Sleeping Bear Hotels Dorchester

Hotels
8.7 (1391 reviews)
32 High West Street , Dorchester , gb

Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Heating
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Meeting/banquet facilities
Non-smoking throughout
Daily housekeeping
Designated smoking area
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Comfortable rooms
Cons:
Cleanliness issues in some rooms
Noise from adjacent rooms

Categories

Cleanliness
7.91
Several comments were made about cleanliness issues, particularly with hair found in one of the rooms.
Service
9.38
Staff received high praise for being friendly and helpful in multiple reviews.
Location
9.42
The hotel location was frequently noted as a big plus, being close to the town center.
Room Quality
8.37
Most rooms were reported as comfortable, though there were specific complaints about cleanliness.
Amenities
8.9
Facilities such as tea/coffee options and room features were appreciated.
Value for Money
8.86
Value was mentioned positively, especially in relation to the room's comfort and amenities.
Food and Beverage
7.91
The lack of breakfast options noted in a review negatively affected this score.
Overall Experience
8.88
Overall experience was favorable despite some criticisms regarding cleanliness and noise.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 07:21

Property Description

Delightful Georgian Hotel in the Heart of Dorchester

Premium Amenities: Enjoy free WiFi, premium digital TV channels, and modern en suite bathrooms with a bath and power shower in every room.

Historic Charm: Built in 1756, the hotel boasts classic features such as fireplaces, panelling, and a magnificent grand staircase, offering a truly unique and charming stay.

Perfect for Relaxation: Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway or a longer stay, The Wessex Royale provides an ideal setting for a peaceful and rejuvenating break.

Book now to experience the historic charm and modern comforts of The Wessex Royale in Dorchester.

Important information:

No elevator available.

Guests should note that we have limited parking available on site, and this is charged at £10 a day through Just Park, and needs to be booked in advance .

Please note, group bookings of more than 6 rooms will be subject to a 7 day cancelation policy - if canceled later than 7 days before the day of arrival the first night's stay will be charged.

The Reception Desk is staffed between the hours of 10.00am and 6.00pm. Outside of these hours, please use the self-service reception kiosk located in the lounge. It's quick and easy and takes less than a minute.
No elevator available. Guests should note that we have limited parking available on site, and this is charged at £10 a day through Just Park, and needs to be booked in advance . Please note, group bookings of more than 6 rooms will be subject to a 7 day cancelation policy - if canceled later than 7 days before the day of arrival the first night's stay will be charged.Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: BRS

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is needed) and costs GBP 15 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.7
Based on 1391 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.91
Service: 9.38
Location: 9.42
Room Quality: 8.37
Amenities: 8.9
Value for Money: 8.86
Food and Beverage: 7.91
Overall Experience: 8.88
K
Kevin couple gb
8
2026-06-25 via Nuitee
D
David couple gb
7
Please room in a nice building that was once an inn, but now offers no food or bar service
Pros:

Location and comfort

Cons:

Minimal staff presence and no food or bar service other than from vending machines and free coffee. A waste of what was obviously previously an inn

2026-06-25 via Nuitee
G
Gerald couple au
9
Enjoyed the central location and parking was a bonus
Pros:

A great location

Cons:

All good

2026-06-24 via Nuitee
L
Laura extended_group gb
9
Great hotel and really central
2026-06-23 via Nuitee
R
Richard solo_traveller gb
5
Conveniently located and served the simple purpose of overnight accommodation.
Pros:

Bedroom quite spacious. Bed comfortable. No breakfast (known in advance) but attractive local cafes readily available and actually a good alternative !

Cons:

Reception unmanned 18.00 to 10.00 next morning. Though the auto booking in and out was easy to use & worked well.
But definitely NOT the hotel experience I appreciate.
Place soulless and very plain. Just a place to sleep. so not good value for money at the price asked.

2026-06-21 via Nuitee
G
graeme couple gb
8
Very enjoyable stay .
2026-06-20 via Nuitee
I
Iain solo_traveller gb
9
Pros:

Very quaint little hotel and room, in a very quaint little location.

Cons:

No complaints

2026-06-20 via Nuitee
R
Roland solo_traveller be
8
2026-06-18 via Nuitee
C
Chloe couple gb
8
Comfortable, clean and spacious stay - would recommend
Pros:

Good location in a lovely old building. Easy staff-free check in (we arrived after 6pm). Coffee machine downstairs. Friendly staff on check-out and huge spacious room. We were facing the back which was much quieter than the front.

Cons:

Walls were quite thin meaning you could hear the person on the phone in the room behind
Lack of variety of tea (only english breakfast) available

2026-06-18 via Nuitee
B
Bennett solo_traveller gb
8
Great stay overall.
Pros:

The staff were very friendly and approachable; fulfilling our requests and needs at no moments notice.

Cons:

More a nik-pic but there was no AC so during the recent heat waves the room would've been hard to stay in, the window provided felt unsafe on the bottom floor due to ease of reaching their hand in from outside. TV needs re-tuning as it was outdated and hard to understand what was on at night on the guide.

2026-06-18 via Nuitee
R
Rebecca couple gb
10
Absolutely amazing!
Pros:

Friendly staff, beautiful building, comfortable rooms, just absolutely amazing and definitely want to stay again next time myself and my partner in Dorchester!

2026-06-15 via Nuitee
C
Chris couple ca
8
Mixed feelings about changes there since 1981
Pros:

Ate out at two places and both ok

2026-06-15 via Nuitee
A
Amanda couple gb
10
A beautiful hotel with caring, helpful staff. Nothing was too much bother.
2026-06-14 via Nuitee
V
Val couple gb
8
Superb in every way
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-14 via Nuitee
J
James couple gb
10
Lovely helpful staff.
Pros:

Quirky.

Cons:

Noisy road (no double glazing due to age)

2026-06-12 via Nuitee
G
Garry solo_traveller gb
10
2026-06-11 via Nuitee
A
Aaron couple gb
4
Pros:

The location and bathroom

Cons:

Water was left in the kettle. The bed was extremely uncomfortable and the room needed a vacuum. There were no staff working past 5pm.

2026-06-11 via Nuitee
B
biddlead solo_traveller gb
10
Pros:

As returning gyests we received a very warm welcome. Our hotel.of choice due to how wonderful the staff are and the styke, class and comfort of the interiors. Well appointed comfirtable rooms, a loveky guests lounge to relax in with a well equipped hot drink area for guests to enjoy.

Cons:

Everythibg was great no complaints.

2026-06-10 via Nuitee
S
Sadie solo_traveller gb
10
Pros:

Everything!

2026-06-08 via Nuitee
V
Vasile solo_traveller gb
9
2026-06-08 via Nuitee