A mini guide to

Lyme Regis & Charmouth: getting there

Stops, stations and how to reach Lyme Regis & Charmouth

Stops and stations

Getting to Lyme Regis & Charmouth

Choose the stop closest to where you are going.

Stop or station	Services	Good for
Axminster	South Western Railway	Nearest station on the London Waterloo to Exeter line; Visit Dorset says to change to a frequent bus for Lyme Regis, about 5 miles away
Lyme Regis	First Bus X51 and X53	First Bus lists both routes as Weymouth to Axminster via Lyme Regis; check the current timetable
Charmouth	First Bus X53	Listed by First Bus on the Bridport to Lyme Regis section of the X53; check the current timetable
Park and ride	First Bus	First Bus’s timetable page lists a Lyme Regis Park and Ride service; check the operator for dates and times

Walking from nearby areas

Bridport & West Bay: 10.7 km from Lyme Regis & Charmouth, better by public transport
Seaton, Beer & Sidmouth: 16.1 km from Lyme Regis & Charmouth, better by public transport
Weymouth & Portland: 37.0 km from Lyme Regis & Charmouth, better by public transport
Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door & Wareham: 52.4 km from Lyme Regis & Charmouth, better by public transport

Reaching the Jurassic Coast

Official travel information

Most visitors arrive by train or car and finish the journey by bus, taxi or on foot, because the coast itself has no through railway. Always check the operator for current times, fares and disruption.

Visit Dorset → — the county’s official tourism site
Visit Dorset: the Jurassic Coast → — places, history and the coast path
Visit Dorset: beach safety → — cliffs, tides, mud and emergencies
Visit Dorset: fossil hunting → — where and how to look safely
Visit Devon → — the county’s official tourism site
Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site → — its site says the Trust has closed and points to Dorset Council
Ministry of Defence: Lulworth firing times → — monthly road closures and live firing
Lulworth Estate → — Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and parking
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre → — fossil advice and the Fossil Collecting Code
Lyme Regis Museum → — fossil walks and Mary Anning’s story
South Western Railway → — trains from London Waterloo
Great Western Railway → — trains from Bristol
National Rail Enquiries → — train times and fares
First Bus: Wessex, Dorset and South Somerset → — Jurassic Coaster routes X51 and X53
Traveline → — bus and train journey planner
National Express → — coaches

Times, fares and disruption change: use the operator pages above for live information.

All ways to reach the Jurassic Coast

Plan your journey here

Enter your starting point and Google Maps will show routes to Lyme Regis & Charmouth. Public transport is selected; change it on the map. Check operator sites for live disruption.

Lyme Regis & Charmouth: The Cobb harbour wall curving round Lyme Regis

While you are here

Things to see in Lyme Regis & Charmouth

A few of the sights in the area. The Things to do page lists them all, with directions and official links.

Things to do

Dinosaurland Fossil Museum

Privately run fossil museum in a Grade I listed former Congregational church.

Things to do

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre

Charity-run centre on Charmouth beach with fossil displays and advice on looking for fossils safely.

Things to do

Charmouth Beach

Pebble and sand beach below crumbling clay cliffs, well known for loose fossils washed out of the cliffs.

The Jurassic Coast

More areas to explore

12 sights · 10 places to eat

Seaton, Beer & Sidmouth

Chalk cliffs, a fishing cove, a seaside tramway and a Regency-era resort

Open the mini guide →

15 sights · 11 places to eat

Swanage, Studland & Purbeck

A Victorian seaside town, a ruined castle and the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast

Open the mini guide →

14 sights · 7 places to eat

Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door & Wareham

A famous rock arch, an almost circular cove and a Saxon walled town

Open the mini guide →

Photo credits

The Cobb: Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Lyme Regis & Charmouth (area photo): Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Dinosaurland Fossil Museum: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Charmouth Beach: Tanya Hart, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Seaton, Beer & Sidmouth: michael cooper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Swanage, Studland & Purbeck: Bob Harvey, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door & Wareham: Brian Deegan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Weymouth & Portland: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 4.0, source
Bridport & West Bay: Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits

Keep exploring the Jurassic Coast

All 6 areas Swanage, Studland & Purbeck Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door & Wareham The Jurassic Coast guide