What to do in the rain near Corfe, Dorset!!! Help.....

[lucy101101]

We are off to Dorset, staying near Corfe Castle on Friday for a long weekend... and it looks like the weather will be terrible! We were hoping to be on the beach (Studland) but it looks like that will be out. our DC are 6 and 4 so if anyone could suggest some great things to do if it really does pour down I would be incredibly grateful! We will have a car so can travel a fair distance if necessary....

Sounds weird but The Tank Museum at Bovington saved our skins many times. All indoors, no noise issue, good worksheets

Just looked at metcheck, it's not that bad, so you may have to shower dodge

I was going to suggest the tank museum as well. Failing that, there's lots of little museums in Dorchester which make for a pretty good day out

Tbh is just put on waterproofs and go to the castle.

Go in the rain anyway to the beach.
Steam railway
Boat trip

Yy to the tank museum. Sounds boring, but it's actually well worth a visit.

I have very fond memories of the Wareham Bears. I think they are at the Blue Pool now.

Model corfe is way better than real corfe

Following

Yes to lots of little museums in Dorchester plus very cheap cinema but need to book

Farmer Palmer's near Wareham has lots indoors I think
Aquarium at Bournemouth
Potentially the steam train at Swanage if it still goes?!
Places like Kimmeridge Bay are fantastic for rock pooling, which is less all out 'beachy' and would be ok in grey if not totally rainy weather
Purbeck Breezer bus route is mostly open topped but goes all over and might be fun (obvs has enclosed bottom deck)

Really in Dorset you just have to go out whatever the weather.

There is Farmer Palmers for soft play and Sea Life at Weymouth. Nothe Fort in Weymouth is also good in the rain.

Definitely tank museum. We've been twice in two years. Monkey World is next door, although we haven't been.

Splashdown indoor water park in Poole has water chutes and whatnot. Book in advance online to save money.

There's a dinosaur museum in Dorchester. Quite a modest little place but DS loved it when he was about 3.

Steam train still going, goes all the way to wareham now

And yes to Farmer Palmers, your children's ages are perfect for it

Tank museum. My kids would move in if they could. Your tickets are annual passes. Don't worry - there's a cafe

Likewise Putlake Farm near Swanage

I wouldn't recommend Splashdown unless DC are very confident swimmers- it is just big slides- no swimming pools. I didn't let DS(6) go until he could swim 25m frontcrawl and he doesn't go on all the slides even now he is a club swimmer.

Another recommendation for the Tank museum here, went last summer and was pleasantly surprised by it, we had a great day.

We also did sandcastle building at Studland in the rain, my daughter, 4 at the time, wasn't bothered by the weather at all (wearing her raincoat, wellies etc)

Warmwell is open to non residents until 6 for pool and slides

Lots of good advice here. All I can think of to add, and a bit of a drive, are Chesil Beach and the lighthouse at Portland Bill both of which can be quite spectacular if the wind picks up. Nice visitors centre at Chesil to warm up and have a coffee after.

Splashdown is feral in school hols but Lemur Landing ( soft play next door) is ok. Despicable Me 3 showing at the cinema at Tower Park. Beaulieu motor museum.

Go to the Pig on the Beach and get drunk??

Following!

Massive yes to Kimmeridge Bay.

I'd forgotten about the tiny dinosaur museum, that place is hilarious

I knew you lot would come up with lots of ideas! Thanks so much!