Spring is a time for new beginnings. On the Jurassic Coast, the lingering frosts thaw, leaves and flowers return to the trees, and light shines on our beloved rocks once more. It’s the perfect time to put those plans you hatched over Winter into action – discover a new favourite place to go or thing to do and enjoy it all year long.
Experience something new
Spring is the perfect time to delve into a new activity. Ever tried coasteering? How about kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding? Now’s the perfect time of year to give it a go before outlets and venues become too busy.
There’s also some superb heritage activities here – how about taking a ride through history at Seaton Tramway or Swanage Railway? One of the best ways to experience the Jurassic Coast is from the sea, so a Spring boat trip makes a brilliant day out as well. We heartily recommend the trips available from the World Heritage Site’s westerly and easterly bookends (Exmouth and Poole respectively), where you’ll see our renowned rocks in all their glory.
See our gardens spring into life
This is the best time of year to visit some of our charming parks and gardens. There’s Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens (and its accompanying Swannery) of course, which makes for a day’s discovery by itself.
Sidmouth is home to Connaught Gardens which is accessible via a sloping concrete path from the seafront and is the perfect stop for a bit of contemplative Spring time walking.
Lyme Regis has Langmoor Gardens, which sits atop the famous seafront and offers spectacular views over Lyme Bay. There’s a woodland walk and some interesting sculptures on display (see if you can spot the ammonite and the ichthyosaur at opposite ends of the garden), all accessible via smooth paths, making it a good option for those with buggies or wheelchairs.
Gear up for events season
Staying in Lyme Regis, the famous Fossil Festival takes place there every May and is the perfect opportunity to explore your passion for all things palaeontological. There are displays from many different organisations, hands-on science demonstrations and talks, so it’s well worth a visit.
Elsewhere, Spring represents the beginning of the Jurassic Coast events season, with food festivals, local markets and exhibitions happening nearly every day. See our What’s On guide for everything that’s coming up.
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, Families, Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor, Parks & Gardens
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Walking
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Activities, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Group Friendly, Outdoor Activity/Pursuit Centre, Watersports Centre
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Boat Trips, Group Friendly
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Diving / Snorkelling, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Rock Pooling, Surfing
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Teenagers
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Railway, Transport Attraction
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Swimming, Waterpark
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Animals & Nature, Families, Free, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Families, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Cafes & Coffee Shops, Pubs & Bars, Restaurants
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Botanic Garden, Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Bed & Breakfast
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Restaurant with Rooms, Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
charmouth, Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
Jurassic Coast, lulworth-cove, lyme-regis, west-bay
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Apartments, Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Holiday Park, Self-Catering
chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis, west-bay
Accommodation category: Hotel
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Camping, Glamping
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Camping, Lodge / Beach Lodge, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Hotel
Jurassic Coast
exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site, Holiday Park
Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Camping, Glamping
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Self-Catering