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A quick guide to all the beaches in Lyme Regis – with everything you need to know to plan a visit!
Famous for fossils, Mary Anning, and its iconic harbour, Lyme Regis is a picturesque seaside village. The Cobb (the town’s long harbour wall) provides sheltered water for swimming, and the main beaches are backed by amusement arcades, mini golf, and other attractions, making this a favourite holiday town for families.
The town is home to one of West Dorset’s only sandy beaches (which gets very busy in summer), but there are also some more secluded beaches perfect for rockpooling and fossil hunting. This guide gives a quick overview of each one, with all the info you need to know about visiting…
Beaches in Lyme Regis
Front Beach (aka Town Beach / Cobb Beach)
The “main” beach in Lyme Regis: family-friendly, lively, and lined with amenities.
Beach Type: Pebble (with a small sandy section, see entry below)
Nearest Parking: Monmouth Beach Car Park. There is a Park & Ride at Charmouth Road Car Park (click here for dates).
Lifeguards on Duty: On the sandy section (see below)
Toilets: On the Promenade and near the Cobb
Popularity: Very busy in summer
Dogs Allowed: Not allowed from 1 May to 30 September.
Food & Drink: Several refreshment kiosks, cafes, and restaurants along promenade.
Facilities & Attractions:
- Amusement arcade
- Beach huts for hire
- Mini golf
- Town centre in walking distance
- Langmoor & Lister Gardens
- The Cobb (harbour wall)
Sandy Beach (Front Beach)
A small sandy section at the western end of Front Beach (nearest the harbour).
Beach Type: Sand
Nearest Parking: Monmouth Beach Car Park. There is a Park & Ride at Charmouth Road Car Park (click here for dates).
Lifeguards on Duty: From mid-July to early September.
Toilets: On the Promenade and near the Cobb.
Popularity: Very busy in summer.
Dogs Allowed: Not allowed from 1 May to 30 September.
Food & Drink: Several refreshment kiosks, cafes, and restaurants along promenade.
Facilities & Attractions:
- As above
Monmouth Beach
Great for fossil hunting – also popular for swimming and watersports.
Beach Type: Pebble
Nearest Parking: Monmouth Beach Car Park.
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: In car park.
Popularity: Fairly busy in summer (but less so than Front Beach)
Dogs Allowed: All year, off lead.
Food & Drink: Several options near The Cobb (harbour wall)
Facilities & Attractions:
- Ammonite Pavement (a layer of limestone with several large ammonite fossils, near the western end of the beach)
- Bowling green
- Lyme Regis Power Boat Club
- The Cobb (harbour wall)
FYI: The beach shelves steeply and there can be strong undercurrents, so caution is advised when swimming.
Church Cliff Beach
Small, secluded beach near town – great for rockpooling at low tide.
Beach Type: Pebble and sand
Nearest Parking: Cobb Gate Car Park (17 spaces). The larger Charmouth Road Car Park is the better option (0.4 mile walk).
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: On Bridge Street.
Popularity: Usually fairly quiet.
Dogs Allowed: All year, off lead.
Food & Drink: A short walk to the town centre.
Facilities & Attractions:
- Mary Anning Statue
- Coast wall walking path
- Town centre in walking distance
East Cliff Beach (aka Back Beach)
One of the UK’s best fossil-hunting spots!
Beach Type: Pebble
Nearest Parking: Charmouth Road Car Park (access via 114 steps)
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: In car park
Popularity: Usually fairly quiet
Dogs Allowed: All year, off lead
Food & Drink: None on beach (closest options are in the town centre).
Facilities & Attractions:
- An amazing fossil hunting beach
- Lyme Regis Museum organise fossil hunting walks.
FYI: Stay away from the base of the cliffs as there are active mudslides here and they are very unstable.
The beach is cut off at high tide, so always check the tide times.
READ MORE: Best Fossil Beaches in Dorset
Lyme Regis Beaches: Map
- Front Beach: Pebble. No dogs in summer. Aka Town Beach & Cobb Beach.
- Sandy Beach: Pebble. No dogs in summer. (Part of Front Beach)
- Monmouth Beach: Pebble. Dog-friendly all year.
- Church Cliff Beach: Pebble and sand. Dog-friendly all year.
- East Cliff Beach: Pebble. Dog-friendly all year.
More Nearby
- Charmouth Beach East: Sand and pebble. Dog-friendly all year. Read more in our West Dorset beach guide.
- Charmouth Beach West: Sand and shingle.
- Seatown Beach: Pebble and shingle.
- Eype Beach: Shingle. Dog-friendly all year.
Hope this guide to the beaches in Lyme Regis helps you plan your next seaside trip. Feel free to ask questions in the comments below!
