12 Unmissable Things To Do On The Jurassic Coast (+ Map & Tips)

Looking for the best places to visit on the Jurassic Coast? This guide covers the highlights in this special part of Devon, along with some of our local tips.

The Jurassic Coast is one of England’s most spectacular stretches of coastline, and one of our favourite places to visit in the UK.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches for 95 miles along the southern coast, featuring dramatic white cliffs, sandy beaches, and charming seaside towns. The coastline gets its name from the 185 million years of geological history visible in the rock formations.

You can explore rock pools in hidden coves, walk clifftop paths with stunning views, visit medieval castles, and hunt for fossils on the beaches. The area is also known for its traditional seaside villages and welcoming pubs serving local food and beer.

The Jurassic Coast makes an excellent weekend escape from London, or can be included as part of a more extended trip exploring southern England.

Our guide covers the best things to do on the Jurassic Coast, how to get around, and practical tips for planning your visit.

WHERE IS THE JURASSIC COAST?

The Jurassic Coast is a stretch of coastline in southern England that spans approximately 95 miles (150 kilometres) from East Devon to Dorset.

It’s renowned for its geological significance and encompasses popular destinations such as Exmouth, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Bridport, Weymouth, and Swanage.

WHAT TO DO ON THE JURASSIC COAST

1. OLD HARRY ROCKS

Old Harry Rocks were once two white limestone rocks standing at the eastern end of the Dorset Coast. Unfortunately, Old Harry’s wife crumbled into the sea at the end of the 19th century.

Old Harry remains, joined by other white stone monoliths that have now been carved out along the coast.

After the  Seven Sisters cliffs, Old Harry Rocks is one of our favourite stretches of coastline in the UK.

There are a few different ways to see it. You can hike along the tops, mountain bike over cliff-edge trails, paddle around them in a kayak, or join a scenic boat tour. You can find all the details in our guide to visiting Old Harry Rocks.

We highly recommend the Bankes Arms in Studland near Old Harry Rocks. Try the Fossil Fuel, Solar Power, or Studland Bay—all locally produced Jurassic Ales.

2. CORFE CASTLE

In 1066, the Normans invaded England, crossing the English Channel from France. They quickly conquered the country and set about building castles to secure their new lands.

Corfe Castle was one of the earliest built and today it stands in dilapidated glory overlooking the Dorset hills.

It is one of the finest ruined castles and an interesting place to visit in England.

The best views of the castle are from up West Hill – a short but steep climb up a stepped path just northwest of the town.

For an even better atmospheric experience, try to get here for dawn on a particularly cold day. The ruins will appear to rise from a golden mist as it cascades down the hill behind them.

Corfe Village is also worth a quick look. Don’t miss Corfe Castle railway station – lovingly restored to how it looked almost 100 years ago.

Time your visit right and take a ride on the Swanage railway steam locomotive that runs the short route from just north of Corfe to Swanage.

3. LULWORTH COVE

Lulworth Cove is a beautiful circular cove surrounded by a sweeping arc of pebbles and backed by steep cliffs.

When the tide is high, it is one of the most attractive beaches in the UK. When it’s low, rock pools are revealed, bursting with wildlife.

Just above the cove is another interesting phenomenon, the Lulworth Crumple. Sitting above Stair Hole Cove, layers of black, grey, and white rock are slowly collapsing into the sea.

Consisting of alternating hard limestone and soft shale bands, the cliff has crumpled because the soft shale is unable to support the force of gravity.

Lulworth Cove is also an excellent starting point for a short walk to Durdle Door, one of our favourites on the Jurassic Coast.

West Lulworth (postcode: BH20 5RQ) has a visitor centre, toilets, and restaurants. Parking is £20 all day or £10 up to 4 hours.

4. DURDLE DOOR

Durdle Door is the iconic image of the Jurassic Coast. Over time, crashing waves have eroded most of the limestone, leaving a glorious natural arch stranded in the sea.

It’s a fantastic sight and an easy 5-minute walk from the Durdle Door car park.

This part of the Jurassic Coast has some of the finest scenery anywhere in Dorset. Just beside Durdle Door, the magnificent sweeping sands of Man O’War beach provided an attractive beachy nook. If the weather is blessing you, it’s a great place for a dip.

If the weather is not so kind, an amble along Durdle Door Beach staring up at the towering vertical faces of rock is the perfect way to appreciate the Dorset cliffs.

If you’re feeling more energetic, hike along undulating paths clinging to cliff edges with glorious views both along the coast and out to sea. It’s one of the many great short walks on the Jurassic Coast.

5. WEYMOUTH

Many English seaside towns have seen better days, but Weymouth is high on a streak of rejuvenation. Home to many great festivals and events, this is an old English gem not to be missed.

The old harbour contains a well-preserved mix of old and new.

Old warehouses perched on the sea walls are now cool pubs and hotels. Vintage breweries form the backdrop to charming squares. Fisherman chug their boats up and down the waterways, backed by colourful houses transformed into fish and chips shops.

Start at the pubs along Custom House Quay and collect the local hangouts along the back streets – Fish ‘n’ Fritz is a popular favourite. Then head across the river to collect some of the quaint streets and local markets.

6. ABBOTSBURY

Abbotsbury is a traditional English village on the Jurassic Coast with all the usual treats, including a village shop, some independent stores and tea rooms.

One of the highlights is the 14th-century St Catherine’s Chapel, perched on a hill overlooking the village.

From here, you get fantastic views of Chesil Beach, an 18-mile shingle beach with a shallow tidal lagoon.

From March to October, you can also visit the Abbotsbury Swannery, where you can watch hundreds of swans relax in the protected waters. In nesting season, it’s the only place in the world where you can walk through a colony of nesting Mute Swans.

7. WEST BAY

As you head west along the Jurassic Coast, limestone is replaced by sandstone.

At West Bay, instead of towering white cliffs, rippling waves of honey-coloured rock rise above golden shingle beaches.

It’s a magical sight, and we suggest you try to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the light is at its best.

If you are a fan of the UK TV series Broadchurch, you will recognise these dramatic cliffs from the programme.

You can just walk along the beach and admire the spectacular scenery. But, if you are up for a great hike, we recommend the trail between West Bay and Hive Beach. We cover this 6.8-kilometre hike in our Dorset coastal walks guide.

8. CHARMOUTH BEACH

Every year, bits of the cliff along the Jurassic Coast tumble into the sea; the softer the rock, the quicker it crumbles.

The cliffs by the village of Charmouth are softer than most. But these rocks, made up of mud, silt, and clay, are packed full of fossils. So each time the rock crumbles, new fossils are revealed.

One of the best things to do on the Jurassic Coast is to wander along Charmouth Beach looking for the remnants of animals etched in the rock.

In 2000, a large cliff fall revealed a fossilised dinosaur head. This Ichthyosaur, along with many other fossils, is now on display under the Heritage Centre by the beach.

The Heritage Centre runs regular 2-hour fossil hunting walks. The first 25 minutes explain how fossils are formed, and the rest of the tour is spent out on the beach searching for them.

9. LYME REGIS

If you only choose one town to visit on the Jurassic Coast, make it Lyme Regis.

The historic Harbour set against the cliffs is charming, while the beachfront (untouched by major roads) is backed by colourful huts and cute houses.

The high street has plenty of independent and interesting stores to stroll around.

Some of our favourites were Ammonite Fine Foods, which has an excellent range of local foods, beers, and gins.

We also loved the Lyme Regis Brewery, which has a taproom selling craft beer.

For a decent coffee, head to Amid Giants & Idols – one of the many independent roasters on the Jurassic Coast.

Lyme Regis is a great place to base yourself on the coast. We stayed at the recently renovated Pilot Boat, right in the centre of town, and it was a great stay.

10. GOLDEN CAP

At 191 metres, Golden Cap is the highest cliff in Dorset.

Located between Charmouth and Bridport, it’s made up of rocks from both the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

This geological make-up gives the cliffs a combination of dark grey layers interspersed with bright orange rock. Topped with a blanket of lush green grass, it’s one of the most scenic sections of the Jurassic Coast.

There are several walks in the area that take advantage of this beautiful location.

One of our favourites begins at the car park by the sea in Seatown. It’s just over 1 mile to the summit, but the steep path that rises through neat fields framed with oak trees and dotted with heather and blackberry will take you about 40 minutes.

At the top, take in the views of the patchwork quilt of green fields all the way towards Thorncombe Beacon towering over the golden shingle beach.

11. BEER

Beer is a historic fishing village on a beautiful stretch of the Jurassic Coast in East Devon.

It’s gentle shingle beach, set under high white cliffs and complete with striped sun chairs and colourful huts, evokes Victorian seaside outings.

Grab a coffee at one of the many cafes set up on the beach, or join a Mackerel fishing boat to catch your breakfast.

Beer’s picturesque high street is blessed with traditional local pubs and all the charm of an English village. The Jubilee Memorial Gardens, established for Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee, is a great place to unwind with a great view of the beach.

Outside the charming town, take a tour of the Beer Quarry Caves, where stone has been quarried for over 2,000 years.

We hiked from Beer Head to Hooken Cliffs, and the views were spectacular. This section of the coast is part of our longer walk from Beer to Branscombe.

12. SIDMOUTH

Sidmouth is a charming seaside resort in the heart of the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), occupying a picturesque setting amongst rapidly eroding red sandstone cliffs.

Grand Georgian buildings lining the esplanade have a faded glory that adds a delightful touch of nostalgia to the town. Stroll the promenade while waves crash against the pebbled beach and batter the sea wall.

Throughout the year, Sidmouth has an arty vibe, hosting several festivals. The most celebrated is the Sidmouth Folk Festival, which showcases traditional music and dance.

The Sidmouth Regatta, held on the August bank holiday weekend, features the RAF Red Arrows, who kick off festivities with a dramatic display over the coast.

WORTH A DETOUR

While the above list is our pick of the best things to do on the Jurassic Coast, there are plenty of other attractions on your way there.

Here are some other things to do if you have your own car.

CERNE ABBAS

Britain has a few strange chalk drawings on green hills. But none is stranger than the one at Cerne Abbas. It’s thought that this well-endowed man holding a club was an ancient fertility symbol.

SHORTLAND BILL LIGHTHOUSE

The Isle of Purbeck is a peninsula stretching 5 miles into the English Channel. At its tip is the Shortland Bill Lighthouse, a particularly good location first thing in the morning.

MAIDEN HILL

Maiden Hill is home to the largest and most complex Iron Age fort in the UK. While none of the buildings remain, row upon row of banks and ditches show how well the town was defended.

EXETER

The city of Exeter is a blend of historical periods, where the striking Gothic Cathedral takes centre stage, surrounded by rows of quirky medieval townhouses. Today, remnants of the Roman walls encase a vibrant city. You can read more in our guide to Exeter and East Devon.

WHERE TO STAY ON THE JURASSIC COAST?

It takes 2 hours to drive from one end of the Jurassic Coast to the other, so it’s a good idea to stay near the sights you are most keen to visit.

To see everything we have listed in this guide, we recommend 3 full days on the coast.

You could either stay centrally near Dorchester and drive out each day. Alternatively, you could split your stay between the Purbeck peninsula in the east and Lyme Regis in the west.

We have put together a list of the best places to stay on the Jurassic Coast, which has hotel recommendations in each area.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to go to the Jurassic Coast is from May to early July. The days are long and dry, the flowers are out, and the school holidays have not yet begun.

Another good option is September and October.

If possible, we’d avoid mid-July to the end of August. The weather is usually best, but this means it’s also very busy. If you travel during the peak season, book your accommodation well in advance.

Winter months can be cold and wet, but if you can book late and wait for a window of sunny weather, then it can be a great time to visit.

HOW TO GET THERE?

The main centres on the Jurassic Coast are Poole or Bournemouth in the east; Weymouth in the centre; and Axminster towards the western end.

There are regular train services from London to each of these destinations which take between 2.5 hours and just over 3 hours.

Check train times and prices at omio.com.

HOW TO GET AROUND THE JURASSIC COAST

You could use buses and trains to explore the coast, but unfortunately, they don’t run very regularly, and the network is not particularly comprehensive.

The easiest and most efficient way to get around is in your own car.

There are plenty of car parks, but they can get very busy in summer, so try to arrive early in peak season.

Also, make sure you have coins with you. Most parking meters take cards, but the odd one still only operates on coins.

We recommend rentalcars.com for your hire car, who compare prices across all the major car rental companies.

PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH OUR ENGLAND GUIDES

• Read our list of the essential places you need to visit in England.
• Our train itinerary of England over 10 days visits popular places and rural gems.
• Looking for the best neighbourhoods in London, read our guide about where to stay in London.
• Use our London itinerary to see the best of the city on easy to follow walking routes.
• Take a day trip to Brighton from London to enjoy the typical English seaside.
• Book a relaxing break in Cornwall with our guide to the top areas, beaches and attractions.
• See the best of Oxford on a day trip.