Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is a seaside town in south-west Dorset in the West Country of England.

The Cobb at Lyme Regis

Understand

Lyme Regis is an historic unspoiled seaside resort and fishing port on the world famous Cobb harbour. Surrounded by beautiful coastlines and countryside, the area has now been awarded World Heritage Site Status; famous for its geology and fossil finds.

The town is famous for "The Cobb", a large harbour wall, that has featured in novels by Jane Austen (who was a frequent visitor to Lyme Regis). The Cobb was used as a setting for Persuasion, a film of Jane Austen's novel. The Cobb was also used in the film The French Lieutenant's Woman, starring Meryl Streep, based on the book of the same name by local writer John Fowles.

Get in

By rail

The nearest train station is Axminster, which is on the route from London Waterloo to Exeter. Lyme Regis is on bus service routes X51, Axminster-Dorchester, and X53, Axminster-Portland Bill, both of which run from Axminster station.

By bus

There is also a good bus service along the Jurassic Coast. First Wessex, Dorset and South Somerset runs bus services through Lyme Regis, and there is a town bus service operated by Stagecoach South West.

Parking

• Charmouth Road Long Stay Car Park, Charmouth Road, Lyme Regis DT7 3DR. has Toilets, Motorhome spaces and steps down to the sea front.
• Holmbush Car Park, Charmouth Road, Lyme Regis DT7 3DR has no height barriers.
• Monmouth Beach Car Park, Lyme Regis DT7 3JN has no height barriers but tends to be unsuitable for large vehicles. http://www.lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk/our-town/services/car-parking

Get around

One very good way to get around is to walk. Lyme Regis is on the South West Coast path and there are many circular routes from and around Lyme Regis - the area is very steep in places.

See

Library Cottage

• 🌍 The Cobb. A large harbour wall, that has featured in novels by Jane Austen (who lived for a time in Lyme Regis) and in the film The French Lieutenant's Woman, based on the book of the same name by local writer John Fowles. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 The Town Mill, Mill Lane, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3PU, ☎ [phone]. Daily 11AM-4PM, subject to volunteer availability; galleries daily 10:30AM-4:30PM. A fully working watermill, restored and re-opened in 2001; tours available. The site is also occupied by galleries, craft workshops, cafe and micro-brewery. Email via contact form on the website. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3QA, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. With the completion of the Mary Anning Wing, the museum has added a new interactive fossil gallery, Fine Foundation Learning Centre for schools and families, improved visitor facilities and new gift shop. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3PY, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Daily 10AM-4PM from February half term to end of October half term. Winter opening hours vary - please check before visiting. A traditional museum, with more than 12,000 specimens on permanent display. £5 adults; £4 children 5 to 16; under 5s free; family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) £16. (updated Apr 2017)

Do

• Fossil hunting. in front of the cliffs by the beach. There are lots of fossilised ammonites in the sediment layers in the cliffs, and as weathering occurs, the cliffs are eroded and the fossils are left on the beach. The best time to go hunting is in Spring, when the winter's storms have exposed many fossils. Most are small, some are the size of your palm, and one or two are surprisingly large--up to a metre in diameter! 
• Crazy Golf (in Langmoor Gardens overlooking the Promenade.). 
• Relax on the Beach where you get fantastic views of England's first natural World Heritage Site - the Jurassic Coast.
• 🌍 Marine Theatre, Church St, DT7 3QA, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Box office: M-Sa 10AM–5PM. Varied programme of theatre, music, comedy and other events. (updated Sep 2016)

Events

• Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week: 3–11 August 2019. Over 60 events throughout the week for the whole family raising money for local good causes. Grand Carnival Procession Saturday 11 August, 8PM
• Lyme Folk Weekend: 30 August – 1 September 2019. A folk music festival.
• Lyme Lunge: 1 January 2020, e-mail: [e-mail]. A fancy dress dip for charity on New Year's Day in the balmy waters of Lyme Bay off the Sandy Beach, Lyme Regis. Join 400-plus swimmers and start the year with a whole lot of fun.

Buy

Fish on the Cobb.

Crab fishing equipment for fishing off the Cobb.

Eat

• 🌍 Tierra Kitchen, 1a Coombe Street, Lyme Regis, DT7 3PY, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 9am to 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Fresh, 100% homemade vegetarian and vegan Foods to eat in or take away with a strong Mediterranean influence using the best local, seasonal and organic produce in West Dorset and East Devon. Deli also stocks organic vegetables, a large range of vegetarian wholefoods and hard-to-find ingredients. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Town Mill Bakery, Units 2 & 3, Riverside Workshops, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3PY, ☎ [phone]. 08:30-16:00. Artisan bakery in the heart of Lyme Regis. Open for breakfast, brunch and lunch. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Aroma Cafe, 6 Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3QA, ☎ [phone]. Daily 10AM-4PM (closed Tu during school term). An independent coffee house and kitchen serving local, fresh, home-made food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere. (updated Aug 2017)
• 🌍 Italia, 14-15 Monmouth Street, DT7 3PX, ☎ [phone]. Fr-Mo 12PM-2PM, Mo and We-Su 5.30PM-9.30PM. Family-friendly Italian restaurant. Takeaways also available. Email via contact page on website. (updated Aug 2018)
• There are also a few fish and chip shops, and a wide choice of pubs serving food.

Drink

Pubs

The Pilot Boat Inn

The Rock Point Inn

• 🌍 The Nag's Head, 32 Silver St, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Volunteer, 31 Broad St,, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Pilot Boat, 1 Bridge St, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Cobb Arms, Marine Parade, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Ship Inn, 7 Coombe St, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Harbour Inn, 23 Marine Parade, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Rock Point, 1-2 Broad St, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Royal Standard, 25 Marine Parade, ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

• 🌍 The Cobb Arms, Marine Parade, ☎ [phone]. Next to the harbour, three nice and clean rooms, modern bathroom double £60.. 
• 🌍 Springfield House, Woodmead Road, DT7 3LJ, ☎ [phone]. Large elegant Georgian House with stunning views of the sea and Dorset coastline. Private car park. £33-38. 
• 🌍 Royal Lion Hotel, Broad Street, ☎ [phone]. 17th century coaching inn (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Mariners Hotel, Silver St, ☎ [phone]. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Alexandra Hotel and Restaurant, Pound Street, DT7 3HZ, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Built 1735; a hotel since 1901; set in private grounds overlooking the Cobb and Lyme Bay. (updated Aug 2018)

Go next

• Jurassic Coast
• Charmouth
• Bridport
• Weymouth
• Dorchester
• Seaton and Beer
• Sidmouth
• Exeter