Things to Do in Dorset When the Weather Turns

🦖 Museums & History

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre (5 mins)

• A must visit for anyone interested in the Jurassic Coast. Learn about local fossils, join guided activities, and see impressive specimens found on Charmouth Beach. Great for kids and adults alike.

Lyme Regis Museum (5 mins)

• Perfect for fossil lovers, with interactive displays and family-friendly activities. Great add on to fossil hunting when the weather isn’t beach-friendly.

Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, Lyme Regis (5 mins)

• Packed with fossils, skeletons, and hands-on exhibits. Always a hit with children.

Bridport Museum (15 mins)

• Tells the story of Bridport’s history, rope-making heritage, and local geology. Free entry makes it a budget-friendly option.

Dorset Museum, Dorchester (35 mins)

• A brilliant mix of archaeology, art, and history, including a gallery dedicated to Thomas Hardy.

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🐟 Aquariums & Animal Fun

Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium (5 mins)

• Small but engaging, based on the Cobb. Kids can learn about local marine life and even hand-feed grey mullet fish.

Axe Valley Wildlife Park (20 mins, Devon)

• A lovely little zoo with meerkats, lemurs, and reptiles — mostly outdoors but with sheltered areas to duck out of the rain.

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🎨 Indoor Play & Creative Fun

Sealife Adventure Park, Weymouth (45 mins)

• Underwater tunnels, penguins, otters, and interactive zones. A full day out if the weather looks set to stay wet.

Lyme Regis Marine Theatre (5 mins)

• Check listings for family films, live performances, or music. A cosy option for a drizzly afternoon.

Seaton Jurassic (25 mins, Devon)

• A handy option for little ones to burn off energy indoors, with a soft play area alongside interactive exhibits.

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🛍️ Local Markets & Independent Shops

Bridport Arts Centre & Markets (15 mins)

• A wander through Bridport’s indoor markets or art centre is a good rainy-day filler, with cafés nearby to warm up afterwards.

Lyme Regis Independent Shops (5 mins)

• Fossil shops, bookshops, and galleries make for a gentle indoor browse if the showers are light.

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☕ Cosy Food Stops

Rainy days are the perfect excuse to linger over a cream tea or pub lunch. Local favourites include:

• The Pilot Boat, Lyme Regis

• The Anchor Inn, Seatown

• Hive Beach Café, Burton Bradstock

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🏡 Wrap Up

Whether it’s dinosaurs, aquariums, indoor play, or cosy cafés, there are plenty of rainy-day adventures waiting just minutes from Newlands Holidays. After a day out exploring, come back and relax in your cosy accommodation or enjoy our on-site facilities, including the pool and restaurant — perfect for brightening up a grey day.