Lyme Regis Museum

Lyme Regis Museum

David Attenborough describes the Museum as "A delightful and remarkable museum, a jewel." The Museum stands in the heart of the town, just where the beautiful coastlines of Dorset and Devon meet.

The building has great idiosyncratic charm. Built in 1900-01 by Thomas Philpot, it was restored and extended in 1991. World-famous for its fossils, Lyme Regis was home to the fossil hunter, Mary Anning. The town has long been a holiday place and a draw for writers and artists, such as Jane Austen, J.McNeill Whistler and John Fowles. Here you can also find the stories of the Monmouth Rebellion, the Cobb and the coast and take part in fossil walks and rockpooling.

Visit website

  • Geology gallery

    Despite the small size of the building, we fit in several large fossils. These are ichthyosaur skeletons.

  • Fossil fish

    Fossils, like this fish, are collected and prepared by the Museum's geologist, Paddy Howe. Paddy runs fossil walks which leave from the museum. See the website for details.

  • Watercolour of the Great Landslip of 1839

    The coast around Lyme Regis is unstable and landslips occur frequently. A huge landslip occurred in 1839 and was recorded by several artists. The museum displays a good collection of local paintings and photographs.

  • Lace bonnet from Jane Austen's family

    Jane Austen visited Lyme Regis in 1804 and wrote about the town in her novel 'Persuasion'. The museum's literary gallery houses items given by her descendants and collections relating to the authors Henry Fielding, G.K.Chesterton, Beatrix Potter and John Fowles.

  • Table by David West

    This table was commissioned by the museum from the artist and woodcarver, David West, in 1987. The table shows the Cobb, the curved harbour wall at Lyme Regis made famous by John Fowles' novel 'The French Lieutenant's Woman'.

Admission & prices

Opening Times

Summer season
Monday to Saturday: 10.00-17.00,
Sunday: 11.00-17.00

Winter season
Wednesday to Sunday 11.00-16.00
Daily in school holidays

The summer season runs from Easter or 1 April (whichever is earlier) to 1 November.

The Museum is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December.

Admission Prices
Adults £3.95
Seniors £3.45
Children and students - FREE

Fossil Walks
Adults £11.00
Children and students £6.00
Walk price includes entry to the museum

Find us

The Museum is in the town centre near the Tourist Information Centre. It can be approached from Bridge Street or the sea wall.

Information

  • Childrens activities
  • Gift Shop

Galleries on three floors, museum shop, events.
Parking for disabled visitors is available 50m away at Cobb Gate car park.
Public toilets are across the road.
The ground floor of the Museum is accessible, with a slide show of the upper galleries.

Lyme Regis Museum
Bridge Street
Lyme Regis
Dorset
Lyme Regis
DT7 3QA

T: 01297 443370
E: info@lymeregismuseum.co.uk

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Lyme Regis Museum

Lyme Regis Museum
Bridge Street
Lyme Regis
Dorset
Lyme Regis, DEVON DT7 3QA