The best family hotels in Dorset for a relaxing stay

Dorset is a wonderful destination for families, home to the heritage-rich landscapes that inspired Enid Blyton and a varied coastline known for its fossils and sandy beaches. A family holiday might involve buckets and spades, tales of smugglers and picnics with lashings of lemonade. There is much to entertain modern-day families too, however, with state-of-the-art aquariums, interactive dinosaur museums, seaside amusements and endless opportunities for paddleboarding and other water sports.

The county has a broad range of hotels to choose from, the larger ones offering swimming pools or sprawling gardens. Others are revamped inns or townhouses that lie within market towns or villages of thatched cottages. The Dorset countryside, characterised by chalk hills peppered with ancient ruins, is always close by. All offering family rooms and additional services that might please parents, such as babysitting, children’s menus and kids’ clubs, these are the best family hotels in Dorset.