Rainy days

The Jurassic Coast has much to offer for visitors. It is, however, inevitable that there will be days when the weather isn’t quite what you were hoping for.

To help you out, we have compiled some of our top rainy day activities, where you can hide from the weather whilst still enjoying the best of the Jurassic Coast.

Explore our museums and visitor centres

We are lucky enough to have a wide variety of museums and visitor centres across Dorset and East Devon. These fascinating places are perfect for whiling away the hours whilst it tips it down outside.

Top museums on or around the Jurassic Coast include The Etches Collection in Kimmeridge and Dorset Museum in Dorchester. Many of the area’s museums have impressive fossil collections, including Bridport Museum, Lyme Regis Museum and Sidmouth Museum in East Devon.

The coast also plays host to some superb visitor centres, many of which are free to enter. Wherever you’re headed, be sure to check your destination’s opening times before you head out.

All this rain is making me hungry…

Luckily the Jurassic Coast harbours plenty of places to eat whilst hiding from bad weather (Please note – these places are just as nice, if not better, when experienced on sunnier days!). Here are some of our favourites.

The Square & Compass is a hidden gem in Worth Matravers, just outside of Swanage, and a great starting or finishing point if visiting the Spyway Dinosaur Footprints.

Hive Beach Café is a family-run café and local institution, located at Burton Bradstock in west Dorset. Both child and dog-friendly, it’s a great location to watch the sea on a rainy day whilst wrapped up with a hot chocolate, or tucking into a big plate of fish and chips.

The Anchor Inn at Seatown is a highly awarded pub which boasts some truly stunning views of the Jurassic Coast. It makes the perfect spot to hide from bad weather, with open fires and great food and drink. Children and dogs welcome.

Over in Devon, Otterton Mill is one of the top 20 oldest businesses in the world! It’s the perfect location to stop off whilst visiting east Devon locations such as Beer, Seaton, Sidmouth or Exmouth. And let’s be honest – you can’t go wrong with one of their award-winning Devon Cream Teas!

Top Rainy Day Activities

Rated the third-best aquarium in the UK, the Lyme Regis Aquarium gives you the opportunity to get up close with the wide variety of sea creatures found along the South West coast, as well as finding out about the area’s maritime history.

A great way to avoid any bad weather is Beer Quarry Caves. The caves have been worked on since Roman times, and were still active up until the 1920s, leaving behind vast caverns. Guided tours cover the history of the stone excavation, as well as the human stories of those that worked within the quarry.

Swanage Railway is a step back in time, taking you across the Isle of Purbeck on heritage steam trains. By breaking your journey, you can also enjoy the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum at Norden Station, and take in the sights of the remains at Corfe Castle Station.

Explore the Local Area

Of course, if the weather doesn’t faze you, there are plenty of Walks that you can take, as well as more adventurous outdoor Activities such as Kayaking.

However, always be sure to Stay Safe if you do decide to explore the coastline on rainier days, taking particular care around the cliff edges and coastal paths.