For Families with Young Explorers
Start the day at Dorking Museum, where history is measured not in dates but in dinosaur bones and dusty relics with stories to tell. The little ones will revel in the dressing-up box and interactive displays while you try to wrap your head around the fact that the town once had its own volcano (albeit a very, very long time ago).
A short walk away, Meadowbank Park is where pent-up energy meets open space. The playpark is a miniature version of the town’s landmarks—ideal for tiny explorers. When that still isn’t enough, there’s Silvermere Soft Play, a haven of foam shapes and climbing tunnels where children defy physics while parents sip coffee with the weary camaraderie of those who have been here before.
For something quieter, Dorking Library in St Martin’s Walk is a welcome retreat, offering rhyme time, storytelling, and, crucially, somewhere to sit down. Just a few steps away, Beatitudes is a goldmine of pre-loved children’s clothes and toys—shopping, play, and an excellent excuse to avoid bringing yet another plastic dinosaur home.
Come lunchtime, you’ll want somewhere that caters to all moods and appetites. Mullins Coffee Shop, tucked inside the only remaining Pilgrim Home in the UK, serves food with a side of history. For a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, there’s Cafe Rialto, where pizza and gelato make everything right with the world. Or embrace the comfort-food classic with Wimpy—a retro nod to the childhoods of those who grew up before Happy Meals ruled the world.
