There is no shortage of amazing attractions to explore as part of your Jurassic Coast visit. To begin with, the coast’s network of incredible Museums and Visitor Centres are a must-see.
These organisations all make enormous contributions towards interpreting and presenting the World Heritage Site for visitors, and many of them are either volunteer-run or have a substantial volunteer workforce comprised of friendly and knowledgeable local residents – be sure to pay them a visit for the inside scoop on all things Jurassic Coast.
In addition, there are some superb Cultural sites on the coast, featuring everything from Thomas Hardy’s cottage to Mary Anning’s statue.
If you’re keen to get away from the crowds, be sure to check out our hand-picked selection of Hidden Gems for some of those more obscure coastal locations that you can visit hassle-free, and then impress your friends back home with.
As we all know, the Great British Weather is an ever-present guest on every Jurassic Coast holiday, but fear not as our list of Rainy Days options has you covered.
Be sure to peruse our list of Free attractions on the coast to help keep your holiday budget in check.
The Jurassic Coast has something for everyone, so be sure to browse our hand-crafted selections of options for Families, Teenagers and any insatiable Young Palaeontologists whom you may be travelling with.
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Wareham Town Museum's geology display shows how the Wytch Farm oil field (the largest onshore oilfield in western Europe) is closely linked to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The Etches Collection: Museum of Jurassic Marine Life opened in the village of Kimmeridge in October 2016. The museum houses the remarkable collection of one man’s passion, bringing to life…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
At Sidmouth Museum you can see rare reptile fossils and amphibian bones which have been found on the beaches, including the remains of the Rhynchosaur, a curious herbivore reptile.
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
At the Fairlynch Museum (one of only a few thatched museums in the UK), you can find out about the ancient red cliffs of Budleigh Salterton which bridge the Permian/Triassic…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Visit Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre to see our amazing fossil collections and find out how to discover your own fossils on the beach. Our guided fossil hunting walks are a…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
West Bay Discovery Centre tells the story of West Bay past and present featuring information, static and interactive displays, oral history and walking trails. There is something of interest for…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Discover over 60 hidden sculptures in Tout Quarry, one of only two remaining on Portland where the famous Portland Stone was quarried using old methods.
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor, Parks & Gardens
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor, Parks & Gardens
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Wild Seas Centre sits on the shoreline of beautiful Kimmeridge Bay in the Purbeck Coast Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), created to protect the very special marine life…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
At The Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre, you can learn more about the formation of this huge barrier beach and the rich wildlife and history associated with it.
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Come to the Fine Foundation Heritage Centre Beer to discover the story of the local geology, from the pebbles on the beach to the famous Beer Stone, used in buildings…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Taking a short walk west along Monmouth Beach at low tide will bring you to the Ammonite Pavement - a number of limestone ledges, washed clear by the sea.
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
In the Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre, formerly the old seafront market building, you can see dinosaur footprints and discover more about the local stone industry, as well as the…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Shell Bay, Middle Beach and Knoll Beach in Studland Bay are three very popular sandy beaches at the far eastern end of the Jurassic Coast.
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
South Beach in Studland Bay is a sandy beach, and is fairly narrow compared to neighbouring Studland beaches. As with other Studland Beaches, South Beach is very popular, particularly during peak…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, Families, Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, Families, Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Hidden away in Purbeck, within a stone's throw of the Jurassic Coast, is the Spyway Dinosaur Footprints. Nestled alongside a working quarry, and easily accessible from the Priest's Way walking…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The rocks exposed at Orcombe Point embody the opening paragraphs of the story contained within the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The Geoneedle monument found here marks the official start…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Enjoying a stunning seafront location on the world-famous Jurassic Coast with fantastic views over Lyme Bay. At Lyme Regis Museum you’ll find fossils galore in the new interactive geology gallery,…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
As the Jurassic Period drew to a close, sea levels were falling. Shallow tropical seas gave way to coastal plains and for a brief period - around 145 million years…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The displays, animations and films in the Lulworth Cove Visitor Centre tell the story of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, two of the most iconic geological features on the Jurassic…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Located one mile from Swanage, Durlston Country Park is a 280 acre countryside paradise with stunning views, hay meadows and coastal downland, the historic Great Globe and a wealth of…
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Outdoor
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Come and explore 250 million years of history at the Dorset Museum! Located in the centre of Dorchester, this award-winning Museum is one of the cultural centres of Dorset with…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Beaminster Museum in West Dorset is a small museum of local history, which visitors from far and wide have declared "delightful" and "fascinating", with plenty to see and do for…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Join Rebecca for an invigorating walking tour of the area around Lulworth Cove. This is a four-hour walk taking in Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and the Lulworth Fossil Forest among…
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Walking
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Walking
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Sidmouth's Premier Cafe and Cakery. Located in the award winning Connaught Gardens overlooking the stunning Jacob's Ladder beach, the Clock Tower Cafe is focused on providing all guests with amazing…
Categories:
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The RNLI College, home to our lifesaving volunteer crew and lifeguards, is also an award-winning 60-bedroom hotel, restaurant, bar and RNLI shop all fully open to guests and members of…
Categories:
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Cafes & Coffee Shops, Pubs & Bars, Restaurants
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Cafes & Coffee Shops, Pubs & Bars, Restaurants
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Set beside the River Otter in one of Devon’s most beautiful valleys, a warm welcome awaits you at Otterton Mill.
Categories:
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Families, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Families, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
No trip to Devon is complete without visiting The Donkey Sanctuary. There’s a tranquil corner of the Jurassic Coast near Sidmouth that hundreds of rescue donkeys call home, and they’re…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Animals & Nature, Families, Free, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Animals & Nature, Families, Free, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Join in the flumin’ good fun at one of the south’s best loved family visitor attractions. Dare you enter the lair of the resident dragon; can you slide past without…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Swimming, Waterpark
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Swimming, Waterpark
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The Sidmouth Toy & Model Museum first opened in August 2020. The museum contains the collection of vintage and modern toys and models collected by Ian and Rebecca Gregory over…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon's glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe estuary through two nature reserves and giving…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Railway, Transport Attraction
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Railway, Transport Attraction
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Visit Portland Museum and find out about the history of quarrying on Portland, and the world renowned building stone which has been used in many iconic buildings around the world…
Categories:
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre is home to over 250 rescued and endangered primates, including Europe’s only orang-utan crèche! Visitors can see infants Mimi, Bulu Mata, Rieke, Kayan &…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Teenagers
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Teenagers
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The Smedmore Estate is situated in the Isle of Purbeck around the Dorset coastal village of Kimmeridge – not far from Corfe Castle and Wareham. It’s two main attractions are…
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Diving / Snorkelling, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Rock Pooling, Surfing
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Diving / Snorkelling, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Rock Pooling, Surfing
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Family Friendly Boat Trips along the Jurassic Coast! Nicks Fishing and Boat Trips has been established for over 35 years we have access to some of the most beautiful sites…
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Boat Trips, Group Friendly
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Boat Trips, Group Friendly
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Outdoor Adventure activities in Swanage, make the most of your Jurassic Coast visit with a thrilling adventure with Land and Wave!
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Group Friendly, Outdoor Activity/Pursuit Centre, Watersports Centre
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Group Friendly, Outdoor Activity/Pursuit Centre, Watersports Centre
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Bearhouse Alpacas is a long-established alpaca trekking/walking centre based in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Roncombe Valley, Sidbury, which is not far from Sidmouth, East Devon.
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Activities, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Activities, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Abbotsbury Swannery is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans, spread over a site of…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens is no ordinary garden, with its own micro-climate in a sheltered woodland valley on the Jurassic Coast. The special plant collection has been built up over the…
Categories:
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Botanic Garden, Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Botanic Garden, Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Stuart Line Cruises is a multi-award-winning, family-run business which has now been operating for over 50 years from Exmouth in Devon.
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly
Activities
Nearby:
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
City Cruises Poole have a variety of sightseeing cruises on offer to the public, departing from Poole Quay and Swanage Pier. From trips around Europe’s largest natural harbour with its…
Categories:
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor
