Driving down the country lanes, strolling along the beautiful coastline or buying produce in the farmer’s markets of Dorset, you might find it hard to believe that this part of the world has been the scene of numerous conflicts. From the Roman conquest 2000 years ago, through the battles between Saxons and Viking raiders, to skirmishes during the Civil War, hasn’t always been as peaceful as it is today. But you might be even more surprised to learn that the woodlands, fields and town centres of the county are the theatre of futuristic combat - the high intensity, fun filled game of laser tag.

Laser tag is a shooting game where you use a laser gun to fire infrared beams at your opponents. Hits are detected by laser sensors which every player wears, and temporarily eliminate the player from the game. The great advantages over similar sports such as paintball are that you can shoot as much as you like without worrying about ammo, and getting hit doesn’t hurt or leave bruises. This makes it cheaper, more accessible and more fun for people of all ages and abilities and explains its growing popularity in this area and around the country.

Where are the best places to play laser tag in Dorset?

• Bournemouth: This seaside resort is famous for its wonderful long sandy beach, but day after day of sunbathing and ice cream can get a bit monotonous. Why not break it up with something completely different? There are several indoor arenas in the city, each boasting awesome designs and epic gameplay. You’ll have to take cover behind themed obstacles, avoid being lit up by neon lights and use the artificial fog to your advantage if you’re going to emerge victorious.

• Poole: You don’t have to go far from Bournemouth to find outdoor laser tag fun. Just outside Poole is a woodland battle zone where you can enjoy a number of team games and deathmatches in the great outdoors. The team is also equipped to pack a van full of laser guns and environmental features and drive to where you are and set up an arena in a suitable outdoor space.

• Moors Valley: Outside the town of Ringwood, Moors Valley Country Park is a popular outdoor adventure destination for families and visitors from the area and further afield. The wooded valley is also perfect for a game of laser tag, where you and your team can use some top of the range kit in a huge interactive game arena. Pine trees, barricades and trenches provide cover from enemy fire, but you’ll need to think about your strategy if you’re going to laser them into submission.

• Blandford Forum: In the centre of the county, there’s an outdoor laser tag centre on the banks of the River Stour. Take your friends or turn up as an individual to get into the crossfire of a futuristic battle. There are lightweight guns for the kids to take part too, but sessions are organised so that children don’t compete in the same games as adults.

• Dorchester: If you’re looking for fun on a large scale, there’s a huge woodland laser tag site near Dorchester, with the firepower to match. The equipment on offer is the same stuff that the military uses for training, and the laser guns are accurate at distances of 200 metres. This is a tactical challenge that’s popular with children and adults alike, and it’s the perfect way to mark a special occasion in style.

• Weymouth: The future has come to Weymouth with virtual reality laser tag technology. You’ll wear a VR headset and take part in frenetic combat in a mindblowing simulated environment. But don’t get distracted by the special effects, you need to keep your wits about you to be a real world winner! You can also find kid oriented fun in the town, so the whole family’s catered for.

Requirements to do this activity

The infrared lasers that fly around the arena are the same kind of technology that you find in a TV remote, so they’re completely safe. That’s why kids can have a go at laser tag from a younger age than in, for example, paintball. Indoor arenas are suitable for younger children, 6 years old in some centres but 7 in others, while to take to an outdoor arena participants usually have to be at least 8 years old, because they’re larger, less controlled spaces.

Many laser tag arenas in Dorset host open games where you can turn up as an individual or with a friend or two and play against strangers. But there’s something special about pointing a gun at your best friends, which is why we recommend organising a private session to enjoy with your people. Is an increasingly popular way to celebrate a birthday, stag or hen do, or even to get the team from work operating as a team.

New virtual reality technology has amazing implications for people with disabilities. This activity is available through VR in Weymouth for people with limited mobility, provided they can move their head, neck and one hand.

How long does a game experience last?

Indoor and outdoor arenas tend to organise their sessions in different ways. You can pop into a town centre laser centre and take part in a single game that lasts 15-20 minutes, or stay for a couple of games over the course of 1 hour or more. But if you’re going out into the great outdoors you’ll book a session which includes multiple games. It’s possible that each game is longer as there are a multitude of types to choose from - capture the flag, zone defence, and zombie mode to name a few - and in total you can spend 90 minutes to 2 hours or more on site. Finally, if you choose to have your laser arena delivered to you, you can enjoy it for a full 6 hour day!

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