The 10 Best Things to do in Isle of Portland, England

The Castletown D-Day Centre is a family friendly, interactive WWII museum that tells the story of the thousands of US military personnel who in June 1944 sailed from Dorset to the beaches of Normandy.

For nearly 300 years a lighthouse has stood on Portland Bill to guide vessels heading for Portland and Weymouth and acting as a waymark for vessels navigating in the English Channel. A red sector light warns mariners of the hazardous Shambles Bank lying three miles offshore. Tours of Portland Bill Lighthouse are organised by AMH Support Services under licence from the Corporation of Trinity House.

Dinosaurs, shipwrecks and smugglers, Roman and Viking invasions, stone carving, seafaring, ground breaking scientists and world-famous authors, Portland museum packs in an astonishing collection that reflects the history and people of this exceptional island community! Portland Museum is a gem – tucked away in a beautiful corner of the island in two cottages dating to the seventeenth century, a stone’s throw from Rufus Castle and the stunning Church Ope Cove, on the South West Coast Path Although joined to the mainland by a tombolo, a wave formed beach, the island has always been regarded, and self-identified, as somewhere different and the museum’s collection reflects this. Staffed by volunteers from the local community, Portland Museum looks forward to welcoming visitors eager to find out about author Thomas Hardy and museum founder Dr Marie Stopes’ connections to the island. Portland Museum has something to interest everyone!

An abandoned stone quarry which has now been turned into a nature reserve and stone sculpture park. The remnants of the quarry's limestone has been used to create sculptures within the quarry. The site has been left to regenerate naturally, with control of invasive scrub forming the main management. Tout Quarry is a creative and educational resource for visitors, schools and universities who come to learn about wildlife and stone heritage through Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust. Over the past two years DWT has removed a huge percentage of cotoneaster and thus allowed many native plants and flowers to prosper. UPDATE You may notice some work being done at the North East end of the quarry,a quote from our Warden "At present if you go through that entrance you will follow the path up to a level compacted stone circle. The circle once finished will have 10 'Memory stones' in a sort of sun dial shape. Each stone will be hand carved in situ, incorporating a different Portland theme. For instance one stone will have wildlife carvings, another heritage etc. The stones will also reflect light in different directions."

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR THE DWT CENTRE AND NOT THE TASTE CAFE. Family-Friendly Visitor centre with information about Chesil Beach and its wildlife. Bird watching, views under the sea, gifts, boardwalk to the beach and lots more... The centre is run by friendly, knowledgeable, local volunteers and is open 7 days a week, from 10am-4pm before Easter and 10am-5pm after Easter. The Fine Foundation Centre is halfway along the causeway between Weymouth ans Portland on the A354 (Portland Beach road - DT4 9XE) There is a pay and display council owned carpark.

Fancys Farm is free to enter and is open every day of the year except Christmas Day from 11am to 4pm. Most of our wide variety of animals are super friendly and love to be petted. Feed is available in the main building at £1 per cup. We have a children's play room and outside toys which are all donated as we can't afford to buy them. All of our animals receive the best care possible but some are rescued and may not look at their best as they are recovering from previous poor care. All of our friendly staff are happy to help and answer any questions that you may have, if you would like a free tour please ask for Jon. Our shop sells a variety of meat and eggs produced on the farm along with hot and cold food and drinks. Please enjoy your visit.

St George's is one of the most magnificent 18th-century church in Dorset. It rises from the rocky and dramatic peninsula of Portland and is the masterwork of a local mason named Thomas Gilbert whose grandfather supplied the Portland stone used to build St Paul's Cathedral. The interior is fabulously preserved with its lectern, pulpit, box pews and galleries all surviving. The sprawling churchyard is a treasure trove of fabulous headstones and memorials that tell tales of murder, piracy and adventure in a gloriously atmospheric setting.

Overlooking Portland Harbour in Dorset stands one of Henry VIII's finest coastal forts, built in the early 1540s to protect against French and Spanish invasion. Today it provides a great day out for visitors and its audio tour, included in the admission price, tells of the castle's 450 year history and the part it played in the First and Second World Wars. Portland Castle offers lots to do for families and couples alike, and only four miles from Weymouth, this historic adventure can easily be combined with some more contemporary seaside fun.