Things to do in Lyme Regis? There are so many things to do in Lyme Regis! I guess growing up there, I would say that, but there is no getting away from the fact that this place is special.
Nestled in the Lym Valley on the border of Devon and Dorset, Lyme is your typical English seaside town. Boasting a quintessentially British high street, beautiful public gardens, the famous Cobb, and 3km of the marine walk with stunning views of the Jurassic coast both to the east and west there is nowhere better along Britain’s south coast (in my eyes anyway!).
I’ve lived in Australia for the last five years and am now sad to see a lack of independent shops on the high street. Multinationals such as Tesco, WH Smith, Fat Face, and even worse Costa Coffee have taken over!
Lyme Regis has enough to keep you busy for a day or a week. Here are my top picks of things to do in Lyme Regis whilst keeping the £’s in our community’s back pocket.
The top things to do in Lyme Regis…
An hours mackerel trip around the bay
A childhood memory is of the fishermen stood on the corner of the Cobb intermittently shouting, almost singing ……. “Fishing trip around the bay”… “One-hour mackerel fishing around the bay”. Harry May, a local legend when it comes to Lyme fishing trips charters Marie F and Sunbeam – booking is essential.
Water sports
Growing up by the beach meant we were in the sea as much as possible. Jumping off North Wall, swimming, water skiing, or wakeboarding. For thrill-seekers, West Bay Blast is an exciting and exhilarating trip blasting along the coast at speeds of up to 45mph.
Or what about a waterski or wakeboarding lesson with all equipment provided. Boylos is a water sports shop located on Marine Parade if you’re up for giving SUP a go!
Relax in Langmoor Gardens
Relax in Langmoor Gardens after all that adrenaline action. Offering panoramic views of the Jurassic Coast there is much to enjoy. Take a woodland walk, take in the scented gardens, or a game of mini-golf or ping pong! This was our teenage playground! There is a hut in the middle of the gardens, named by locals as ‘Chinese Hut’. My friends and I have spent many a summer evening up to mischief here!
A wander around the Cobb
A visit to Lyme is not complete until you have walked around what Lyme is famous for The Cobb. Featured in many a film, TV series, and advert. Take a stroll onto the historic Cobb harbour wall and pose for a photo coming down ‘Grannies Teeth’. This is a staircase halfway along of jutting out stones, you won’t miss it.
Discover close up the local fish and marine life by visiting Lyme Aquarium. Even hand-feed some mullet. Still, independently run and owned by the Gollop family it’s been a Lyme institution for years. On the way back offload your coins at the Arcade – A British seaside tradition!
A mooch in town
Wander down Broad Street stopping for a coffee in Aroma. This trendy cafe makes as much of their cakes, meals, and drinks as they can with local products as possible.
Accessible either via steps at the top Broad Street car park or via Coombe Street the Town Mill is a wonderful area to explore. Nestled around a cobbled courtyard this area is the epitome of local. With its restored watermill. Silversmith, stone sculptor, art galleries, pottery, and microbrewery. There is also a cafe and restaurant for either lunch or dinner. The Millside is personally one of my favourite local restaurants.
Get to know Lyme Regis
Get to know the wealth of history surrounding Lyme by visiting the museum. Packed with fascinating displays it’s built on the site of the home of Lymes’s famous fossil hunter Mary Anning. A great way to get to know what Lyme has to offer is by going on one of the walks run by the museum.
Take in a performance at The Marine Theatre. The 122-year-old theatre has a fascinating and colourful history. This beautiful traditional small-town theatre is definitely worth an evening visit.
Fossil hunting
I’m the daughter of a geologist. As a result, many childhood weekends we walked along the Jurassic Coast. Always hunting for treasure, be it ammonites, belemnites, or lumps of fools gold! World-famous for fossil collecting you have a good chance of finding something pre-historic along this piece of the coast. A couple of years into retirement the legend that is my Father is taking guided fossil hunting walks. I dare not recommend anyone else….he’s the best by far anyway!!
If you wanted a DYI option, walk eastwards from Lyme along the sea defense wall to Charmouth on an ebbing tide. Be careful of tides though – check them here! Another childhood memory is of Dad being called out on the lifeboat to rescue uneducated fossil hunters. Once in Charmouth don’t miss free entry to The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. Here there are a variety of local fossils displays including Chris Moore’s most recent find – Attenborough’s Sea Dragon.
Dinosaurland
For more context, history, and information on the fossils you’ve now found visit Dinosaurland! Nestled in the backstreets of Lyme this is a private traditional museum run by paleontologist Steve Davies and his wife Jenny. This wonderland contains a spectacular collection of over 8,500 Jurassic marine fossils which is growing each year. It’s one of the best collections on display in SW England.
Lunch in West Bay
Driving in Lyme Regis can be a nightmare in the summer months. Instead, why not take the water route to lunch? Running between West Bay and Lyme, this beautiful half-hour trip along the stunning cliffs of the Jurassic Coast is one special way to travel. Zero chance of a traffic jam makes it the best option for sure!
A good old pub crawl
Of course what holiday wouldn’t be complete without a pub crawl? For a town of its size, Lyme Regis boasts many a public house! Start at HIX with a couple of cocktails and some oysters! Wander through the gardens down to the three institutions on the harbour. The Cobb Arms, The Harbour Inn and The Royal Standard.
Take a break from the pints whilst you wander back along marine parade towards Cobb Gate. You’ll find The Rock Point Inn and opposite The Pilot Boat. Climb the hill of Broad Street and stop in The Volunteer (the smallest pub). Then take the right-hand fork up Silver Street and finish in the most ‘local’ of all ‘locals’ The Nags Head (great live music most Sundays).
