Young Palaeontologists

The Jurassic Coast is a wonderland for those who love dinosaurs, fossils and discovering Earth’s astonishing ancient past. In addition, one of the Jurassic Coast Trust’s core functions is to engage and inspire the next generation with the extraordinary stories told by the rocks, fossils and landforms found across our World Heritage Site.

As a result, we are well positioned to recommend some of the best Attractions, Activities and Events on the Jurassic Coast for young palaeontologists, that will keep them entertained and informed in equal measure during their visit.

A World of Fossils at Your Fingertips

The starting point for any young palaeontologist visiting the Jurassic Coast is to look for fossils. Fortunately we have one of the best localities in the world for Fossil Collecting, and are uniquely positioned to encourage safe and responsible collecting, where you can take your finds home with you! (Unless you discover something exceptionally rare that needs to go in a museum, of course)

When fossil hunting during busier periods (e.g. school holidays), be sure to say hi to one of our friendly Fossil Wardens, who patrol the beaches during these times ensuring everyone is looking for fossils safely. They’ll be able to help you with your search and maybe even ID some of the treasure you’ve picked up on your search.

You can also explore fossils on display at our brilliant local Museums and Visitor Centres, many of which offer free or low-cost entry. Each one tells a crucial part of the Jurassic Coast story, from the Triassic reptiles and amphibians of Sidmouth Museum to the fossilised plants at Lulworth Cove Visitor Centre.

Historic Sights & Sounds

Woven into the story of the Jurassic Coast are the stories of those who hunted for fossilised treasure here over the last 200 years, and those who continue to do so today. You can explore their stories by visiting historic towns like Lyme Regis, birthplace of Mary Anning. Visit the town’s museum, built on the site of Mary’s family home, and see her statue on Lyme Regis’ sea wall as the waves roll in beneath you.

At Dorset Museum in Dorchester, you can see the skull of the incredible Pliosaurus kevani and read about its collector Kevan Sheehan, a humble café owner from Osmington Mills who collected the remarkable specimen over a period of eight years.

The geological history of the Jurassic meets the modern craft of quarrying at the Spyway Dinosaur Footprints in Purbeck. Start with a visit to the legendary Square & Compass pub in Worth Matravers then take the Priests Way to this open-air trackway site, situated to the side of a working quarry.

In this part of the coast you can explore some of the other elemental treasures on offer, such as Winspit Quarry, where you can see in-situ ammonites on the roof of the hollowed-out stone cavern. Eagle-eyed visitors (or their parents!) may recognise the locale from Dr Who, Blake’s 7 and the 2022 Star Wars TV programme Andor.

Make it an Eventful Visit

The Jurassic Coast is a haven for specialist events that welcome enthusiasts of all ages. That’s just as well, as some of the most head-scratching dinosaur-related questions our team receives, at events ranging from Lyme Regis Fossil Festival to Camp Bestival, come from young palaeontologists who may have just conquered their times tables.

From Expert Talks to Fossil Walks to Major Events & Festivals and even Dinosaur Sleepovers, there is something happening at nearly all times of year in one part of the coast or another. Keep an eye on our What’s On guide for upcoming events from across the coast, and join our mailing list to read about everything we have coming up ourselves.

Take Home Something Special

Browse our Shop for a complete range of books, clothing and other products for the young palaeontologist in your life (Pterodactyl kite, anyone?). Look out for our Black Friday specials in the lead up to Christmas, join the Jurassic Coast Trust as a Member for discounts year-round, and join our mailing list to hear about all our latest product releases.

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Stuart Line Cruises

Address

Exmouth Marina, Pier Head, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 1FE

Telephone
01395 222 144

info@stuartlinecruises.co.uk

Exmouth

Stuart Line Cruises is a multi-award-winning, family-run business which has now been operating for over 50 years from Exmouth in Devon.
City Cruises Poole

Address

The Quay, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HJ

Telephone
02077 400 400

poolesales@citycruises.com

Poole

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 stunning islands, to cruises past the start of the Jurassic…
Dorset Museum

Address

High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA

Telephone
01305 756827

enquiries@dorsetmuseum.org

Dorchester

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 four themed galleries, special exhibitions area, a library and a café.
Splashdown Poole

Address

Tower Park, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4NY

Telephone
01202 716123

info@splashdownpoole.co.uk

Poole

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 waking him up?
Abbotsbury Swannery

Address

New Barn Rd, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4JG

Telephone
01305 871858

Weymouth

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 some 25 acres.
Cumulus Outdoors

Address

Cobbler's Lane, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2PX

Telephone
01929 422480

info@cumulusoutdoors.com

Swanage

Located in Swanage, Dorset, Cumulus offer a rich and varied Residential Programme with adventure activities for a wide range of educational groups, with both tented and hard top accommodation plus field study facilities and classrooms at our…
Flowerdew Farm

Address

Puncknowle, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9BU

Telephone
00447432203605

hello@flowerdew.farm

Dorchester

Flowerdew Farm is a low impact sustainable working alpaca and goat small holding, camping and glamping site, that supports community, sustainability, play, creativity and wellness through time in nature and with animals. Located in an area of…
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Address

Buller's Way, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4LA

Telephone
01305 871387

Weymouth

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 last quarter of a century and with an interesting and…
Jurassic Discovery

Address

The Underfleet, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2WD

Telephone
01297 20375

info@jurassicdiscovery.co.uk

Seaton

Discover the prehistoric wonders at Jurassic Discovery. This family-friendly attraction brings history to life with its immersive exhibition, featuring stunning, lifelike animatronic dinosaurs.
Swanage Museum & Heritage Centre

Address

The Square, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2LJ

Telephone
01929 421427

Swanage

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 eminent Victorians from Swanage who all had their roots in the…
The Ammonite Pavement

Address

Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3RH

Lyme Regis

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.
The Etches Collection

Address

Kimmeridge, Dorset, BH20 5PE

Telephone
01929 270000

Kimmeridge

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 the stories from deep time through an amazing collection of…
Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre

Address

Longthorns, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6HH

Telephone
01929 462537

Wareham

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 & Hujan playing and growing up together with their foster family,…
Durlston Country Park

Address

Lighthouse Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2JL

Telephone
01929 424443

Swanage

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 bird and wildlife including regular sightings of dolphins.
The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre

Address

Kimmeridge, Dorset, BH20 5PF

Telephone
01929 481044

kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Kimmeridge

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 here.
Fairlynch Museum

Address

27 Fore Street, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 6NP

Budleigh Salterton

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 boundary, when the greatest mass extinction ever happened!
Tout Quarry

Address

Tout Quarry, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2LN

Portland

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.
Wareham Town Museum

Address

Town Hall, East Street, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4NS

Telephone
01929 553448

Wareham

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.
Lulworth Cove Visitor Centre

Address

Main Road, West Lulworth, Dorset, BH20 5RQ

Telephone
01929 400587

West Lulworth

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 Coast.
Lulworth Fossil Forest

Address

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 ago - a forest grew in the area now known as Purbeck. The evidence for the existence…