Kingston Maurward Animal Park and Gardens

Just off the Main A35 at Dorchester, we are an ideal stop-off point on a long journey for you all to stretch your legs and have some refreshments ready for your onward journey. A venue with free admission, we have a beautiful estate with Listed Formal Gardens, a demonstration garden to give you inspiration and helpful hints, a sweeping lawn down to the lake, and a lakeside walk that can take you (via a bridleway) to an ideal spot for your dog to take a swim, but far enough from the car they will dry out by the time you get back, stroll back onto the Estate and enjoy the view of the Palladian style Georgian House and walk up through the gardens to the Animal Park, where you can get a coffee and cake for yourself and a refreshing dog-friendly ice cream and a bowl of water for your four-legged companion. Dogs are welcome throughout the Animal Park and Gardens but we do ask for them to be kept on a lead, and to stay a suitable distance from the children's play area, we also have shady parking areas so that your car does not get too hot for your homeward journey. Our Estate shop sells dog toys and healthy treats as well as family and home giftwares and drinks. The Animal Park and Gardens have an indoor play area with a small café, an outdoor play area plus a Cellar that is also open for light meals and drinks from a selection of local producers. Many of our staff have dogs, with some coming into work, so will always welcome a chat about the best spots to see. Do you have a dog that needs a longer walk why not follow in Thomas Hardys footsteps walk to Max Gate or Hardys Cottage or visit the church where the Heart of Thomas Hardy is buried?