Dorset, GB holiday rentals: cottages & more

Discover a selection of 3,500 holiday rentals in Dorset, GB that are perfect for your trip. Whether you’re traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Vrbo holiday homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including internet/WiFi and pool. Prices start at £ 64 per night, and cottages and houses are popular options for a stay in Dorset. Either way, you'll find a rental for everyone's needs.

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Find the best place to stay — Dorset

Search 3,576 holiday rentals

Stayed Jun 2022

Excellent relaxed break

The cottage was perfect for our first holiday with our 1 year old excitable puppy. As the description was accurate there where no nasty surprises and throughly enjoyed our stay at this slightly quirky cottage. If you are looking for corporate style p...

Stayed Jun 2022

Has a driveway! And a pizza oven!

We hadn’t been to Lyme Regis before and loved the town. The issue with driving there is parking, pretty tough in Lyme Regis but not if you book this property! Long driveway and we had a big 9 person van. Took a little to maneuver in but we usually dr...

Stayed Jun 2022

Dream

Very very good I hope to go back in the future but I'm afraid it will soon book up if people read the reviews sea views to die for sitting on the balcony even on the very comfortable seating in the lounge very comfortable apartment I could live there

Stayed Jun 2022

Dorset trip

We had a great stay at this annexe in Puddletown. Lauren (who lives next door in the main house) was a great host and respected our privacy but was also available if required. This cottage is very cute and quirky and extremely clean. It's in an ideal...

Stayed Jun 2022

Home from home

4 of us stayed for a week with our 2 dogs. The house had absolutely everything needed for a comfortable stay, and was spotlessly clean. Dog beds, bowls and treats were supplied, and the garden was safe and secure for them. Communication with the owne...

Stayed Jun 2022

Lovely stay ( including glorious weather )

A lovely converted property with a private garden. The Host Paul lives nearby so always available for advice etc. The property is well equipped with everything you would want. The nearby area has plenty of places to eat and shop for food etc. Easy to...

Stayed May 2022

Excellent, highly recommend

Thank you Becky and Paul for allowing us to stay in your beautiful property and for making us feel so welcome (the wine, milk, muffins and flowers were a lovely surprise) The booking process from start to finish was fantastic. The accommodation is se...

Stayed May 2022

Nice holiday

We had a lovely stay at West Bay! The apartment had everything we needed plus an easy access to the beach! We also enjoyed the sea view when eating. Our daughters like playing with the board games and colouring books. The apartment was big enough for...

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Destination guide

Head to a Dorset cottage for museums and unique villages

On the southern coast of England, you'll find the Dorset region. Many villages and towns populate the area, and they each have something special to offer. You can spend time on the sandy beaches along the channel or book holiday cottages in the Cotswolds in one of the inner towns for a quiet and relaxing holiday adventure. There are also over 30 museums in the area that cover general and specialist categories. The Tank Museum at Bovington is particularly interesting as it features tanks and armoured vehicles from many more nations than just the UK.

History

Explore history near Dorset holiday lettings

Dorset has numerous heritage sites and museums for a glimpse into its fascinating history. Holiday homes are available near intriguing places like Corfe Castle, a millennia-old royal castle with ruins and panoramic vistas, and the Tank Museum, a large museum with tanks and interactive activities. You could also visit the Portland Bill Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse and keeper’s quarters with a visitor centre dedicated to maritime history.

Things to do

Places to go near Dorset holiday homes

Dorset holiday rentals aren't hailed as some of the UK's most family-friendly-stays for nothing. Between ice creams at the seaside and fossil hunting sessions, be sure to fit in a trip to the rip-roaring Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester. You'll be greeted by a wide-mouthed T. rex and oodles of prehistoric finds. The Jurassic Skyline is another one to take the breath away. It soars above the coast in Weymouth, offering 360-degree panoramas of the primeval cliffs. And then there's Lulworth Castle, where re-enactment shows and medieval history abounds.

Activities

Things to do near Dorset holiday homes

Dorset is tailor-made for adventurers. With its chalk hills and the rolling Dorset Downs, the county has large swathes of protected landscapes ripe for walkers and bikers and horse riders. You can lace up the boots and hit old bridle trails, sometimes spotting haunting shells of Norman castles, sometimes dropping into rustic towns where tearooms and hearty alehouses await. The shoreline is for the fossil hunters – the rugged rocks of the Jurassic Coast can't be beaten for that. And it's for the sailors, sea kayakers, swimmers and sandcastle builders, too.

Weather

Local weather for your stay in Dorset holiday homes

It might be perched on the South Coast, enjoying some of the warmest weather in the whole of the UK, but Dorset is still in England. That's worth remembering if you're thinking about booking your Dorset holiday rentals for the winter months between November and March – there are hefty downpours and lashing storms aplenty then. Spring, in May, and summer, from June to September, are the favourite periods. They're when folk come with their swimming gear and hiking boots to catch the warmest seas and best sun.

Natural features

Dorset is Hardy country

The landscapes of Dorset are romantic and green, and it's easy to see why Thomas Hardy was inspired by them. Great swathes of the county are covered by Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the south, that means the Dorset AONB, where the ridgeway walking routes weave over the Jurassic Coast, past fossil-spotted beaches and wave-lashed coves. That soon rises to the Yeovil Scarplands and the wooded valleys further north, eventually joining with the chalk ridges of Cranborne Chase, the gateway to rural England with its downs and Iron Age fortresses.

How many holiday rentals are available around Dorset?

Our 2022 accommodation listings offer a large selection of 3,576 holiday lettings around Dorset. From 1,559 cottages to 2,374 houses, find unique self catering accommodation for you to enjoy a memorable stay with your family and friends for a long holiday or a weekend break.

What are the most popular destinations to visit in Dorset?

There are many lovely places to stay for a long holiday or just a weekend break in Dorset. From Vrbo UK travellers, the popular destinations to visit are:

Swanage: 1,010 holiday homes
Weymouth: 836 holiday homes
Bridport: 614 holiday homes
Wareham: 819 holiday homes
Portland: 528 holiday homes

Vrbo UK offers you the possibility to discover many other popular destinations in Dorset! Please use our search bar to access the selection of self catering accommodations available in other popular destinations.

What are the main cities to discover in Dorset?

Whether you are travelling solo or with family and friends, here are the cities in Dorset with the largest selection of holiday lettings for a perfect city break:

Swanage: 1,010 holiday lettings
Weymouth: 836 holiday lettings
Bridport: 614 holiday lettings
Wareham: 819 holiday lettings
Portland: 528 holiday lettings

For other cities, please use our search bar to access the selection of holiday homes available.

What are the most popular points of interest and landmarks to stay near in Dorset?

Vrbo UK offers a large selection of holiday lettings near great places to visit in Dorset. From Vrbo UK travellers, the top popular points of interest to stay for a holiday trip or just for a weekend are:

Durdle Door: 1,464 holiday rentals
Weymouth Marina: 999 holiday rentals
Brownsea Island: 1,523 holiday rentals
Corfe Castle: 1,707 holiday rentals
Warmwell Holiday Park Ski Slope: 1,482 holiday rentals

But there are many other points of interest around Dorset listed on Vrbo UK where you can find your place to stay. Just write your wanted destination in our search bar and have a look at our selection of holiday accommodations.