Dorset Family Holidays - The Tank Museum

Visiting the South West? Don’t miss Dorset’s largest indoor attraction.

Whether you’re looking for a family day out or an afternoon inside to escape from the rain, The Tank Museum is the perfect compliment for your holiday. From kids activities and trails to the thrill of seeing a real tank in action, there’s something for all ages and interests. We are located right in the middle of Dorset, no more than an hour away from each corner of the county.

Open daily 10am-5pm
Allow 4-5hrs for your visit
300 tanks from around the world
9 Powerful Exhibitions
Cafe & Shop
Excellent Accessibility

Go visit this place... 2 words sum this Museum up and that is ABSOLUELY... read more2 words sum this Museum up and that is ABSOLUELY AMAZING! I wasn't sure I would like Tanks but boy I was wrong. This museum is worth every penny as its so interesting. The guides are so full of knowledge. its huge and there is lot's to see. Can't wait to go back. read less 
Stephen C
14/04/24

A full day of fun This is a truly epic place to visit. I honestly... read moreThis is a truly epic place to visit. I honestly didn't expect much, buts it's awesome. My family and I visited on a recent trip to Dorset and I'm so glad we did. We arrived early to ensure we could get parked and there were already loads of people there, but parking was a doddle. Getting our tickets was straightforward also; note they last for a full year, so you can visit over and over again for free. The first thing we did was go on the tracked vehicle ride, where you are drivven round a dirt track. Very bumpy and loud, but well worth it. We then spent several hours exploring all of the tanks. There are hundreds! You can get up close to these massive machines and really get a sense of how powerful they are. After a quick lunch break (we brought our own packed lunches and ate near the swings) we were back at it. We spent 45 mins watching the "tank" display where several vehicles drive round the dirt track as someone provides commentary. There is then a mock battle, with plenty of explosions. We next worked our way through all of the exhibits, including the World of Tanks where the kids got to play on a hyper realistic tank game. All in all we spent 6 hours there. It's definitely a full day activity. We will be back. read less 
Gary C
10/04/24

Tanks of all kinds Almost every tank produced throughout history can be found there.... read moreAlmost every tank produced throughout history can be found there. We also got to see some that were driven around outside and shown off in a small "battle". It was the son's wish to go here, and he was super satisfied after the visit, even if the journey there from London took a little time. read less 
Karin L
07/04/24

Excellent and free access for 12 months now! Excellent day out. Plenty of activities for children. Loads of... read moreExcellent day out. Plenty of activities for children. Loads of really informative info. Live displays. Excellent staff. This was our second visit and we’ll be back again. read less 
James K
05/04/24

Good day out for both tank and non tank lovers. Second time visiting now and will go back again well... read moreSecond time visiting now and will go back again well laid out walking route around the exhibits so you don't miss anything. Plenty of information boards and videos to explain the history of what your looking at. On site cafe has a good selection of sandwich and hot food on offer. At the end of the visit you can sit down and play a game of World Of Tanks they also give the choice of which Platfrom to use with Xbox Tablet and PC to choose from. read less 
Stephen
02/04/24

Fun for all the family Had a lovely time visiting the tank museum, there really... read moreHad a lovely time visiting the tank museum, there really is something for everyone. Our daughter really loved the War Horse exhibit (she has recently read the book) and the brilliant gaming area. The staff were so welcoming and friendly, the shop is amazing too! There is so much to see and do, it really isn't just for the boys! read less 
Amanda B
31/03/24

Not just a tank museum We nearly didn't go but glad we did. I was... read moreWe nearly didn't go but glad we did. I was so surprised how much this had to offer. It's really not just a museum about tanks. It's so much more. We had people aged from 10-80 and everyone enjoyed it. As you would expect there's a lot of tanks but also a lot about the wars in general. A must visit for anyone in the area. read less 
Dan B
29/03/24

The Tank Museum - not just for boys - girls will love it too ! My wife and 11 year old daughter really loved the... read moreMy wife and 11 year old daughter really loved the visit and in particular the War Horse exhibition which really brought the story to life in a clever and original way. Food was excellent and the staff friendly and helpful with some fun things to buy in the shop. Daddy had a good time too ! 10/10. read less 
michael b
27/03/24

Excellent museum We had been looking forward to visiting the tank museum... read moreWe had been looking forward to visiting the tank museum and it certainly did not disappoint. Had to tear my husband away after three hours but we will definitely return another day. We enjoyed seeing the tanks through the different ages. Seeing the enlarged photos on display was very moving. The ww1 display was very thought provoking. Good cafes and shop and good for children of all ages. read less 
shaz h
25/03/24

What to see and do

Come face-to-face with over 300 military vehicles in the worlds best collection of armoured fighting vehicles, including the world’s only running Tiger I, the first working prototype tank, and the current British Main Battle Tank Challenger 2.

Our ten powerful exhibitions are full of interactives suitable for all ages. Children can explore the Museum with our free Commander Basil trail and activity book, and win a prize for collecting all the stamps.

During weekends and school holidays, children can take part in workshops and activities – and you might even see our vehicles in action!

Getting to the Museum

The Tank Museum is in south Dorset near Wareham and is about a 30-minute drive from Dorchester, Blandford, Weymouth and Poole, about 45 minutes from Bournemouth and Salisbury, and an hour from Southampton and Yeovil. There is plenty of free parking on site.

The Tank Museum’s nearest station is Wool (1.5 miles), which is on the South Western Railway mainline from London Waterloo to Weymouth. Local taxi company (Garrison Cars, T: 01929 463395) can take you to and from the station, or it is a 30 minute walk. Train timetable here.

The Museum is also between 90 and 120 minutes from Bristol, Southampton and Exeter airports.

On your visit

Because we know our visitors often spend the whole day with us, we have a restaurant and cafe serving a range of delicious hot meals, snacks and drinks. Whether you fancy a Full English, Cornish pasty, or Dorset cream tea, we promise you won’t be disappointed. We use Dorset and South West suppliers, so expect to see Dorset Tea, Marshfield ice-cream, Piddle Brewery beer, and meat from local farmers.

The Museum is fully accessibly via wheelchair or mobility scooter, and we have manual wheelchairs onsite available for free use. In our new exhibitions, there is a hearing loop for our videos and sound recordings.