Families

There’s a reason why the Jurassic Coast is frequently named as one of the best UK holiday destinations for families. Our coastline offers a smorgasbord of fun, entertaining and easily accessible activities and attractions across a landscape that acts as one giant outdoor classroom.

Whether it’s using maths to calculate the distance between points on a walk, breathing in the landscapes that inspired Enid Blyton or Tracey Chevalier, or discovering the incredible ancient art of stone masonry, we’ve got the curriculum covered in a way that’s perennially inspiring (oh, yeah we have a little bit of Science going on here too!).

There’s something here for every age and budget. Start with our selection of Free offerings on the coast, and browse our features for families with Teenagers, those visiting on Rainy Days, and those travelling with intrepid Young Palaeontologists in tow. Explore our selection of Hidden Gems and return home with a great story for school time show ‘n’ tell.

Activities on offer range from the timeless pleasure of a day at the Beach, to something more adventurous like Stand-Up Paddleboarding, a Boat Trip or, of course, Fossil Collecting.

Check out our What’s On guide for everything coming up for families on the coast, whether it’s a festival, a fossil walk or something seasonal. The Jurassic Coast is an all-year-round destination (did you know you can find some of the best fossils in the depths of Winter?) with ever-changing views and endless nooks and crannies to explore, meaning you can make a visit here a regular family tradition.

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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.
Lyme Regis Museum

Address

Bridge Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3QA

Telephone
01297 443370

Lyme Regis

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, a new learning centre (great fun for families),…
Spyway Dinosaur Footprints

Address

Langton Matravers, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3HG

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…
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.
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!
Beaminster Museum

Address

Whitcombe Road, Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NB

Telephone
01308 863623

info@beaminstermuseum.co.uk

Beaminster

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 all ages.
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…
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…
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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…
Seaton Tramway

Address

Harbour Road, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2TB

Telephone
01297 20375

Seaton

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 an unrivalled view of the abundant wading…
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.
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.
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.
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.
West Bay Discovery Centre

Address

West Bay Rd, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 4EN

Telephone
01308 427288

Bridport

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 all visitors and ages. It also aims to provide…