Lyme Regis Museum

Dorset


In 1814 local teenager Mary Anning found the first full ichthyosaur skeleton near Lyme Regis, propelling the town on to the world stage. An incredibly famous fossilist in her day, Miss Anning did much to pioneer the science of modern-day palaeontology. This museum, on the site of her former home, tells her story and exhibits spectacular fossils and other prehistoric finds.

The museum runs three to seven fossil-hunting walks a week (adult/child £12/6), with times dictated by the tides. It's best to book.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Dorset attractions

1. Town Mill

0.08 MILES

An atmospheric, creaking, grinding, 14th-century working watermill. Cafes, art galleries, a jewellery workshop and microbrewery sit alongside.

2. Dinosaurland

0.13 MILES

This joyful, mini, indoor Jurassic Park overflows with fossilised remains; look out for belemnites, a plesiosaurus and an impressive locally found…

3. Cobb

0.47 MILES

First built in the 13th century, Lyme's iconic, curling sea defences have been strengthened and extended over the years, and so don't present the elegant…

4. Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre

1.47 MILES

The centre has engaging displays about the Jurassic Coast and also runs between one and seven fossil-hunting walks a week (adult/child £8/4). They're…

5. Forde Abbey

8.18 MILES

Built in the 12th century as a Cistercian monastery, Forde has been a private home since 1649. The building boasts magnificent plasterwork ceilings and…

6. Beer Quarry Caves

8.19 MILES

Beer's creamy chalk cliffs hint at the presence of a seam of high-quality masonry material called Beer stone. It's been used in countless famous buildings…

7. Donkey Sanctuary

11.48 MILES

This irresistible attraction is home to around 400 donkeys, some rescued from mistreatment or neglect, others retired from working the beaches. Walkways…

8. Norman Lockyer Observatory

12.86 MILES

Because of relatively low light pollution, high cliffs and an expanse of sea, East Devon is prime stargazing territory. At this observatory, high-powered…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "england/southwest-england/lyme-regis/attractions/lyme-regis-museum/a/poi-sig/1217991/359016",
      "destination": "Dorset",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "England",
      "region": "Dorset",
      "position": "superzone"
    }