Dorset Museum & Art Gallery

Located in the centre of Dorchester, Dorset Museum is home to four themed galleries, a special exhibitions area and a library. The Natural Dorset gallery reveals the secrets of the county's geology, landscapes, habitats and wildlife. You can also discover the work and life of Dorset-born novelist Thomas Hardy and peruse the world's largest Thomas Hardy collection. A particular highlight on display is a replica of Hardy's study at Max Gate.

The People's Dorset gallery starts in the Palaeolithic era and travels through half a million years of human history. Marvel at spectacular Bronze Age gold, finds from Iron Age Maiden Castle, gems from Roman Dorchester and objects that reveal recent stories of Dorset's people.

The Artists' Dorset gallery showcases painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, textiles, and fine and decorative art from the museum's collection, including work by notable artists such as Elisabeth Frink, and an exhibition gallery plays host to major touring and temporary exhibitions on a range of subjects.

A specially-created publicly visible space for volunteers and researchers to work on the collection allows visitors to catch a glimpse behind-the-scenes of a museum. Plus there is a lovely café and shop on site.