The town has many places of interest to visit, including museums, attractions and at the top of town is the impressive 'Keep', built in 1879 it now houses the Dorset Military Museum.

Facing the nearby roundabout is a statue of Thomas Hardy which was unveiled by Hardy's great friend, Sir James Barrie, on 2nd September 1931.

Thomas Hardy went to school in Dorchester and lived at Max Gate and although his ashes are buried at Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey his heart is buried at Stinsford, near Dorchester.