Pop Up Shop hosted by National Trust
7–22 Oct (another 13 days)
Local nature photographer Ben Pullitz displays wildlife and landscape photographs in a pop-up shop at Lytes Cary Manor.
Dorset
Dorset is a scenic and historic English county famed for its Jurassic Coast, market towns, cultural festivals, and literary heritage, offering diverse landscapes and accessible transport.
Near Lytes Cary
Lytes Cary is a Grade I listed historic manor house in Somerset dating from the 14th century, featuring a chapel, Great Hall with period furnishings, and extensive Arts and Crafts style gardens listed as Grade II. The National Trust owns the property and offers public access to the older parts of the house and the distinctive gardens set in themed 'rooms' with hedges, ponds, and an orchard.
Exhibition: Seen in the Trees – Tansy Lee Moir
8–26 Oct (another 17 days)
An exhibition of Tansy Lee Moir’s drawings, paintings and monoprints inspired by trees and their histories. Visitors can view works made with charcoal, natural pigments and mixed media.
Near Mompesson House
Mompesson House is an 18th-century Queen Anne style historic house in Salisbury, Wiltshire, owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore its carefully restored Georgian interiors and collections of 18th-century decorative arts. The house was also a filming location for the movie Sense and Sensibility.
Home and Hearth: Archaeological finds exhibition
7–31 Oct (another 22 days)
An exhibition at Corfe Castle’s Welcome Centre presents archaeological finds from excavations, showing objects associated with everyday life in the medieval castle.
Family Neurodivergent Nature Walk
17 Oct (next Saturday)
A nature walk for neurodivergent families, led by ADHD coach Jane Woods, Johanna Merry and a National Trust team member. Participants can spend time outdoors together and explore ideas about nature, wellbeing and neurodiversity.
2 miles from Ballard Down
Ballard Down is a scenic chalk downland area on the Purbeck Hills in Dorset, featuring coastal views between Studland Bay and Swanage Bay, part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, with grassland managed by the National Trust and a historic obelisk landmark.
The social season: A Regency year at Mompesson House
9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…
Explore Mompesson House dressed to reflect the Portman family’s time there and learn about Regency life and the family’s social calendar. Visitors can see a Regency parlour and children’s playroom, take part in activities, and follow a spotter trail around the house.
Near Sarum College
Sarum College is a historic college located in Salisbury Cathedral Close offering accessible accommodation with modern amenities, views of the cathedral, and proximity to cultural sites and city shops. Visitors can enjoy a mix of historic ambience and contemporary comfort within a largely wheelchair accessible environment.
Kingston Lacy social walks
17 Oct, 24 Nov…
Join a relaxed social walk through Kingston Lacy’s woodlands, gardens and countryside, covering 3–4 miles over about 1.5 hours. The monthly routes explore different parts of the estate and finish at the café.
Near Kingston Lacy
Kingston Lacy in Dorset is an opulent family home styled as a Venetian Palace, surrounded by extensive gardens and an 8,500-acre estate featuring heathland, hill forts and rare cattle breeds. Visitors can explore the house's remarkable art collection and ancient Egyptian artefacts, enjoy child-friendly play areas, café dining, and guided garden tours. The venue offers a mix of indoor and outdoor experiences with good accessibility and dog-friendly outdoor areas.
Folklore and Fairies Family Quest
7 Oct–22 Nov (another 44 days)
Families can follow a quest at Corfe Castle, solving clues about folklore, mystery and superstition, including beliefs about cooking, protecting homes, witches and fairies.
Free daily guided red squirrel walks
7–23 Oct (another 14 days)
Join a volunteer for a guided woodland walk on Brownsea Island to look for red squirrels as they forage for food.
2 miles from Arne
RSPB Arne is a nature reserve in Dorset renowned for its diverse habitats and rare wildlife including all six native UK reptiles. Visitors can explore extensive heathlands, ancient oak woodland, wetlands and shoreline with facilities including accessible trails, a café, and events. Dog-friendly routes and mobility scooter hire enhance the visit experience in this outdoor wildlife haven.
Rani Lacy: revealing an Indian treasure
6–23 Oct (another 14 days)
Explore the Visakhapatnam cabinet through an exhibition about its craftsmanship, conservation and cultural connections between India and Europe. The display includes related objects, a contemporary painting and a dress inspired by the cabinet, with sections of the painting also installed in the garden.
Near Kingston Lacy
Kingston Lacy is a historic 17th-century Italianate country house and estate near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, featuring extensive formal gardens, parkland, and a significant fine art collection. The house offers a blend of indoor tours with finely decorated interiors and outdoor exploration of its historic gardens and grounds.
Stranger Folk at Mompesson House
16–20 Oct, 23–27 Oct…
Families can use the Stranger Folk app to follow the Crone through an interactive folklore adventure at Mompesson House, completing magical challenges to help close a rift between the human and spirit worlds.
A Regency Autumn
9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…
A Regency-themed event exploring autumn social life in Salisbury, including the harvest, the social season and the Glorious Twelfth. It also covers Regency-era All Hallows’ Eve, Gothic literature and folklore.
Near Arundells
Arundells is a Grade II Listed historic house and garden in Salisbury, former home of Sir Edward Heath, showcasing art, memorabilia, and peaceful gardens with cathedral views. Visitors can explore the accessible house interior, extensive gardens, and enjoy cultural events.
The Pikachu Art Adventure at Kingston Lacy
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Explore 30 Pikachu trading cards illustrated by different artists, discover facts about the character and design your own Pikachu card as part of an art adventure at Kingston Lacy.
Near Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hill fort in east Dorset notable for its extensive earthworks, nearby Roman road junction, and adjacent Romano-British town site. It is an outdoor site managed by the National Trust with free public access and offers historical insights into Iron Age and Roman Britain.
All-Terrain Vehicle Nature Tour
18 Oct, 15 Nov…
A ranger-guided tour in an all-terrain vehicle explores the nature and history of Studland’s beach, dunes and heather trail. The tour includes stops where participants can get out and take photos.
Fabulous fungi on Brownsea Island
10 Oct, 17 Oct
Join experts from the Dorset Fungus Group on a guided walk to find and identify fungi on Brownsea Island, and learn about their species and role in the ecosystem. The walk is for both novices and experienced participants and is not a foraging event.
Near Studland
Studland is a coastal village in Dorset known for its extensive sandy beaches, nationally important heathland nature reserve, and historical World War II sites. Visitors can explore natural dune systems, enjoy wildlife watching, and walk parts of the South West Coast Path.