Brixham — Travelrags

National GeographicJul 31, 2026

Why the U.K.'s fossil capital is the perfect seaside getaway

Famed for its excellent fossil-hunting beaches, this Georgian town on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast offers plenty of seaside distractions, from paleontology walks to seafood feasts with a view.

17 things in this story

Brixham Fish MarketMarket
Elsewhere
Mary AnningPublic artworkLyme Regis, United KingdomFossil hunter statue overlooks Church Cliff Beach
Front BeachSightLyme Regis, United KingdomMain strip fringed by promenade and pastel huts
Shoreline SaunaPlaceLyme Regis, United KingdomWood-fired, Nordic-style saunas sit right on the sand
CobbSightLyme Regis, United KingdomMan-made harbour featured in novel Persuasion
Monmouth BeachSightLyme Regis, United KingdomPebbled stretch popular among fossil hunters
Dinosaurland Fossil MuseumMuseumLyme Regis, United KingdomHome to over 30,000 specimens
Lyme Rib RidesPlaceLyme Regis, United KingdomSightseeing cruises zip along the coast
South West Coast PathTrailLyme Regis, United Kingdom630-mile trail tracing this wave-lashed corner of England
Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature ReserveTrailLyme Regis, United KingdomSeven-mile stretch of coastline formed by landslides
Town MillMuseumLyme Regis, United KingdomSite dates back to 1340, restored 17th-century watermill
Lyme Regis BreweryPubLyme Regis, United KingdomCraft beers go down a treat in the courtyard
Sandro'sRestaurantLyme Regis, United KingdomFamily-run operation with seasonal British ingredients
RockfishRestaurantLyme Regis, United KingdomDine to views of Lyme Regis' historic centre
Tom'sRestaurantLyme Regis, United KingdomAA Rosette bistro with legendary fish board
Church Cliff BeachSightLyme Regis, United Kingdom
KioskRestaurantLyme Regis, United Kingdom

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