We recently visited the Lyme Regis area for a fossil hunting weekend away. We’ve had this on our bucket list for a long time and I’ve been desperate to find an ammonite! Baby Bear is 5 years old now, a keen science enthusiast and outdoor adventure lover, so I knew he’d LOVE fossil hunting. It was a no-brainer that we also certainly needed to visit the Lyme Regis Museum while we were there!
Our day began with a couple of hours fossil hunting on Monmouth beach. We parked in the Monmouth Beach car park which cost £1.90 per hour (free after 6pm). We found some huge ammonite fossil markings on the large rocks but alas, sadly nothing that was of a collectable size.
As it got a bit chilly, we decided to walk along the front to the Lyme Regis Museum. This is set right where Mary Anning, the famous fossil hunter once lived! The museum building was built in 1902 and it is beautiful! The spiral staircases and stonework, along with other original features, make it a really lovely place to explore. When you enter there is a small gift shop and a variety of trail sheets for you to complete during your visit.
The galleries are full of local history and Mary Anning’s life story. Mary Anning was the first person to find the fossils of several prehistoric species and made other important scientific discoveries. There are many fossils on display that have been found in Lyme Regis. We also enjoyed learning more about the creatures that the fossils once were.
The Lyme Regis Museum has loads of hands-on activities to enjoy while you explore the museum. Buttons to push, drawers to open, puzzles to solve. We loved how interactive and family friendly it is. The trail sheets were really good too. We learned lots of interesting facts while looking for the answers on the trail sheets.
On the top floor of the museum is the new Mary Anning Wing. Here we found books, colouring activities and a microscope. The boys had a great time getting a closer look at the fossils and slides. Baby Bear now has a microscope at the top of his Christmas list! There’s also a fantastic panoramic view of the beach below.
We spent around 1.5 hours in the Lyme Regis Museum. There’s lots to read and learn about the fascinating history of the area. The museum also runs organised fossil walks, which may be more successful than our own hunt! To check opening hours and prices, please check the Lyme Regis Museum website here: https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk
Disclaimer: I am in no way linked to Lyme Regis Museum. I paid for our entry tickets in full and all words, photos and opinions are that of my own.
