Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester

3.0 star property
Georgian hotel in Dorchester with a bar

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester

Lounge
Front of property
Superior Double Room | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, individually decorated
Lounge
32-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels, TV
Located in Dorchester's business district, Best Western Wessex Royale Hotel welcomes travelers warmly. Guests enjoy newspapers and WiFi in rooms or mingle at the bar. Helpful staff offers wedding services and luggage storage, with coffee and tea in the lobby.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Free WiFi
  • Business services
The current price is AED 282
AED 338 total
includes taxes & fees
16 Nov - 17 Nov

Room options

Standard Double Room

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(10 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Heating
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Superior Double Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Heating
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Standard Single Room

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Heating
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Large Twin Bed

About the neighborhood

Map
32 High West Street, 32, Dorchester, England, DT1 1UP

What's nearby

  • Tutankhamun: The Exhibition - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Dorset Teddy Bear Museum - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Kingston Maurward Park and Gardens - 4 min drive - 3.0 km
  • Maiden Castle - 11 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Weymouth Beach - 15 min drive - 15.6 km

Getting around

  • Dorchester West Station - 8 min walk
  • Bristol International Airport (BRS) - 103 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Royal Oak (Wetherspoon) - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Kings Arms - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Greggs - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪The Old Ship Inn - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester

Hotel in the business district
Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester provides amenities like a bar and conference space. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks at this hotel include:
  • Self parking (surcharge), a front-desk safe, and smoke-free premises
  • Luggage storage, 1 meeting room, and coffee/tea in the lobby
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and boast comforts such as premium bedding and laptop-friendly workspaces, as well as perks like free WiFi.
More amenities include:
  • Heating and portable fans
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding and pillowtop mattresses
  • Bathrooms with tubs or showers and free toiletries
  • 32-inch flat-screen TVs with digital channels
  • Housekeeping, desks, and phones

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Self parking on site (GBP 10 per day)
  • Limited onsite parking

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Business services

  • 818 square feet of conference space
  • Meeting room

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Handrails in stairways (31 inches high)
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • 1 building
  • 3 floors
  • Built in 1756
  • Georgian architecture
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels

More

  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • Phone
  • Portable fan

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Self parking fee: GBP 10 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

National rating

This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitEngland, the National Tourist Board for England.

Property is also known as

Wessex Royale
Wessex Royale Dorchester
Sleeping Bear Dorchester
Wessex Royale Hotel Dorchester
Dorchester Minotel
Minotel Dorchester
Minotel Hotel Wessex Royale
Minotel Wessex Royale Hotel Dorchester
Wessex Royale Hotel Dorchester, Dorset
Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester Hotel
Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester Dorchester
Best Western Wessex Royale Hotel Dorchester
Wessex Royale Hotel
Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester Hotel Dorchester

Frequently asked questions

Is Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester?

As of 31 October 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester on 9 November 2025 start from $92.07, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester?

Self parking is available for GBP 10 per day. Limited spots are available.

What time is check-in at Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester?

Check-out is at 11 AM.

Where is Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester located?

Located in the heart of Dorchester, this hotel is steps from Tutankhamun: The Exhibition, Borough Gardens, and The Keep Military Museum. Roman Town House and Dinosaur Museum are also within 10 minutes. Dorchester West Station is 8 minutes by foot and Dorchester South Station is 11 minutes.

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Reviews

Sleeping Bear Hotel Dorchester Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.4

Cleanliness

8.8

Location

9.2

Staff & service

8.6

Eco-friendliness

8.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 299 out of 552 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 192 out of 552 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 38 out of 552 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 14 out of 552 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 552 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Simon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fantastic stay.

We had a fantastic time the room was lovely and the staff we very helpfully.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Only spent one night at The Sleeping Bear but enjoyed it and would certainly recommend. Helpful staff, handy location and good room.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Claudenicia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent hotel
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dale

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Apart from noisy creaking floorboards and thin walls, no complaints.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Steve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good location

Very reasonable price for a hotel in such a central location. It’s clean, comfortable & the staff are very friendly helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

2/10 Terrible

Dawn

Couldn’t stay in the room, the small window and lack of light up in the eaves provoked a panic attack. Had to leave.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Alan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The lady on reception was very helpful. I parked at the pay and park at the top of the road and this was only a short walk to the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fabulous, Fabulous & bloody Fabulous!

Great stay, very comfy, very close to restaurants & town, with convenient parking nearby - not stayed here before but we will be back - Fabulous!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Gary

Its not the hotel its the service fron Trivago! Having paid for a room to be told the room had already gone. Not happy at all!!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sharon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A lovely stay great breakfast . Comfy room Very attentive staff . Perfect central location .
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
All the staff were top notch
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Tony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay, not sure about the ongoing changes

Really nice stay. Lovely staff and nice breakfast in the morning. The bar is good too with a comfortable sitting area. Disappointed to hear the breakfast area is going, I'm a returning customer but will need to consider options next time as I enjoy breakfast onsite.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gabriella

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A wonderful stay in a spacious room with excellent in room facilites. The wonderful surprise was the upgrade to our room, and the free access to complimentary teas and coffees in the lounge. If you wanted food from outside you could use the lounge for that take away. The staff were super friendly and helpful. Parking needs to be booked on site prior to arrival but there is a local parking only 5 minutes walk away that is convenient.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent

Very nice hotel. Exceptional cleanliness and great staff.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marcus

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location for exploring the area

We booked this stay through hotels.com and communications were good, especially the option to pre book parking as spaces were limited in the parking area behind the hotel. Check in was pleasant and we were shown to our 3 nice rooms, all a good size, nicely decorated and with modern bathrooms (although I do loathe shower curtains!) and a nice desk to work at. There were kettles in each room with plenty of tea and coffee options. Although the hotel does not do food there are plenty of options within a few minutes walk and we ate dinner at Kao San Thai, just opposite. There were a couple of guest lounge areas with free tea/coffee facilities and also a bar for the evening. Prices on the Saturday night were expensive but the Sunday night was far more reasonable. Wi-Fi was very good and the rooms were quiet, other than seagulls! The hotel was a good location, both for walking to Dorchester's attractions and exploring the wider area.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patricia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The hotel is very comfortable and clean. The staff were excellent, very friendly and nothing too much trouble. Breakfast was very good with plenty of choice.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Pleasant stay

Stayed for a couple of nights here when visiting family. Comfortable rooms and all very clean. Lots of great places nearby for breakfast (nothing at the hotel but they do have complimentary hot drinks available). Friendly staff and easy check in and check out. Dodnt use the hotel parking but usedparking the pay and display just a couple of minutes walk away.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clive

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Full of character and spotlessly clean.

Excellent old building that was full of character and spotlessly clean. Staff were very friendly and the free on site parking was a bonus.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Matthew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Weekend Stay

Really nice hotel with character in a very good central location. Breakfast was lovely. Only downside was extremely weak water pressure in the shower.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

massimo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

returning customer

business frequent stay
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Tracey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good Hotel

We received a lovely welcome from the guy on reception, asking if he could help with our luggage. Room was of a nice size with good amenities. Breakfast was lovely, really good choice and the ladies serving were very good.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Pete

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Just lovely

Upon arrival, I was greeted by the welcoming and friendly staff. The hotel itself was clean and well-maintained, and the room I stayed in was lovely. The food provided at the hotel was also delicious, with generous portions. Overall, it was a very satisfying experience.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Sophie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Definitely recommend lovely hotel.

Really really nice hotel, design and layout is lovely, staff are super friendly and helpful. Not much parking but staff did explain where could park if any issues so that was sorted fine and room was rather small for the price we paid but maybe thats because it was a bank holiday weekend. But overall would definitely stay again, very clean very nice staff and the hotel itself was stunning. Especially the big open staircase
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

2/10 Terrible

Brenda

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I booked here because of the reviews, and I am starting to think these people writing the reviews are either friends of the hotel staff, or they stayed at a different hotel, and gave this one a good review in error. Out of all the hotels we stayed at in the UK, this was the absolute worst. We stayed at a top floor room, that was absolutely stifling, without AC, and had a small window that the fan couldn't even fit in. The bed felt like a cement slab and the foot of the bed was higher than the head of the bed. Most of the room had a slanted wall, which made it difficult to walk around. Parking was ok if you are lucky to get one of the few spots available. The ONLY saving grace of this place was the woman at the Reception Desk. She was WONDERFUL. I get the feeling she is under-appreciated because she was not only Checking people in, but she was also making drinks at the bar. Other than that, I would never stay here again, and the people leaving the good reviews, maybe have lower standards than I do, The price I paid for this place, I deserved better.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025