Lyme Regis in Dorset is famous for its fossils, but there is much more to do in this lovely town than just hunt for dinosaurs. I had a lovely time camping in Lyme Regis and spent a few days exploring this area of Dorset. In this post, I’ve brought together the best things to do in Lyme Regis so you can make the most of your time in “the Pearl of Dorset”.
Why Visit Lyme Regis?
If you or any of your family are into dinosaurs and fossils, then you simply HAVE to come to Lyme Regis! It is the birthplace of Mary Anning, one of the most important palaeontologists in the world, and one of the best places in the UK for fossils. I know several friends whose children would love it here, and there are plenty of things to do in Lyme Regis with kids, from playing on the beach to finding your own fossils on the beach!
If that doesn’t convince you, then the lovely beaches in Lyme Regis might – as well as clifftop walks, cute beach huts and delicious food at the many excellent restaurants in Lyme Regis! As for accommodation, you can find places to stay in Lyme Regis for every budget, from camping to cute cottages and sea-front apartments
READ MORE: Fossil Hunting in Lyme Regis
How to Get to Lyme Regis
I brought my campervan, Mabel, to Lyme Regis, as part of my campervan coastal adventure, and didn’t have any problems with getting to Lyme Regis. If you’re coming by car then Lyme Regis is just off the A35 which runs along the south coast of England from Bournemouth, becoming the A30 to Exeter.
There is no train station at Lyme Regis, but there are buses that connect to Axminster train station, and the X53 Jurassic Coast bus which goes from Weymouth to Axminster, calling at Lyme Regis. The Dorset Council website has more information on local transport links.
Lyme Regis Car Parks
Parking in Lyme Regis is easy, although for most car parks in Lyme Regis there is a short walk into town. During the summer there is a park and ride service to save you driving into Lyme Regis, which may also work out cheaper than paying for parking, depending on how long you stay.
I parked at Charmouth Road Car Park, which I highly recommend if you are visiting Lyme Regis in a motorhome as you avoid driving through the town centre. From here there is a footpath and steps which lead down to Lyme Regis Beach, or you can walk along the road into town.
It cost me £8 for the full day, and you can usually pay with cash, card or the JustPark app, although the card machine wouldn’t work for me, so I’d recommend setting up your JustPark account before you go to Lyme Regis. There are extra-long parking bays for motorhomes and campervans at the far side of the car park from the entrance.
Other car parks in Lyme Regis include Cobb Gate Car Park which is right in the centre, although that is the most expensive and smallest of the main car parks. Holmbush Car Park is the other large car park on the other side of Lyme Regis that has plenty of spaces but if you are coming from the A35, you’ll have to drive through the town centre to get here, which is a bit tight for large vehicles.
The Best Things to Do in Lyme Regis
Now you’re here and settled, it’s time to see what to do in Lyme Regis. While a lot of the activities in Lyme Regis are fossil-related, there are still plenty of things to do here that don’t have anything to do with dinosaurs and fossils!
Hit the Beach
The beaches in Lyme Regis are the first port of call for most holiday-makers.
Lyme Regis Beach
Lyme Regis beach is a long stretch of pebble and sand beach that runs east from the town centre towards the Cobb marina. Even at high tide, there is still plenty of space for sunbathing, sandcastles and splashing around in the water.
Lyme Regis Cliff Beach
To the west of the town, heading towards Charmouth, are the Lyme Regis cliffs which have a stony beach that is covered during high tide. This is the best place to go fossil hunting in Lyme Regis, and where you can spot ammonites and other fossils in the rocks. Check the tide times to make sure you don’t get cut off by the rising tide.
Monmouth Beach
Monmouth Beach is on the other side of the Cobb Marina and is a stony beach that is still very pleasant for sunbathing and other beach activities. About 30 minutes walk along the beach you can find what’s known as the Ammonite Pavement and more fossils in the rocks.
Walk the Lyme Regis Cobb
The Cobb in Lyme Regis is a man-made marina where you can find boats sheltering from the sea. Fishing and boat tours leave from here, and if the weather is decent you should at least take a walk along the Cobb wall.
The Cobb is famous in its own right, having featured in the film The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep, in Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and in the recent film based on Mary Anning’s life, Ammonite, starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan – along with other key locations in Lyme Regis which were also used for filming.
Visit Lyme Regis Museum
The Lyme Regis Museum is built on the site of Mary Anning’s family home and has a wonderful display of fossils, including a huge ichthyosaur skull and some spectacular ammonites. The museum also covers the history of Lyme Regis and books that have been written in and about the area, as well as lots of information about Mary Anning.
During the summer holidays, the museum is open daily 10am to 5pm (except Sundays when it closes at 4pm). From mid-September to mid-July the museum is closed on Mondays. Entry costs £5.95 per adult or £2.75 for children. If you take a fossil walk, you can get discounted entry when you book your walk.
Lyme Regis Fossil Walks
The Lyme Regis Museum also runs fossil walks, led by expert geologists who share their vast knowledge of fossils and take you along the beach to find fossils of your own. I joined one of the walks and absolutely loved it!
Our guide Chris was fabulous, he clearly knew his stuff but was also great at sharing that knowledge in a fun and interesting way. Before we set off walking, we gathered in a circle and he pulled out various models of dinosaurs and some fossils to demonstrate what he was talking about, making jokes and getting everyone involved.
As well as explaining what we found on the beach, from actual fossils to nice bits of rock, Chris made sure that we all headed home with a fossil of our own, either that we found ourselves or he spotted for us. I ended up with a lovely ammonite fossil that now has pride of place on my desk back home.
You can book your fossil walk on the Lyme Regis Museum website here.
Fossil Hunting on Lyme Regis Fossil Beach
Fossil hunting in Lyme Regis is one of the best and cheapest things to do in this pretty town. Even just walking around on the beach you will be able to spot the distinctive spiral-shaped ammonites in rocks all over the beach.
If you know what you’re looking for you can find your own ammonites and other fossils to take home with you. Due to the presence of iron pyrite (fool’s gold) in the soil here, you can even find ‘gold’ ammonites. Bivalve shells, sea urchins and ichthyosaur vertebrae are also fairly common.
The Lyme Regis Museum has an eBook of fossils you may find on the beach, for just £2.50 it gives you a good idea of what to look for if you don’t join one of their fossil walks. Otherwise, just take a stroll and see what you can find!
READ MORE: Finding Fossils in Lyme Regis
Dinosaurland Fossil Museum
This privately-owned museum is one of the most popular things to do in Lyme Regis with kids and has an excellent selection of fossils on display as well as models of dinosaurs and skeletons on show. Entry is £5 for adults and £4 for kids and is open from February to October from 10am to 5pm. Winter opening hours vary, so check their website for details.
Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium
This small aquarium is perched at the end of the Lyme Regis Cobb wall and is a nice way to discover the marine life that makes its home along the coast here. There is the chance to feed fish and get interactive with some of the creatures and will be popular with the kids but adults may not be as impressed.
The Town Mill
This old watermill was rescued and restored by local volunteers, and now offers tours of the mill with demonstrations of flour milling. The old mill buildings now house art galleries, a café and a micro-brewery, so it is definitely worth checking out!
There is also a path leading from the mill courtyard which runs alongside the River Lim, making a very pleasant stroll through Lyme Regis to Uplyme and beyond if you keep walking.
Go Shopping in Lyme Regis
If you’re looking to buy a fossil instead of finding one, there are several dedicated fossil shops in Lyme Regis where you buy beautifully polished fossils to take home. There are also gift shops, independent boutiques selling clothes, jewellery, art, antiques and most other things you can think of!
Stroll Around Town
Lyme Regis is a pleasant town to explore on foot, with various landmarks and places to visit along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for ammonites all over Lyme Regis, this symbol of the town pop up everywhere, from real ammonites embedded in the pavements to the curved decoration of lampposts!
Other landmarks to look out for include the clock in Cobb Gate Car Park which is dedicated to Lyme Regis war veterans who lost their lives, and the Guildhall which is a striking building that dates back to Elizabethan times.
Along the seafront, you’ll also find a row of pretty beach huts with colourful doors, as well as the usual arcades and amusement halls typical of the British seaside. A walk through Langmoor and Lister Gardens is also lovely on a sunny day, with views over the Cobb and out to sea.
Walk to Charmouth
At low tide, it is possible to walk to Charmouth from Lyme Regis along the beach, but as the tide rises the beach disappears so make sure you set off as the tide is falling to give you enough time. The walk shouldn’t take more than an hour, although may well be longer if you are stopping to look for fossils!
Alternatively, you can walk inland to take a different Lyme Regis to Charmouth walk route. The South West Coast Path used to run along Lyme Regis Cliffs, however, due to landslides that route is no longer possible, so there is a diversion that goes much further inland.
You could do a circular route and walk one way along the beach and return via the inland route (or vice versa).
Charmouth Beach is another great place to find fossils – as well as plenty of sea glass. There’s also another fossil museum at Charmouth which is free to enter, and a café at the beach where you can refuel before your walk back.
I hope this post has inspired you to explore Lyme Regis and spend at least a couple of days in this pretty seaside town. Are there any other things to do in Lyme Regis that I’ve missed? Let me know, I’d love to hear your tips!
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