. Collection contains over 8,000 international, historical and contemporary design examples

  • Bridport Museum

    bridport museum

    The town museum tells the story of Bridport from its origins to the present day. Exhibits include those from the nearby Roman hillfort and from the rope and net making industries

  • Sherborne Museum

    sherborne abbey walk

    Situated in the historic heart of Sherborne, the town museum features over 15,000 items of local history

  • Lyme Regis Philpot Museum

    Lyme Regis Museum

    The local history of Lyme Regis represented by maritime and domestic objects, and illustrated by painting, prints and photographs.

  • The Dinosaur Museum

    dorchester dinosaur

    Britain's only museum solely devoted to dinosaurs. Fossils, skeletons and life sized reconstructions, combined with audiovisual and hands-on displays.

  • The Tutankhamun Exhibition

    Tutankhamun Exhibition - Dorchester

    An internationally acclaimed re-creation of Tutankhamun's tomb and treasures. Full school service and specialist Egyptian shop.

  • Bournemouth Aviation Museum

    Bournemouth Aviation Museum - BAC Lightning

    The only UK charitable museum dedicated to preserving operational examples of historic aircraft. The museum occupies a 30,000 sq ft hanger at Bournemouth International Airport.

  • The Dorset County Museum

    Dorset County Museum

    The story of Dorset's rich landscape told in a series of facinating displays. Founded in 1846, the diverse collections include Roman mosaics, original Thomas Hardy manuscripts and fossilised dinosaur footprints.