Dorset Museum is delighted to announce that all children aged 16 and under will be able to enjoy its 250 million years of history for free, as of Monday, July 3.

The kids-go-free offer will be available throughout the year, for children accompanied by a full-paying adult.

In addition, all adult tickets will now allow for unlimited visits for a whole year, providing great value for families to return time and again to enjoy the museum's exciting range of exhibitions and events – from hands-on fun and creative activities to regularly changing exhibitions.

Elizabeth Selby, interim director at Dorset Museum, said: "We have been offering Kids Go Free at weekends for the last few months and we have been blown away by how well it has been received. We are very conscious of the financial challenges a lot of people are facing at the moment, so we have decided to extend this offer to all children, whenever they come during the year.'

The fun starts this summer, as alongside its permanent exhibitions, the museum is excited to be hosting The Natural History Museum's world-famous exhibition Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Running from July 21 to October 29, more than 100 incredible images of nature and wildlife will shine a light on stories and species from around the world.

The stunning photography will highlight the astonishing, varied animal kingdom, as well as reveal the impact of human activity on the planet, in a way that words simply cannot.

The National Festival of Archaeology runs from July 15 to 30 and the museum has a host of events planned to celebrate Dorset's rich archaeological heritage.

Visitors can take a tour of the Roman Town House, one of the best examples of its kind in England, or bring children to watch history come to life as the Vikings invade Dorset Museum.

A living history encampment will showcase the lifestyles of Viking and Anglo-Saxon people, and children can get hands-on and create their own Viking-themed art activities.

Dorset Museum has something for everyone – history, the arts, the natural world, archaeology, culture and more.

For further information on the museum, visit www.dorsetmuseum.org