How to have a fun family road trip in England

Travel From London To Dorset

We had traveled from London to Dorset. The late afternoon sun gave way, replaced by the cool of the evening. Simple moments such as these are magnified through family travel. Sharing such moments are special, not ordinary.

Albury House on the Street

We navigated our car through a slim rock filled opening that led us to the back of the beautiful thatched-roof house where we were to stay. We parked our car alongside our friend’s who kindly let us tail them throughout the trip in order to get there safely.

Car from Auto Europe Car Rentals

The location of our accommodations is the Albury House on the Street. When given an address of this sort, immediately one is reminded as to the size of the town we had arrived. Though not technically a remote destination, it is, however, not easily gotten to without the use of a car. Thankfully, we were able to attain a car in short notice with the help of our friends from Auto Europe, and my wife decided to gain confidence in driving on the other side.
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We loved the place

This trip was also done in conjunction with the celebration of Bailey’s 12th birthday.  Being in the countryside, breathing in the fresh air gave us all the sense of celebrating life as a whole. Entering the house, there was that sigh every parent wants to hear from their child. She loved the place. We loved the place. It was obvious that the owners had a high taste level and updated the house with luxurious furnishings and up to date technology, but had the sense of keeping an uncompromised, traditional country home sensibility.

The Three Horseshoes Burton Bradstock

It was my daughter’s birthday, and we had made dinner reservations, so fawning over the beauty of the house would have to wait. We all got into our automobiles again, and off we went. Brenda weaved through the small ancient roads of Dorset, looking every bit the international driver she had become. We pulled up to a rustic gray stone pub named, The Three Horseshoes which is nestled in farmland. Appropriately so, as we decided on this place because it upholds the proud culinary tradition of farm to table food that Dorset is known for.

It’s a local favorite

Pulling into the dark parking lot, the only light available was the orange hue coming from inside through the windows. From the many silhouettes we saw from the outside, it was obviously a popular destination. There were men smoking their cigarettes outside, and people surrounded a horseshoe-shaped bar inside. It was lively, and the air was filled with strong English accents.  The evening was every bit the celebration we had hoped to have in the countryside. Local liveliness, good food, and friends.

We woke up very early

Early the next day, Brenda and I got up early to catch that perfect morning light for picture taking. Stepping out of the front door, I was approached by a local cat who seemed to have been welcoming me to the neighborhood. The house was perched high on the road and easy to look down the valley below. I imagined the many hundreds of years of monks traversing through these trails, the many sheepherders that watch over their flock season after season, and farmers that toiled over this beautiful land. For city people like ourselves, what we felt can only be articulated by borrowing quotes from classic English writers. So, appropriately, I borrow from Thomas Hardy, “Beauty lay not in the thing, but in what the thing symbolized”.

Walking from West Bay to Burton Bradstock

Throughout our journey, the almost savage beauty of the coastline and manicured countryside that England offers are unmatched. While walking along the cliffs from West Bay to Burton Bradstock, I couldn’t help but whistle the hymn, “Jerusalem” to myself. It is England’s unofficial anthem and the lyrics capture the essence of this great land.

“And did those feet in ancient time,

Walk upon England’s mountains green…

Till we have built Jerusalem,

In England’s green & pleasant Land.” – William Blake

Above all things, England is a wonderful place for family travel and is far from ordinary. Oh, and take a car, there’s no reason to even pretend we are farmers or sheepherders of yore.

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Thank you, to our partners,  Auto Europe Car Rentals for a wonderful road trip through England. Make sure to read part 1 of our journey. Some links are affiliate links, which means we would receive a commission if you book, prices remain the same for you and as always, opinions are my own and thank you so much.

Travel Details for exploring Dorset with kids:

Car Rental:

We booked our rental through our partners Auto Europe Car Rentals, which was about $700 for 18 days. we’ve also used them to travel throughout France and Belgium, here are some of those travel stories:

5 Tips on preparing for a family road trip in France

From Champagne to Beer, From France to Belgium, A family road trip

Family Road Trip from Belgium to France

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Where to Stay in Dorset, England:

We stayed in a beautiful cottage called Albury House in Charmouth, which was about a 4-hour drive from London. Charmouth is a lovely little village, which serves as a gateway to the Jurassic Coast. The village has everything one needs during your holiday in Dorset and has a lovely beach 10 minutes walking distance from the cottage. It’s also very central and is an easy drive to many towns around Dorset and Devon. You can book this through Jigsaw Cottages Dorset
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Family friendly things to do in Dorset:

Charmouth Beach

Charmouth Beach, Only 10 minutes walk from Albury House, this beach is great for exploring, walking and finding fossils.

Mapperton

Mapperton is the home of the Montagus, currently the Earl and Countess of Sandwich. It has a long, fascinating history and was also used as the set for the filming of the movies; Far from the Madding Crowd and Emma. We spent the day there and had a great cream tea at the cafe. The house was closed for visitors when we arrived so we opted to just visit the Gardens. The fee was 9 pounds per adult  and free for kids up to 15 years old. 

Walk from West Bay to Burton Bradstock and back.

One of our favorite activities in Dorset was our walk from West Bay to Burton Bradstock and back. It was a beautiful, cool and sunny day and was just the right time to walk. If you’re in Dorset, make sure to do this walk, it’s quite easy and kids will be happy doing this walk. 

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is the pearl of Dorset, this is the biggest beach town in Dorset and has lots of restaurants, all types of accommodation, shops and even has an arcade. It is a pebble beach and there’s also a section of sandy beach, in which the sand was imported from Normandy. We spent a few hours here, eating and exploring. 

Dorchester

Thomas Hardy was born in Higher Bockhampton, a village close to the town of Dorchester in Dorset. There’s a big statue of him in town and also a great interactive walk for free.

Where to Eat in Dorset:

The Bull Hotel in Bridport.

Is an award-winning luxury boutique hotel in Bridport and also has a fantastic restaurant which serves local food. It was a Sunday when we visited so we had the roast beef. We also tried the fish dish of the day and a pork dish with cracklins. Everything was super delicious and beautiful. This is a great place to lunch after a walk from West Bay to Burton Bradstock.

Town Mill Bakey in Lyme Regis

“We are organic artisan bakers with restaurants in Lyme Regis, Sherborne, and Dorchester. We make bread the old fashioned way using recipes, processes and ingredients your great-grandmother would be very familiar with.” It’s great to visit this bakery with communal tables and self-serve dishes. Perfect for breakfast.

WetFishShop in Lyme Regis

A family of fishmongers that sold fresh fish to cook and to eat. We had the steamed small tub of mixed seafood for 3 pounds, it was so delicious and fresh.

Lyme’s Fish Bar in Lyme Regis

Make sure to have the fish and chips here, a stand right on the water front. It’s done just right.

Goldie’s Pub in Dorchester

We stopped here for a pint and drinks and snacks for the kids and met some great guys who suggested we have dinner at:

Spyway Inn in Dorchester

A local favorite place to have dinner, “A traditional, friendly family run country inn set in Askerswell, the unspoilt and picturesque part of Dorset.” The best dish was Pork 3-ways but all the dishes were very delicious.
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What to read:

Since you will be in Thomas Hardy country, here is some suggested reading for you: