Portland Bill Lighthouse
Lighthouses
A 41-metre Trinity House lighthouse at the southern end of the Isle of Portland, with a visitor centre and guided tower climb. Dogs: centre only.
The lighthouse at the end of the road
Portland Bill Lighthouse stands at the southern end of the Isle of Portland, on the southernmost point of Dorset. Trinity House built the current 41-metre tower, and its lamp was first lit on 11 January 1906. It replaced two earlier lighthouses, the Old Higher Lighthouse and Old Lower Lighthouse, which dated from 1716 and worked as a pair. The Old Lower Lighthouse became a bird observatory in 1961.
The visitor centre opened in 2015 at the base of the tower. Its main exhibition covers the lighthouse, its keepers and Trinity House, the organisation that runs it.
Climbing the tower
A guided tour takes you up the 155 steps to the lantern room. Trinity House sets firm rules for safety. Children must be at least 1.1 metres tall and able to climb and descend the stairs by themselves, and nobody can be carried on the staircases, which includes baby carriers. Some stone floors and stairs are worn and uneven and some staircases are very steep and must be descended facing the stair. Open-toe sandals without heel straps, flip-flops and high heels are not allowed.
Anyone with vertigo, or a heart or respiratory condition, is advised not to take the tour. Read the Trinity House visitor safety notes before you queue.
Dogs and getting here
Dogs are welcome in the visitor centre and the shop, but not up the tower. A number of car parks are very close to the lighthouse, and buses run from Weymouth, though routes and timetables change by season, so check with the operator before relying on one. Trinity House publishes opening days and times on the lighthouse website, and reserves the right to close at short notice.
The sea off the Bill
The strong Portland tidal race makes the water off the Bill hazardous, and sailors are advised to leave at least three miles of clearance even in good weather. Watch it from the shore.
At the tip you can also find a stone obelisk put up in 1844 as a daymark for ships, and Pulpit Rock, an artificial stack left by quarrying in the 1870s. In Weymouth, Nothe Fort was built to protect Portland Harbour.
Where to stay near Portland Bill Lighthouse
Sample dates: 30 October 2026 - 1 November 2026. Adjust below to see live prices for Dorset.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Can dogs go up Portland Bill Lighthouse?
- Dogs are welcome in the visitor centre and the shop, but not up the tower.
- How many steps are there, and can young children climb?
- The climb is 155 steps to the lantern room, 41 metres above the ground. Children must be at least 1.1 metres tall and able to manage the staircases unaided, and no child or baby can be carried up or down, including in a carrier.
- Who should not do the tower tour?
- Trinity House advises that anyone with vertigo, or a heart or respiratory condition, should not take the tour. People with a cardiac pacemaker should tell the tour guide and stay at least two metres from any operational radar.
- How do I check the lighthouse is open?
- Opening days and times are on the lighthouse website, and Trinity House can close at short notice for operational reasons. If you arrive late in the day, phone 01305 821050 to confirm the final tour time.
