Beautiful Lyme Regis is located in West Dorset, in Lyme Bay. Known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’, Lyme Regis is perhaps best renowned internationally for two aspects: its wealth of fossils and its curved stone harbour wall, The Cobb. This hilly holiday resort is also well-loved for its local beaches, period architecture, independent Lyme Regis shops, cafes and excellent restaurants.
Lyme Regis has a busy event calendar every year including a jazz festival, a fossil festival and Regatta and Carnival Week. Lyme Regis’ position on the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site serves the town well, making it a hub for fossil hunters worldwide. For live entertainment and films, you can visit the Marine Theatre or if you love beer, why not check out Lyme Regis Brewery? Both offer things to do in Lyme Regis when it rains, or it is really cold outside.
As you can see there’s a lot to recommend in this guide to things to do in Lyme Regis. A good way to experience the best of Lyme Regis at your leisure is to stay at one of our self-catering holiday cottages. We have holiday accommodation of all sizes in and around Lyme Regis for you to choose from. Click on the button below to find your perfect place to stay.
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Best free activity for families | Fossil hunting
Fossil hunting has long been associated with Lyme Regis. This is the place where the famous palaeontologist Mary Anning (1799 – 1847) found and sold some amazing specimens to museums around the world. Anyone can find fossils by searching along the beach so it’s a fun activity to enjoy with children. You can also go fossil hunting with guides, such as the Wobbly Fossiler (for a fee), which will often give you a crash course in certain types of rocks to crack open that may contain traces of prehistoric sea life or even a dinosaur. For even more fun things to do in Dorset, read our handy guide.
Best for views and film fans | The Cobb
The Cobb is a curved stone harbour wall and its one-of-a-kind distinctive design has enchanted visitors to Lyme Regis for hundreds of years. The breakwater is very old and can be traced back as far as the 1200s to the reign of Edward I. The Cobb has featured in literature and film including Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion, and AS Byatt’s Possession; film-wise its most famous appearance is in The French Lieutenant’s Woman, and the film about Mary Anning, called Ammonite. You can walk along The Cobb for free and there is a lower level and higher walkway. It can be slippery when wet, so care is needed especially on the upper level as there are no hand rails.
Best for dinosaur-mad kids | Dinosaurland Fossil Museum
Do you want to learn more about dinosaurs and marine life fossils? This small museum, Dinosaurland, is a great Lyme Regis attraction for all the family. There is a very cool collection of locally excavated Jurassic marine fossils. There are over 16,000 specimens on show making it one of the largest and best arrays of fossils on public display in the UK. You can learn about the interesting life of Mary Anning who lived and worked close by. You can also book fossil hunting tours with the resident expert. It's just one of a handful of Lyme Regis fossil museums too.
Best for families with kids | Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium
Kids will love the colourful sea creatures that live at Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium. It’s a superb all-weather attraction to enjoy with the family as there are all kinds of deep sea creatures waiting to meet you. Situated on The Cobb, it’s one of the most amazing collections on the Jurassic Coast. Kids can touch and feed mullet, starfish and shellfish. Look out for sea scorpions, dogfish, bass, ballan wrasse, crabs and lobsters. There are all kinds of wonders to discover.
Best for history buffs | Lyme Regis Museum
Uncover the fascinating history of Lyme Regis, dating back to its royal charter and its long association with fossil hunter, Mary Anning; the Lyme Regis Museum is built on the site of her old house. One of the town’s most distinctive buildings, the museum houses a huge collection of fossils, portraits, art and local paraphernalia related to Lyme Regis’ potted history. The museum runs a series of events and gallery tours, as well as fossil hunting and restoration courses and activity days. Literary fans will be thrilled to hear that the author John Fowles was a curator for the museum.
Best for beach lovers | Lyme Regis beaches
Lyme Regis is home to several beaches. All of which offer a natural playground for children. Could you search out fossils on Lyme Regis Beach and see who is lurking in the rockpools at low tide? Front Beach is located at the northern end of the main town beach, where you’ll find a good selection of cafes, takeaways and pubs. Church Cliff Beach is a lovely spot, where low tide reveals a maze of rock pools. Monmouth Beach is another nice spot, backed by holiday chalets, beach huts and a bowling green. Read our guide to find where some of Dorset's most beautiful beaches are located.
Best for fans of live events | Lyme Regis festival calendar
For fans of live entertainment and curious festivals, Lyme Regis has its fair share. Check the festival calendar for the dates for when the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival happens. Other annual festivals include the Lyme Regis Jazz Festival, the Lyme Regis Easter Bonnet Parade, the Easter Monday Duck Race, the Blessing of the Boats, the Lyme Regis Sausage and Cider Festival, Morris Day, Somers Day Celebration, and so many more.
Best for hikers | The East Devon Way
The East Devon Way follows the Jurassic Coast between Lyme Regis and Exmouth; it is just one of some amazing Dorset's coastal walking trails. Its full distance is 40 miles, and it encompasses eight villages and five river crossings. The walk is usually tackled in six chunks and takes in the West Dorset wilds before going over the border into neighbouring Devon. You can see the circular Woodbury Castle, Aylesbeare Common, Knapp Copse, and Iron Age earthworks on the trail. It’s fascinating at all times, offering lots of breathtaking scenery and sea views.
Best for cyclists | The Timeless Coast bike tour
Cycle the Timeless Coast during your holiday in Lyme Regis. It’s a great way to appreciate the coastline surrounding beautiful Lyme Regis. You must have good legs because the hills around Lyme Regis are long climbs and if you weren’t fit before arriving in Lyme Regis, most of you will leave in shape. The route is 7 miles long and runs as far as Seaton; along its length, you get to see Undercliffs National Nature Reserve with its thick trails of ancient ferns and 40 species of bird. The route is a part of the much longer South West Coast Path.
Best outdoor activity | Tunnel Tree Tops
Just 3.5 miles outside of Lyme Regis is this great outdoor activity centre, showcasing myriad high-rope courses. There’s lots of fun to be had swinging through the trees at Tunnel Tree Tops. Some of the obstacles you may encounter include rope bridges, wire balancing, suspended crosses and floating logs. Beginning at ground level, the course ascends to 25 feet in places. The course ends with a zipline ride down to the forest floor. It’s a great treat if you are looking for an action-packed day out. An alternative outdoor activity could be a round of golf at Lyme Regis Golf Club.
Stay at a self-catering holiday cottage in Lyme Regis
Stay at one of our self-catering holiday cottages in Lyme Regis. From cosy coastal cottages to historic homes with views of the English Channel, find your ideal base for exploring this incredible part of West Dorset. Click on the button below to find your perfect place to stay in Lyme Regis.
Lyme Regis holiday cottages