Dorchester West
Discover Dorchester West by rail, including step-free station access, Dorset Museum, Roman history, Poundbury, markets and family attractions.
The Station
Dorchester West station is one of Dorchester’s two stations, the other, Dorchester South, being on the Waterloo to Weymouth line. Dorchester West station is not manned.
Dorchester West has step free access from both platforms. The access from Platform 1 provides easy access to Dorset County Hospital. Those requiring accessible access to the town centre should turn left at the foot of the ramp and use the bridge under the railway. The exit from Platform 2 leads directly towards the town centre.
Dorchester West Station – Discover Dorchester
Arrive by rail and discover the historic heart of Dorset.
Dorchester West station is a convenient gateway to the county town of Dorchester, a place where thousands of years of history meet a lively modern town centre.
From the station, many of Dorchester’s attractions can be reached on foot, making it easy to leave the car behind and explore at your own pace.
Discover Dorchester’s history
Dorchester is Thomas Hardy’s “Casterbridge” and is still the thriving market town he knew in his youth, and later evoked in his fiction and poetry. The building he had in mind as the home of “The Mayor of Casterbridge” even has a blue plaque!
Literary visitors can follow in Hardy’s footsteps at Max Gate, the former home designed by Hardy himself, while the nearby County Museum and town streets offer further connections with his life and work.
Roman Dorchester
Dorchester has a remarkable Roman heritage. Visit the Roman Town House, one of the finest surviving Roman town houses in Britain, or explore the remains of the town’s Roman walls and discover how Durnovaria, the Roman settlement that became Dorchester, developed.
Dorset Museum & Art Gallery
The Dorset Museum & Art Gallery tells the story of Dorset and its people, from prehistoric times through to the present day. Highlights include important archaeological discoveries, local natural history and collections connected with Dorset’s famous author Thomas Hardy.
A town to explore
Beyond its museums and historic sites, Dorchester has independent shops, cafés, pubs, restaurants and regular markets. The town also provides a gateway to the wider Dorset countryside and coast, with walking and cycling opportunities nearby.
High West Street
Dorchester’s main thoroughfare is High Street, divided into High East Street and High West Street
Poundbury
About a mile from the station is Poundbury, a fascinating new urban extension on Duchy of Cornwall land, a vision of Prince Charles, who has remained intimately associated with its development.
Dorchester’s Other Attractions
For families, Maumbury Rings is a fascinating open-air historic site, while The Keep Military Museum explores Dorset’s military history and the county’s regimental connections.
The Keep Military Museum, home of the regiments of Devon & Dorset, and themed attractions featuring Dinosaurs, the Terracotta Warriors, Tutankhamen and Teddy Bears are amongst the town’s other attractions. Together with a great range of cafés, pubs and restaurants, including Brewery Square, this has to be a top contender along our line for a lovely day out with the family.
There’s an extensive market on Wednesdays just a few minutes’ walk from the station, and the magnificent iron age hill fort of Maiden Castle with its great views is about 1½ miles walk from the station.
With its central location and easy onward connections, Dorchester West is an ideal starting point for exploring Dorchester and the wider South Dorset area by train, on foot and by bike.
Arrive by train. Discover Dorchester. Explore Dorset.