Lyme Regis is a small seaside town in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast, which is frequently nicknamed “The Pearl of Dorset.” When you arrive you’ll immediately see why it has earned this name! The breathtaking scenery, including rocky cliffs and gorgeous beaches, makes this a stunning place to explore.
If you plan to visit the Jurassic Coast, Lyme Regis is a great place to make your base during your time here…and at the very least it is worth a day trip so you can explore all that this cute and historical town has to offer! There are lots of amazing things to do in Lyme Regis as well as fantastic things to do near Lyme Regis…so if you’re wondering what are the best things to see here, then let’s dive in and get ready to explore!
What To Do in Lyme Regis
Now that we know a little bit about this town, let’s talk about what to do in Lyme Regis. There are lots of great Lyme Regis attractions and plenty to enjoy seeing and doing here!
1. Go Fossil Hunting
This one is top of my list, and is actually the main reason I wanted to go to Lyme Regis in the first place. Because how many places in the world can you just walk out and go fossil hunting on the beach?
While most beaches I’ve been to around the world are prime areas to hunt for seashells, sand dollars, or even sea glass, the beach in Lyme Regis is the perfect place to go hunting for many different types of fossils. You can go on your own and wander and look around, or if it’s your first time fossil hunting you may want to book a fossil walk so you can learn from the experts.
2. Visit the Lyme Regis Museum
The Lyme Regis Museum is a small museum that is built on the site of the birthplace of the famous fossil hunter Mary Anning. Anning contributed many significant finds to the world of fossils, so it is fantastic to see her work celebrated in Lyme Regis!
The museum contains collections of fossils from the surrounding area, maritime history exhibits, and even collections about writers like Jane Austen who were associated with the town. And if you go on a fossil walk through the museum, your entrance cost is included in your ticket price.
3. Walk on the Cobb
The Cobb is one of the most striking landmarks in Lyme Regis, and has been around in some form or another since at least 1328. This harbor wall built of giant stones stretches out into the sea and dominates the landscape.
The Cobb was economically important to Lyme Regis’ history as it allowed this town to develop as a port and shipbuilding center hundreds of years ago, but it has also come to be important in other circles as well. Jane Austen used the Cobb in a pivotal scene in her novel Persuasion, and herself must have walked it many times during her time in Lyme.
While you’re in Lyme Regis, you will certainly want to take the time to walk along the high part of the wall to experience this landmark of the town’s history…and of course, also to experience what Austen describes in her novel!
4. Lounge on the Beach
Besides fossil hunting and writer connections, Lyme Regis is actually just a really cute little seaside town that is perfect for a beach vacation! And there are actually four beaches in Lyme Regis to enjoy: the Lyme Regis/Sandy Beach, Monmouth Beach, Church Beach, and East Cliff Beach.
The Sandy Beach is a mixture of sand and pebbles and has lifeguards during peak season. It is probably the best place to swim and play in the water, and there are also lots of restaurants and cafes along this part of the beachfront.
Monmouth Beach gets its name from the Duke of Monmouth who landed here in 1685 in an (unsuccessful) attempt to overthrow King James II. This beach stretches about a mile from the Cobb, and is a great place to fossil hunt! You will certainly see large ammonites in the ground, and maybe even find small ones you can take home with you.
Church Beach is a small and sandy beach to the east of Lyme Regis. At high tide, it’s often completely submerged but at low tide it emerges and offers some great views of the Cobb. Most notably, this beach was used as a filming location for the film The French Lieutenant’s Woman.
Finally, East Cliff Beach (just beyond Church Beach) is a quieter part of the shoreline and is quite rocky. It extends out towards Charmouth, and the cliffs here can be quite unstable so you should stay clear (unless you’re trained in fossil hunting, as these cliffs can be great spots to hunt…but of course you have to be super careful and actually know what you’re doing because it’s not worth your life!). If you decide to walk out towards Charmouth, you should also watch the tide because if it comes in too much you might not be able to get back through the beach access way.
5. Go Mackerel or Deep Sea Fishing
Walking around Lyme Regis and walking along the Cobb quickly makes it clear that fishing is a favorite pastime in this seaside town! While I didn’t have time to go fishing when I was in Lyme Regis, it looks like a super fun activity and lots of people have enjoyed it!
If this sounds appealing to you, Nick’s Fishing Trips and Harry May Boat Trips are two popular choices for going out on the water…whether you are just going mackerel fishing to catch your supper or want to go deep sea fishing for a little more excitement. Lyme Regis fishing trips certainly sound like an experience you will never forget!
6. Stroll Around the Town
Strolling around the town and nearby areas is a must, especially because it is so beautiful here! There are lots of great walks around Lyme Regis, whether that be exploring the town, wandering along the beach, or following a set path on one of the many delightful trails.
7. Stop by Fossil Shops, Bookshops, and Boutiques
There are lots of adorable shops in Lyme Regis, from fossil shops where you can purchase your own polished fossil, to cute gift shops and boutiques, to bookshops (one of which is even a cute bed & breakfast as well!)
As you explore the town, these shops beckon to you and I bet you’ll find yourself in far more shops than you ever expected to go into. But that’s just the way it is when there are so many cute shops to explore!
8. Go to the Marine Aquarium
The small, 2-room Lyme Regis aquarium offers an interactive look at local sea life. When you visit, you can hand feed mullet, touch a crab, get up close with lobsters, and experience a variety of other up close and personal encounters! Going to the Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium can be a fun way to spend part of the day, particularly if you have kids and want something interactive and educational for them to enjoy.
9. Visit the Town Mill
When I was in Lyme Regis, I had a little extra time before my guided fossil walk so I decided to stop by the Town Mill on a whim. And it ended up being a fantastic experience!
This mill dates back to the 1300s (yes, you read that right!) and so it has a really long history of serving the town of Lyme Regis by milling wheat for bread and making malt for beer. Throughout its long life it has been repaired from severe damages several times…with the most recent restoration being a reaction against its damages after its closure and disuse from 1926 onward.
Thanks to the dedicated group of volunteers who restored it in a ten-year-long project, today visitors can come and see this site and watch volunteers mill flour throughout the day. On your visit, you’ll get to see the restored mill machinery (and watch the waterwheel driven by the river!). You’ll also get to experience the milling process across the three floors of the mill as they turn the grain into wholemeal flour. And of course, you’ll also learn about the history of milling in Lyme Regis as well as the process of restoring the mill.
It’s an exciting and educational experience that is well worth a stop, even if only for a short time. Entrance is free but donations are appreciated to help keep the mill running and open to the public.
10. Take a Sightseeing Tour of the Jurassic Coast
While there are lots of fun things to do around Lyme Regis, there are also a lot of cool places to visit near Lyme Regis if you have the time to go out from the city a bit. The Jurassic Coast is simply overflowing with exceptional things to do and see!
Some of the most well known stops include Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, and Corfe Castle…and if you have the time these are well worth seeing! You can explore on your own (especially if you have your own car or a rental) or you can take a tour that will help you on your sightseeing journey. Here are a few tours that are offered:
- Full Day Tour of 10+ Jurassic Coast Stops: This tour departs from Weymouth (about 50 minutes from Lyme Regis). You’ll have the opporunity to experience some of the best sights along this coast, including Old Harry Rocks, Corfe Castle, Durdle Door, Lulworth, Abbotsbury, and more!
- Jurassic Coast Half Day Trip: This half day trip departs from Bournemouth and takes you past several stunning landscape features. It also stops at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door so you can see these two stops that are some of the best on the Jurassic Coast!
How to Get to Lyme Regis
The most popular ways to get to Lyme Regis are by car or by train. If you are visiting England and don’t have your own car, you can always rent a car and simply enter Lyme Regis on Google Maps. This is a good idea if you have a lot of people with you as it is usually less expensive than everyone paying for rail tickets! When I was in England, I used Enterprise multiple times and found them to be really reliable and helpful. Click here to check out Enterprise rental cars for your time in Lyme Regis!
If you are going on your own or only with a friend (or if you simply don’t want to drive) then it is very easy to take a train to Lyme Regis. I use Trainline and simply enter my departure and destination…for Lyme Regis, the destination would by Axminster. From Axminster, you can easily take a bus like the X51 or X53 (or Uber or a taxi) to make it the rest of the way to Lyme Regis. Check out rail fares on Trainline and book your ticket!
Taking the train to Lyme Regis? Check out my money-saving tips for rail fare and other UK travel costs!
Where to Stay in Lyme Regis
Wondering about the best Lyme Regis accommodation? There are lots of great places to stay in Lyme Regis, but here are a few good options to consider!
1. One Bed Flat in Lyme Regis
This is the place I stayed while I was in Lyme Regis. I was looking last-minute for a clean and comfortable place that was fairly close to town, and this room was available and looked nice. It was the perfect place to stay! The host, Michelle, was very friendly and helpful and went above and beyond to make our time here perfect. And the flat is within walking distance of the town and even has a back way to walk so you can walk along the river, which was so lovely!
Check out this flat in Lyme Regis and make a reservation!
2. Sanctuary Bookshop and Booklover’s Bed and Breakfast
While the owners are very clear that this is not a “boutique” bed and breakfast, who could pass up the opportunity to stay in a bookshop? This Georgian house makes the perfect setting for booklovers and book enthusiasts to spend the night in this seaside town!
Click here to check out the Booklover’s Bed and Breakfast and stay the night!
3. Dorset House Bed & Breakfast
If you’re looking for a more luxury boutique by the sea, then Dorset House is an excellent choice! This Regency building is renovated to create a contemporary and beautiful place to spend the night during your seaside getaway, and the beaches are just a short walk away so you can easily get out and explore!
Check out Dorset House and book your stay!
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