Cerne Abbas Giant - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Hardy's Cottage is a beautiful secluded place to visit if you are following the Thomas Hardy Trail through Dorset. The cottage stands at the top of the hill off Cuckoo Lane in Higher Bockhampton and behind it stretches Egdon Heath, which Hardy wrote of in 'The Return of the Native'. The super cosy home will charm you with its antique decor and authentic north Indian cuisine among other features.

The Keep is the Military Museum of Devon and Dorset. Housed in an extraordinary castle-like building, the collection spans 300 years of history over 4 floors. You can walk through a World War One trench, try on uniforms and discover the amazing stories behind the Museum objects, at the end of your visit don’t forget to go onto the roof for amazing views of Dorchester!

The Dorset County Museum is located in Dorchester, Dorset, England. Founded in 1846, the museum covers the county of Dorset's history and environment. There are video displays, activity carts for children, and an audio guide. The collections include fossilized dinosaur footprints, Roman mosaics, and original Thomas Hardy manuscripts.

The Tutankhamun Exhibition in Dorchester was the first exhibition outside Egypt to feature an exact anatomical recreation of Tutankhamun's mummy. The mummy took over two years of research and experimentation to recreate, following x-rays and measurements of Tutankhamun's mummy. Explore the life of King Tutankhamun, and the storied discovery that captivated the world, through more than 150 authentic pieces from the tomb.

The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum is Dorchester's unmissable family museum, with Edward Bear and his family of people-sized bears, in Teddy Bear House. Meet all the family and enjoy his wonderful collection of teddy bears that can be seen throughout the house. Bears on display include Paddington Bear, Rupert Bear, and Winnie the Pooh. The earliest bear dates from 1906 and there are also life-sized bears.

Max Gate was the house which Thomas Hardy designed and his father and brother built, between 1883 and 1885. Contains several pieces of Hardy's furniture. Here he wrote Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge. Visitors to the house can view the hall, dining room, drawing room and garden as well as the room where Hardy wrote his most provocative novel.