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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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.
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,…
Sidmouth Toy & Model Museum

Address

The Old Chapel, Chapel Street, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8ND

Telephone
07858 448444

Info@sidmouthtoymuseum.com

Sidmouth

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 a period of 40 years.
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.
The Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre

Address

Ferrybridge, Beach Road, Portland, Dorset, DT4 9XE

Telephone
01305 206191

Portland

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.
Portland Museum

Address

217 Wakeham, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1HS

Telephone
01305 821804

Portland

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 including St Paul’s Cathedral and the UN buildings in New York.
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.
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!
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.
Studland Bay - South Beach

Address

S W Coast Path, Studland, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3AN

Swanage

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 periods.
The Fine Foundation Heritage Centre, Beer

Address

Sea Hill, Beer, Devon, EX12 3EE

Beer

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 all over the country... and even for experiments in space.
Spyway Dinosaur Footprints

Address

Langton Matravers, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3HG

info@jurassiccoast.org

Swanage

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 path, these incredible footprints were made by Jurassic…
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…
Honiton Museum

Address

High Street, Honiton, Devon, EX14 1PG

Telephone
01404 44966

Honiton

At Honiton Museum come and see the Honiton Hippo and even remains of elephants - 140,000 years ago, conditions here were similar to what we associate with parts of Africa today. Fossils from the inland area near Honiton are much younger than those…
Sidmouth Museum

Address

Hope Cottage, Church Street, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8LY

Telephone
01395 516139

Sidmouth

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.
Bridport Museum

Address

South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NR

Telephone
01308 458703

Bridport

The small Jurassic Coast gallery in Bridport Museum boasts some wonderful specimens of local fossils including ammonites, starfish and even a plesiosaur. All of these specimens were discovered just a few miles from the museum and show how amazingly…
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre

Address

Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth, Dorset, DT6 6LL

Telephone
01297 560772

info@charmouth.org

Charmouth

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 great family day out on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.