The Best Dorset Seaside Hotels

recommended hotels by the sea, on or close to the Dorset coast


When would you like to go?

The Green House

Bournemouth

  • editors' choice!
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  • hotel
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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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  • family-friendly
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  • cyclist friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • near beach
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  • restaurant
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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a boutique, eco-friendly hotel, offering award-winning, seasonal cuisine and well-appointed rooms furnished with hand-made furniture

  • editors' choice!
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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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  • family-friendly
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  • pets allowed
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  • award-winning
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  • great reviews
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  • waterfront location
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  • restaurant
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  • bar
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  • air-conditioning
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  • spa
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  • terrace
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  • free WiFi
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a chic, modern hotel with excellent facilities, fine dining and stylish rooms and apartments, all set in a beautiful spot by the River Stour

  • editors' choice!
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  • hotel
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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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  • great reviews
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  • seafront location
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  • great views
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  • restaurant
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  • place(s) to eat nearby
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  • bar
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  • spa
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  • indoor pool
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  • gym/fitness
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  • terrace
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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indulge yourself in the relaxing spa and leisure facilities and fine dining at this elegant hotel on the water's edge of Christchurch Harbour

Mortons Manor

Corfe Castle

  • editors' choice!
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  • hotel
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  • 3* rated
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  • great dining
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  • family-friendly
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  • character property
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  • country house
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  • award-winning
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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  • restaurant
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  • place(s) to eat nearby
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discover a wealth of history and character dating back to 1590 at this charming and comfortable, Grade II listed Elizabethan Manor House

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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  • family-friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • near beach
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  • restaurant
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  • free WiFi

enjoy award-winning seafood, friendly, attentive staff and individually styled rooms at this hotel opposite the BIC and close to the seafront

Lord Bute

Highcliffe

  • restaurant with rooms
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  • 5* rated
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • great dining
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  • family-friendly
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  • award-winning
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  • great reviews
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  • free WiFi
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boutique accommodation set in the former grounds of Highcliffe Castle offering stylish rooms, award-winning dining and good hospitality

Lulworth Cove Inn

Lulworth Cove

  • editors' choice!
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  • inn/pub
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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • pets allowed
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  • character property
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  • great breakfasts
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  • award-winning
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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  • near beach
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  • restaurant
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  • place(s) to eat nearby
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  • bar
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi

character, 400-year-old inn set moments from the scenic cove, it features cosy rooms with a maritime theme and serves a fresh, seasonal menu

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  • 3* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • character property
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  • great breakfasts
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  • great reviews
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  • near beach
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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Regency style house, set in over an acre of grounds, a short stroll from the beach, offering a comfortable, traditional Jurrasic Coast base

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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  • family-friendly
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  • pets allowed
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • air-conditioning
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  • free WiFi
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located in Poole's old town close to the historic quayside and offers sumptuous rooms, a French-style bistro and expert wine-tasting sessions

  • hotel
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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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  • family-friendly
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  • pets allowed
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  • character property
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  • country house
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  • great reviews
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  • rural location
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  • seafront location
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  • great views
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  • restaurant
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  • bar
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  • lounge
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  • lift
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  • spa
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  • indoor pool
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  • terrace
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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elegant Georgian mansion set in quiet countryside overlooking Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon offering facilities for the whole family

  • editors' choice!
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • adults only
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  • character property
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  • country house
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  • romantic retreat
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • waterfront location
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  • free WiFi
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a perfect place to get away to simply relax and unwind, boutique hotel set in attractive, riverside gardens with elegant rooms and fine dining

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  • 3* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • family-friendly
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  • walker friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • great views
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  • outdoor pool
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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Edwardian house located between Charmouth and Lyme Regis with views over the Dorset countryside offering comfy, well-appointed rooms

Hotel Rex

Weymouth

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  • 3* rated
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • seafront location
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  • near beach
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  • great views
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originally built for the Duke of Clarence, this traditional hotel still has many of its original features and sits in an enviable spot by the beach

  • hotel
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  • 3* rated
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  • pets allowed
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  • character property
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  • romantic retreat
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  • great reviews
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  • restaurant
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listed Edwardian manor house - built by King Edward VII for his mistress, Lilly Langtry - beautifully updated to offer sumptuous accommodation

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  • 3* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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this elegant hotel, set overlooking the castle ruins, blends original character with modern luxury and a relaxed and welcoming ambience

Connaught Lodge

Bournemouth

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  • 4* rated
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  • great dining
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  • great reviews
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  • free WiFi
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stylish, well-appointed rooms in an annexe of the Connaught Hotel, the extensive facilities on offer are in the main hotel just next door

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  • great reviews
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  • great views
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overlooking Holes Bay, this purpose built hotel provides smart, modern accommodation. Money spent in the on site shop goes towards the RNLI

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • family-friendly
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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  • parking

a chic, boutique style hotel with smart, comfortable rooms boasting period details and providing an ideal start to explore the local area

Hilton Hotel

Bournemouth

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • pets allowed
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • restaurant
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  • place(s) to eat nearby
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  • spa
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  • free WiFi
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enjoy the extensive leisure facilities and well-appointed rooms available at this luxurious, contemporary hotel, located in the heart of the town

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • family-friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • waterfront location
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  • restaurant
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  • bar
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  • terrace
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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  • parking

set beside the River Stour between Bournemouth and Fendown, many of the well-presented rooms enjoy views across the river and meadow

Limestone Hotel

West Lulworth

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  • small hotel
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  • adults only
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  • romantic retreat
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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  • great views
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  • restaurant
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  • bar
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  • terrace
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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  • parking

a stylish hotel, within walking distance of famous Lulworth Cove offering spacious, airy rooms, attentive and professional service and good food

Knoll House

Studland

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  • family-friendly
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  • pets allowed
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  • great reviews
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  • near beach
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  • great views
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  • restaurant
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  • bar
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  • lounge
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  • indoor pool
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  • outdoor pool
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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featuring a range of sporting facilities, this well established hotel offers light and airy accommodation in a tranquil and picturesque setting

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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stylish, boutique hotel on the cliff top with scenic views over Poole Harbour and Sandbanks, al fresco dining can be enjoyed on the terrace

The Manor House

West Bexington

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  • small hotel
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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  • near beach
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  • great views
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a charming 16th century hotel with many rustic features set in a quiet spot overlooking Chesil Beach which is reached in 3 minutes on foot

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  • small hotel
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"convenient location" and "exceptional service" are just two of the favourable comments on this boutique hotel boasting a Thai restaurant

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  • 3* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • walker friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • great views
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close to excellent walking and Eype Beach, this small family-run hotel enjoys a unique position, tucked down a lane near to the coast

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  • 3* rated
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  • family-friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • near beach
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with stunning sea views, this cliff-top hotel makes a great base for touring Studland and Dorset

The Royal Lion

Lyme Regis

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  • 3* rated
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  • family-friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • near beach
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  • indoor pool
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a 17th-century former coaching inn located moments from the beach, offers well-presented bedrooms, hearty pub food and local beers

Orchid Hotel

Bournemouth

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • great dining
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  • free WiFi
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contemporary hotel with a relaxing ambience, the stylish rooms are individually decorated and the restaurant serves award-winning cuisine

Castle Inn

West Lulworth

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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • family-friendly
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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  • own garden
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you'll find fabulous food and the luxury of individually designed boutique rooms in this picturesque thatched inn near Lulworth Cove

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  • 4* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • family-friendly
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popular with visitors and locals alike and set on a leafy street 15 minutes walk from the town centre, rooms are comfortable and well-appointed

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • great reviews
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  • near beach
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enjoy the comfortable atmosphere at this thatched inn right in the beach at West Bay

Rock Point Inn

Lyme Regis

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  • small hotel
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • near beach
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idyllically located on the water's edge of this popular seaside town on the Jurassic Coast, stylish rooms with sea views and contemporary dining

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  • 4* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • family-friendly
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friendly pub situated just 4 minutes drive from Bournemouth Airport with a railway theme that reflects its former life as Hurn's railway station

The Canford

Canford Cliffs

  • inn/pub
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  • 4* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • pets allowed
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  • great reviews
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stylish pub, dining room and bedrooms decorated in a classic colonial style situated in leafy Canford Cliffs close to the beach and Sandbanks

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • pets allowed
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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comfortable, well-appointed pub ideally situated as a base from which to explore Bournemouth, Christchurch and the nearby New Forest

YHA

Swanage

  • hostel
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  • 4* rated
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  • family-friendly
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  • cyclist friendly
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  • walker friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • free WiFi
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a large, Victorian villa set in a lofty spot with a sea-facing aspect, just a 5-minute walk from the town centre and a little further to the beach

Ox Hotel

Parkstone

  • restaurant with rooms
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • close to station
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  • restaurant
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  • free WiFi

a contemporarily-styled, boutique tavern, ideally placed for visiting Poole and Bournemouth

The Smugglers Inn

Osmington Mills

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  • 4* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • pets allowed
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  • walker friendly
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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  • near beach
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  • great views
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  • terrace
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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a 13th century smuggler's haunt situated on the South West Coastal Path, it offers traditionally furnished rooms and fresh, seasonal food

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  • 3* rated
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  • small hotel
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  • family-friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • own garden
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  • free WiFi
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recently renovated to a high standard, this smart inn provides stylish, spacious rooms. The coastal bus service stops outside the property

The George

West Bay

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  • small hotel
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  • family-friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • near beach
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  • great views
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with traditionally styled public rooms and smart, modern accommodation, this welcoming inn is set close to all the local faciities

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  • great reviews
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a hostelry since 1739, this iconic inn blends style with character; one of the spacious rooms has a sea view, and breakfast is much-praised

The Pilot Boat

Lyme Regis

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  • 4* rated
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  • luxury
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  • small hotel
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  • great reviews
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  • central location
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  • near beach
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  • great views
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enjoy a drink at the roof top bar at this contemporary styled inn, close to all the town's facilities, which provides chic, well appointed rooms

The Countryman Inn

East Knighton

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  • 4* rated
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  • family-friendly
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  • great reviews
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  • free WiFi
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a family run inn with a rustic interior and open fires for cold evenings

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  • 3* rated
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  • adults only
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  • character property
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  • great reviews
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  • village location
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  • restaurant
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  • free WiFi
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this charming, cosy village pub offers a great mix of the traditional with the contemporary

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