Maumbury Rings, Dorchester

Name: Maumbury Rings
Address: Maumbury Road, Dorchester, United Kingdom

#8 among attractions in Dorchester

Archaeological site

Gallery (4)

Map

Gallery

Facts and practical information

Maumbury Rings is a Neolithic henge in the south of Dorchester town in Dorset, England. It is a large circular earthwork, 85 metres in diameter, with a single bank and an entrance to the north east. It was modified during the Roman period when it was adapted for use as an amphitheatre, and the site was remodelled again during the English Civil War when it was used as an artillery fort guarding the southern approach to Dorchester. The monument is now a public open space, and used for open-air concerts, festivals and re-enactments. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 50°42'29"N, 2°26'25"W

Address

Maumbury RoadDorchester United Kingdom

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Dorchester

Day trips

Maumbury Rings – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Dorset County Museum, The Keep, Max Gate, Dorset Teddy Bear Museum.

0.5 miN
Museum, History museum, Natural history museum
Dorset County Museum, Dorchester
14 min walk • The Dorset County Museum is located in Dorchester, Dorset, England. Founded in 1846, the museum covers the county of Dorset's history and environment. The current building was built in 1881 on the former site of the George Inn. The building was designed specifically to house the museum's collection and is in the neo-Gothic style.
0.5 miN
Museum, Military museum
The Keep, Dorchester
13 min walk • The Keep, Dorchester is part of the former county barracks of the 39th Regiment of Foot and the 75th Regiment of Foot. The barracks were built in about 1880 and housed various regiments as units were amalgamated.
0.9 miE
Museum, Architecture, Historical place
Max Gate, Dorchester
23 min walk • Max Gate is the former home of Thomas Hardy and is located on the outskirts of Dorchester, Dorset, England. It was designed and built by Thomas Hardy for his own use in 1885 and he lived there until his death in 1928. In 1940 it was bequeathed to the National Trust by Hardy's sister and is now open to the public.
0.6 miNE
Museum, Specialty museum
Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester
16 min walk • The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum is a teddy bear museum in Dorchester, Dorset, southern England. The museum includes Teddy Bear House and displays antique and other teddy bears. Bears on display include Paddington Bear, Rupert Bear, and Winnie the Pooh. The earliest bear dates from 1906 and there are also life-sized bears.
0.5 miN
Monuments and statues
Thomas Hardy Statue, Dorchester
13 min walk • Thomas Hardy Statue is a statue of Thomas Hardy, located at Dorchester, Dorset, England. It was funded by public subscription to commemorate Hardy's life and works, three years after his death.
0.5 miNE
Monuments and statues
Dorset Martyrs Memorial, Dorchester
13 min walk • The Dorset Martyrs Memorial is a grade II listed sculpture by Elisabeth Frink in Dorchester, Dorset, England. It was unveiled in 1986 on the site of the gallows where Catholic martyrs were hanged in the 16th and 17th centuries.
0.9 miNW
Forts and castles
Poundbury Hill, Dorchester
23 min walk • Poundbury Hill is the site of a scheduled Prehistoric and Roman archaeological remains and includes evidence of a Neolithic settlement, a substantial Bronze Age occupation site and an Iron Age hillfort.
0.5 miN
City hall
Municipal Buildings, Dorchester
14 min walk • The Municipal Buildings are based on the north side of High East Street in Dorchester, Dorset, England. The structure, which was the headquarters of Dorchester Borough Council, is a Grade II* listed building.
0.5 miNE
Museum, Science museum, Specialty museum
Dinosaur Museum, Dorchester
14 min walk • The Dinosaur Museum is a museum presenting dinosaurs in Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, in southern England. The Dinosaur Museum is the only museum in mainland Britain dedicated purely to dinosaurs. The museum is not far from the Jurassic Coast to the south, a World Heritage Site.
~1800 ftN
50°42'46"N • 2°26'29"W
The Borough Gardens, Dorchester
9 min walk • Garden, Park
0.5 miN
Historical place, History museum, Museum
Shire Hall, Dorchester
14 min walk • Shire Hall is an 18th-century courthouse in Dorchester, Dorset. The building was the centre of law, order and government, and served as the county hall for Dorset until 1955. It has been Grade I listed since 1950. In 2018, the hall opened as the Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Maumbury Rings?

Nearby attractions include The Borough Gardens, Dorchester (9 min walk), The Tutankhamun Exhibition, Dorchester (13 min walk), The Keep, Dorchester (13 min walk), Thomas Hardy Statue, Dorchester (13 min walk).

How to get to Maumbury Rings by public transport?

The nearest stations to Maumbury Rings:

Train

Dorchester South (4 min walk)
Dorchester West (6 min walk)