Monkey World

2 miles from Compton Acres

Compton Acres is an extensive Art and Crafts-style garden in Poole featuring five themed gardens inspired by worldwide travels, including Italian, Japanese, and Water gardens with seasonal plantings and rare wildlife.

3 miles from 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.

Located in Poole

Poole is a historic coastal town and seaport in Dorset, England, known for its large natural harbour, maritime heritage, sandy beaches, cultural attractions, and lively shopping and dining scene.

Near Bindon Mill

Bindon Mill is a historic converted mill house on the River Frome near Wareham, Dorset, featuring original mill features blended with contemporary living, extensive fine art and antique furniture collections, and carefully planted gardens rich with wildlife. Visitors can explore both indoor and outdoor spaces including the mill's glass floor leat, art displays, and gardens with views of historic ruins.

3 miles from Stock Gaylard House

Stock Gaylard House is a Georgian historic house set in a large estate with ancient deer park and extensive gardens. Visitors can enjoy conducted tours inside the house and explore the surrounding church and gardens at their leisure during specific open periods in the year.

3 miles from Garston Wood

Garston Wood is an ancient woodland nature reserve in Wiltshire, known for its rich wildlife including dormice and colorful wildflowers like bluebells. The site offers outdoor walking paths with natural surfaces and is open free to the public year-round, but has no visitor facilities or food available.

3 miles from Sherborne Castle & Gardens

Sherborne Castle in Dorset is a historic house built by Sir Walter Raleigh, set in extensive Capability Brown landscaped gardens with a serpentine lake. Visitors can explore the immersive castle interiors showcasing centuries of history and art, enjoy scenic outdoor walks, wildlife viewing, garden features, and children’s trails. Food is available on-site in the Walled Garden Restaurant and dogs are welcome in the gardens on short leads.

2 miles from Lulworth Castle

Lulworth Castle & Park is a historic 17th-century country house set in extensive parkland in Dorset. Visitors can tour the partly restored castle with its chapel and church, enjoy woodland walks, panoramic countryside views from the tower, and relax at the on-site tearoom. The grounds include a children's playground, picnic areas, and walking paths suitable for dogs on leads.

Near Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum is a Victorian villa in Bournemouth featuring historic art collections, galleries, and a Japanese treasures room, alongside a small garden and a cafe with sea views. The venue offers tours, live music, and is mostly wheelchair accessible with facilities for children.

Located in Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a vibrant coastal resort town in Dorset, England, famous for its seven-mile sandy beaches, Victorian architecture, lively nightlife, cultural venues, and tourism. It combines historic charm with modern attractions and hosts various festivals and events.

Near Jordan Hill Roman Temple

Jordan Hill Roman Temple is an ancient Romano-Celtic temple ruin located on Jordan Hill above Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, Dorset. The site, managed by English Heritage, is open freely during daylight hours and offers visitors the chance to explore a historic Roman religious site outdoors with scenic views.

Located in Weymouth

Weymouth is a historic seaside town in Dorset known for its Georgian architecture, vibrant harbour, and role as a gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It offers rich cultural experiences, beaches, water sports, and annual events including beach sports and festivals.

2 miles from Christchurch Castle

Christchurch Castle in Dorset is a historic Norman motte and bailey castle featuring ruins of a stone keep and the Constable's House, a rare Norman domestic dwelling. The site offers outdoor exploration of the castle grounds and gardens, as well as indoor experience of the preserved Constable's House, managed by English Heritage.

Located in Christchurch

Christchurch is a historic town on the south coast of Dorset, England, featuring a medieval priory, castle ruins, a picturesque harbour, and vibrant cultural events, making it a popular and accessible tourist destination.

Near Lodmoor

Lodmoor is a wildlife nature reserve in Weymouth with varied habitats including reedbeds, saltmarsh, and wet grassland attracting diverse bird species. It features accessible trails, a viewing screen, and is free to the public for outdoor wildlife experiences.

Near Cerne Giant

The Cerne Abbas Giant is a large outdoor chalk hill figure located on Giant Hill near Cerne Abbas village in Dorset, England. Owned by the National Trust and protected as a scheduled monument, it depicts a nude giant man holding a club. The figure's origin is debated, dating possibly from the late Anglo-Saxon period to the 17th century. It is a significant tourist attraction and subject to local folklore and cultural events.

3 miles from Knoll Gardens and Nursery

Knoll Gardens near Wimborne, Dorset is a renowned naturalistic garden featuring innovative planting styles like Dry Meadow, Rain Garden, and Prairie. It hosts diverse wildlife and showcases national plant collections, attracting visitors for its evolving horticultural displays.

Near Hod Hill

Hod Hill is Dorset's largest hillfort featuring visible Roman and Iron Age earthworks, scenic walking trails, and rich downland wildlife, accessible via village or lane car parks. Visitors can explore historic ramparts and enjoy countryside views.

Near Dolphin Shopping Centre

Dolphin Shopping Centre is a large covered shopping mall located in Poole, Dorset, featuring over 90 retail units across three floors. It provides a fully accessible indoor shopping experience, a variety of food and drink options, and a health village healthcare clinic. The centre also offers children's play sculptures and is integrated with Poole Bus Station, forming a key town centre hub.

3 miles from 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.

2 miles from Radipole Lake

RSPB Radipole Lake is a nature reserve in the centre of Weymouth featuring extensive reedbeds and lagoons that provide a habitat for a variety of birds and animals. Visitors can enjoy wheelchair accessible trails, a discovery centre with indoor exhibits and a cafe, as well as opportunities for birdwatching and exploring outdoor nature. The reserve is free to enter and offers designated dog-friendly routes for visitors.

Near Spyway

Spyway in Dorset offers a distinctive limestone coastal landscape with towering sea cliffs, grasslands rich in wildlife, historic sea quarries, and scenic walking trails along the South West Coast Path. It is a natural outdoor destination welcoming well-behaved dogs and free to the public.

3 miles from 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.

3 miles from New Forest Northern Commons

New Forest Northern Commons is a vast open landscape in Hampshire featuring walking trails through heathland and ancient woodland pasture, home to rare wildlife and shaped by traditional commoning livestock grazing. Visitors can explore diverse habitats and enjoy a natural, historic environment outdoors.

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.

3 miles from Home Educators Sessions (all ages)

12 Oct, 9 Nov…

Home educators and children can join nature-based sessions at Studland, with seasonal activities such as arts and crafts, spotter walks and scavenger hunts. The listed sessions focus on woodland scavenging and crafts in October, fungi in November, and a winter beach scavenger hunt and festive crafts in December.

3 miles from Edmondsham House

Edmondsham House is a historic country house featuring Tudor and Georgian architecture, set within extensive gardens including a walled organic garden and unusual trees. Visitors can explore both the house interiors and outdoor gardens, with nearby historic landmarks such as a 12th-century church.

Located in Verwood

Verwood is a historic market town in Dorset, England, known for its cultural heritage, community events, and local pottery industry, with accessible amenities, recreational facilities, and a walkable town centre.

Near Portland House, Weymouth

Portland House is a 20th-century detached house in Weymouth, Dorset, known for its 1930s Mediterranean villa design. It is managed by the National Trust and available as a holiday let with public open days twice annually.

2 miles from Monkey World

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset is a 65-acre outdoor sanctuary and rescue centre housing over 250 primates across 20 species, including Europe's only orangutan crèche and the largest group of chimpanzees outside Africa. It focuses on rescuing abused and smuggled primates and rehabilitates them in a natural environment.

3 miles from Studland Bay

Studland Bay is a natural coastline in Dorset featuring a four-mile sandy beach with bathing waters and views of Old Harry Rocks. It offers outdoor activities including water sports, walking trails through dunes and woodlands rich in wildlife, and historical sites like a WWII observation bunker. Facilities include a café, shop, beach huts, and accessibility features.

3 miles from Discover the Hidden Fungi of Studland: A Guided Walk with Andy Knott

9 Oct, 29 Oct…

Join fungi expert Andy Knott for a guided walk through Studland’s woodland, observing and learning to identify native fungi and other species in their natural habitat.

Located in Swanage

Swanage is a charming coastal town in Dorset, England, known for its Victorian heritage, sandy beach, and beautiful bay. It offers a mix of historical landmarks, cultural venues, and outdoor activities, making it a popular tourist destination on the Jurassic Coast.

2 miles from 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.

3 miles from 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.

2 miles from Portland Castle

Portland Castle is a well-preserved 16th-century artillery fort on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, built by Henry VIII. It offers both indoor exploration of the historic castle rooms and outdoor enjoyment of its unique fan-shaped structure and gardens, telling the story of England's coastal defenses.

3 miles from Clouds Hill

Clouds Hill is an early 19th-century isolated cottage in Dorset that was the home of T. E. Lawrence, now a museum preserving his original furniture and an exhibition about his life. It offers visitors an intimate look into the life of Lawrence of Arabia within a historic Grade II* listed building.

3 miles from Lytchett Fields

Lytchett Fields is a wetland nature reserve in Dorset offering visitors the chance to observe a wide variety of wading birds and wildlife in their natural habitat, with walking trails and viewpoints across protected pools and marshland.

3 miles from Old Harry Rocks

Old Harry Rocks are distinctive chalk stacks and formations on the Isle of Purbeck coast in Dorset, marking the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore the natural coastal landscape and admire views including the Isle of Wight's Needles.

2 miles from Warmwell House

Warmwell House is a Jacobean manor in Dorset, known for its historic charm and as a venue for weddings, family gatherings, and private events. It features comfortable bedrooms and maintains the atmosphere of a family home.

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.

3 miles from Ringstead Bay

Ringstead Bay is a tranquil stretch of the Dorset coast renowned for its pebble beach, clear bathing waters, and rich natural history on the Jurassic Coast. Visitors can enjoy scenic cliff top walks, bird watching, and seasonal wildflower meadows in an outdoor setting.

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.

3 miles from Heritage Fridays

9 Oct, 16 Oct…

Visitors can try carrying a yoke and handle replica medieval pottery while learning about life in a medieval castle. Stonemason volunteers are also available to discuss traditional stone-carving techniques.

2 miles from St Giles House

St Giles House is a historic family home in Dorset with over 400 years of history, restored after a period of disrepair. Visitors can arrange group tours of the house, which features accessibility accommodations and hosts events throughout the year.

3 miles from Holme for Gardens

Holme Nurseries Ltd is a 15-acre garden located on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, featuring a mix of formal and informal garden designs with rare plant collections, abundant wildlife, and visitor facilities including parking, refreshments, and dog-friendly access.

2 miles from Poor Lot Barrow Cemetery

Poor Lot Barrow Cemetery is a Bronze Age archaeological site near Winterbourne Abbas in Dorset, featuring 44 round barrows of various types set on low-lying ground near a valley. Visitors can explore the barrow alignments and enjoy views from a nearby plateau.

Near Athelhampton House & Gardens

Athelhampton House & Gardens is a fine Tudor manor house featuring well-preserved historic interiors and extensive award-winning gardens with architectural vistas and unique topiary. Visitors can explore period rooms, enjoy garden walks, and participate in family-friendly events.

2 miles from Sherborne Castle

Sherborne Castle is a historic 16th-century Tudor mansion set within 1200 acres of Capability Brown-designed gardens in Dorset, with ruins of a 12th-century castle on the grounds. Visitors can explore both the partly open mansion and extensive outdoor gardens, with special events throughout the year.

3 miles from Moignes Court

Moignes Court in Dorset is a historic house with medieval earthworks, a moat, and ancient fishpond remains. Visitors can explore two rooms inside the house and enjoy the grounds with guided tours on select days between May and June. Facilities include accessible parking and toilets, free parking, and a picnic area.

2 miles from Knowlton Circles

Knowlton Circles is an ancient archaeological site in Dorset featuring a complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age henge monuments including Church Henge which encloses the ruins of Knowlton Church, surrounded by numerous round barrows and earthworks. It offers an outdoor historical experience showcasing prehistoric and early Christian heritage, open to the public during reasonable daylight hours.

2 miles from Castlepoint Shopping Centre

Castlepoint is a large retail park in Bournemouth, Dorset, featuring around 40 shops and multiple dining options within a two-level indoor shopping environment, supported by a spacious car park.

3 miles from Breamore House

Breamore House is an Elizabethan manor house in Hampshire offering visitors an immersive experience of fine paintings, tapestries, and period furniture, set within beautiful parkland. The house has wheelchair accessible routes and a café, providing a comfortable visit amidst historic surroundings.

Located in Fordingbridge

Fordingbridge is a historic market town in Hampshire by the River Avon, known for its medieval seven-arch bridge, riverside park, local museums, and vibrant town centre with shops and eateries.

3 miles from Hod Hill

Hod Hill is a large Iron Age hillfort and Roman fort site in Dorset, England, featuring ancient earthworks, archaeological remains, and a calcareous grassland habitat, open to the public as a National Trust historic site.

Located in Blandford Forum

Blandford Forum is a historic market town in Dorset renowned for its extensive Georgian architecture, cultural museums, and annual Georgian Fayre festival, nestled beside the River Stour.

2 miles from Deans Court

Deans Court is an elegant historic Georgian house set in ancient and romantic gardens in Wimborne Minster, featuring heritage interiors, a monastic fishpond, and a café, offering guided tours and special events access primarily for Historic Houses members and paying visitors.

3 miles from Stepping into Parkinson’s and nature: walking programme

7 Sep, 14 Sep…

A 12-week walking programme at Kingston Lacy for people living with Parkinson’s, with weekly walks that gradually build in pace while participants connect with nature. Sessions also offer activity advice and support from volunteer walk leaders.

3 miles from Hambledon Hill

Hambledon Hill is a prehistoric hill fort in Dorset featuring Neolithic and Iron Age earthworks. The site is a National Nature Reserve with significant wildlife and is owned by the National Trust, offering outdoor historical and natural exploration.

2 miles from Maiden Castle

Maiden Castle is a large Iron Age hill fort in Dorset, England, known as one of the largest and most complex hill forts in Britain and Europe. Visitors can explore extensive ramparts, ditches, and archaeological features including a Neolithic enclosure and a Roman temple site. The site is managed by English Heritage and open to the public.

3 miles from Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle is a historic 11th-century ruined stone castle atop a hill in Dorset, England, known for its medieval architecture and role in the English Civil War. Visitors can explore the castle ruins, enjoy scenic views, and learn about its rich history under National Trust care.

3 miles from 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.

Located in Wareham

Wareham is a historic market town in Dorset, England, with Saxon origins and notable medieval town walls, located between two rivers near Poole Harbour. It offers rich cultural heritage, religious sites, traditional markets, annual events, and museum exhibits, accessible by train and local transport.

3 miles from The Nine Stones

The Nine Stones is a free-access Bronze Age stone circle near Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset, consisting of nine sarsen stones including two larger prominent ones. The site is outdoors in a narrow valley, close to the A35 road, and is maintained by English Heritage as a protected scheduled monument with cultural and religious significance.

3 miles from Spyway

Spyway is a National Trust property in Dorset known for its 140 million-year-old dinosaur footprints and historic barn with smuggling history. Visitors can explore fossil footprints outdoors along the Priest's Way and experience local heritage.

2 miles from Hardy Monument

The Hardy Monument is a 72-foot landmark tower on Black Down in Dorset, erected in 1844 in memory of Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy. Visitors can climb 120 steps to a viewpoint offering expansive views of the English Channel and distant coastal landmarks. It is a historic monument owned by the National Trust known for its unique design as a giant spyglass and designated as a Grade II listed building.

3 miles from Win Green

Win Green is the highest point in the Cranborne Chase offering extensive panoramic views and a rich natural habitat, crowned by a Bronze Age barrow with beech trees. The site is known for its outdoor natural beauty, historical significance, and wildlife.

3 miles from Brownsea Island

Brownsea Island is a large island in Poole Harbour, Dorset, managed by the National Trust with extensive nature reserves, wildlife habitats, and historical sites including Brownsea Castle. It is famed as the location of the first experimental Scout camp in 1907, and it offers outdoor activities, nature trails, and cultural events for visitors.

Located in Chickerell

Chickerell is a small town in Dorset near Weymouth, known for its scenic proximity to Chesil Beach and the Jurassic Coast, with local industry and leisure amenities including Bennetts Water Gardens and woodland walks.

2 miles from Brownsea Island

Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour offers a unique wildlife haven with habitats for red squirrels and diverse birds, family-friendly trails, natural play areas, daily guided tours, and a historic campsite. Visitors access the island by ferry and can enjoy both outdoor nature and indoor facilities including a café and visitor centre.

Near Fiddleford Manor

Fiddleford Manor is a medieval manor house in Dorset dating back to around 1370, featuring original interiors and restored by English Heritage, open to public visits throughout the year.

Located in Sturminster Newton

Sturminster Newton is a historic market town in Dorset known for its literary connections, heritage museum, and cultural festivals, set in the scenic Blackmore Vale.

3 miles from Kingston Russell Stone Circle

Kingston Russell Stone Circle is the largest stone circle in Dorset, dating from the Bronze Age and consisting of eighteen sarsen stones arranged in an oval. The monument is set on a chalk ridge overlooking the sea, open to the public during daylight hours and managed by English Heritage as a scheduled ancient site.

2 miles from Max Gate

Max Gate is a Grade I listed historic house in Dorchester, Dorset, designed and built by Thomas Hardy, showcasing Queen Anne style architecture, and open to public visits with access to multiple rooms including studies and bedrooms associated with Hardy's life and works.

3 miles from White Mill

White Mill is an 18th-century water-powered corn mill near Sturminster Marshall in Dorset, featuring original milling machinery and historic architecture, preserved as a Grade II listed building and managed by the National Trust.

2 miles from Hardy's Cottage

Thomas Hardy's Cottage in Dorset is the birthplace of the famous English author, featuring original period interiors, a cottage garden, and nearby woodlands with a visitor centre and trails.

2 miles from Fontmell and Melbury Downs

Fontmell and Melbury Downs is a protected chalk downland area in Dorset known for its beautiful open grasslands, circular walking routes, diverse wildlife, and scenic viewpoints including Melbury Beacon. It offers accessible outdoor experiences with opportunities to spot butterflies, orchids and glow-worms in summer, set in the landscape that inspired Thomas Hardy's novels.

Located in Ringwood

Ringwood is a historic market town in Hampshire by the River Avon, known for its weekly market, rich medieval history, and cultural heritage including a notable brewery and filming locations.

3 miles from St Catherine's Chapel, Abbotsbury

St Catherine's Chapel in Abbotsbury, Dorset is a medieval stone chapel on a hilltop overlooking the coast and Chesil Beach. It is a Grade I listed building and historic pilgrimage site maintained by English Heritage, offering visitors scenic views and a glimpse into medieval religious architecture and traditions. The chapel is open to the public with free entry during peak season.