Best holidays for kids: hunting for fossils on the Jurassic Coast

Looking for ideas for child friendly holidays? Lyme Regis on the Jurassic coast has plenty of kid friendly activities, oodles of natural beauty to explore and an abundance of holiday cottages to rent. There are lots of nearby places to visit with kids that will keep them contentedly occupied and the sea air will tire them out so you can enjoy quiet evenings together while they sleep!

Mary Anning the fossil hunter from Jurassic Coast

There’s a good chance you’ve heard the well-known children’s tongue-twister: “She sells seashells by the sea shore”, but what you may not have realised is that it’s origins lie in the fascinating true story of Mary Anning from Lyme Regis on Britain’s Jurassic Coast. Mary Anning’s story comes to life in the waterfront museum in the heart of the town. As a young girl born into poverty, Mary Anning explored the rugged coastline and discovered fossils and ammonites that her family was able to sell to Georgian tourists. Her impressive discoveries are now finally being recognised for their significance in paleontology, with the Natural History Museum hailing her as “the greatest fossil hunter”.

Best holiday activities for families in Lyme Regis

Your kids will love exploring the coastline and finding their own fossils as well as discovering living creatures in the rockpools and playing on the sandy beaches. There are guided walks and fossil tours if you prefer some more structure and the newly extended museum is full of interesting historical exhibits. If the weather is nice and you’d like to get out on the water, then you can go paddle boating, take a cruise or fishing trip or even a high-speed RIB boat trip if you’re after some thrills.

Nestled on the Dorset coast, just over 3 hours drive from London and with an abundance of nearby holiday rental cottages, Lyme Regis is a great option for a child friendly holiday. The town itself has some lovely independent shops and galleries, while the restaurants serve seafood as fresh as it comes.

So whether you have an avid geologist or dinosaur fan in your family, or you’d like to learn more about Britain’s rich history or even if you just want to discover a charming coastal town with nice shops, pubs and restaurants, then you really shouldn’t miss Lyme Regis.

Exploring arts and culture with kids in Town Mill

The Town Mill, in Lyme Regis, has become a home for artisan shops and you can stroll through the narrow streets and watch the artists at work. The town has become a thriving creative scene, with glass blowers, potters and jewellery makers working alongside fashion designers, sculptors and gourmet food and drink producers.

The town has been a magnet for writers and artists for centuries, with writers such as JRR Tolkein and Jane Austen drawing inspiration from the nearby scenery. Austen fans will recognise the sea wall in Lyme Regis from the film version of Persuasion.

Jurassic Coast: getting outdoors in a child friendly holiday

The area is the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site and there are many coastal and inland walks, both gentle and adventurous to suit everyone. Cyclists will be happy too, with some challenging riding routes that have stunning vistas.

Lyme Regis hosts a large number of events throughout the year so why not plan your visit around one of the eclectic festivals such as the Dorset Street Food Festival in July or the Carnival Parade in August.

Travelling with a pet to Jurassic Coast

With so many beaches and coastal walks, your four legged friends will love the Jurassic Coast. You can find plenty of pet-friendly accommodation on Vrbo using the pet filter and many shops and restaurants in the town allow dogs. In fact, the original ‘Lassie’ is from Lyme Regis. During WWI the naval vessel  HMS Formidable was scuppered by German torpedoes in 1915. The surviving sailors were taken to the Pilot Boat Inn, where the landlady’s collie named Lassie saved the life of a sailor by licking his face.

Where to stay with children in Lyme Regis

Holiday rental properties give you the space, privacy and convenience of having a home away from home and they are the perfect base for exploring the Dorset coast. Here are some properties in Lyme Regis:

Written by Scott Giles, Marketing Director at Vrbo.