Holiday rentals and lettings in Lyme Regis

Table of contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a holiday home in Lyme Regis?
• Holiday rentals in Lyme Regis: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Lyme Regis: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in Lyme Regis?

• A home for every group: Choose a cosy chalet for two or a large property for a group, with gardens, sea views and pet-friendly touches.
• Where to base yourself: Stay in the town centre for the Cobb and the beaches, or choose the leafy outskirts and nearby Charmouth for quieter coastal escapes.
• Guests rate them highly: Top-rated lettings score close to 10.0, with visitors praising private gardens, walkable harbour locations and comfortable space for relaxed seaside breaks.
• Best time to visit: Summer brings warm beach days and the Fossil Festival, whilst autumn offers quieter walks and lower rates.
• Plenty to explore: Try fossil hunting, coastal walks, the Cobb and the Sculpture Trail.

Charming cottages in Lyme Regis sit close to the harbour, spacious holiday homes welcome families and groups of up to ten, and snug chalets make a romantic base for two. Many come with gardens, open-plan living spaces and lovely kitchens for homemade meals. Some of the lettings close to the sea offer views over the bay from the comfort of your sofa, as well as amenities like:

• Wi-Fi for easy working and streaming
• Private gardens and outdoor areas for summer dining
• Sea views over Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast
• Pet-friendly homes so Fido can travel too

Whether you want a quiet retreat or a lively family base, there is a holiday let in Lyme Regis to match.

What are the best areas to stay in Lyme Regis?

For first-time visitors, the town centre is hard to beat, with the Cobb, the beaches and the shops all within an easy stroll. The table below details areas for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Lyme Regis lettings earn warm reviews for their welcoming hosts, comfortable interiors and unbeatable seaside locations. Guests regularly mention how easy it is to walk to the Cobb and the beaches, and how restful the gardens feel after a day of fossil hunting.

Here are our top-rated holiday rentals from the past year:

1. St Anton - 10.0: A pet-friendly chalet for four in Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast, with its own garden and easy reach of the seafront and coast path.
2. Shire View - 10.0: A comfortable cottage for five near the heart of Lyme Regis with a private garden, a short walk down to the Cobb.
3. The Cabin - 10.0: A cosy chalet for two with a garden, ideal for couples seeking a peaceful base close to Lyme Bay's beaches.

Lyme Regis sits on Lyme Bay where Dorset meets Devon, at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, England's only natural World Heritage Site, in the far south-west of the country.

✈️What is the best way to get to Lyme Regis?

Getting to Lyme Regis is straightforward, with options by road, rail and coach. Here are the most common ways to get to the town:

• Car: Most visitors arrive by car. From the M5, join the A35 towards Bridport or the A3052 from Exeter, both of which lead into Lyme Regis. The approach is steep and the narrow streets fill up in summer, so head for the Charmouth Road car park or the Holmbush car park above the town and walk down to the seafront.
• Train: There is no station in Lyme Regis itself. The nearest stations are Axminster, about six miles away, and Honiton, both on the London Waterloo to Exeter line. From Axminster, the bus and local taxis take around twenty minutes.
• Coach: National Express coaches serve Axminster and Bridport, where regional bus services connect on to Lyme Regis.

🥗Where to eat in Lyme Regis?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Hix Oyster & Fish House is the best-rated restaurant in Lyme Regis. Below is a table showing the top 5 highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Sophie and Ben recommend Baboo Gelato in Lyme Regis: a tiny artisan gelateria near the seafront where the flavours change with the seasons, perfect for a treat after a morning on the beach.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

The best time to visit Lyme Regis is from late May to September, when the beaches are warm and the sea is calm enough for swimming and water sports. Summer is the liveliest season, with festivals and busy beaches, whilst the spring and autumn shoulder seasons bring quieter walks, lower rates and dramatic skies along the coast.

Summer

• Best for: Beach days, swimming and the buzz of Carnival Week.
• Weather: Warm and bright, with long evenings and sea temperatures at their most inviting.
• Atmosphere: Lively and family-friendly, with busy beaches and a full events programme.

Autumn

• Best for: Coastal walks, fossil hunting and peaceful weekends away.
• Weather: Mild and changeable, with crisp, clear days ideal for the coast path.
• Atmosphere: Calm and uncrowded, with lower rates and a gentle pace.

Spring

• Best for: Wildflowers, the Fossil Festival and early-season escapes.
• Weather: Fresh and breezy, with increasing sunshine towards May.
• Atmosphere: A relaxed start to the season, before the summer crowds arrive.

⭐Our hosts' recommendation: Our Lyme Regis local expert, Charlotte of Shire View, recommends walking out along the Cobb at low tide and then following the coast path towards Golden Cap for the finest views over Lyme Bay. You can read more about her local tips on Charlotte's page.

1. Hunt for fossils on the Jurassic Coast
2. Walk the Cobb and Lyme Regis harbour
3. Follow the Sculpture Trail through the gardens
4. Relax on Lyme Regis' beaches
5. Discover the Lyme Regis Museum

1. Hunt for fossils on the Jurassic Coast

   Lyme Regis is one of the finest fossil hunting spots in the country, with ammonites and belemnites tumbling from the cliffs onto the beaches after winter storms. Join a guided walk led by an expert geologist, or simply explore the foreshore towards Monmouth Beach and Charmouth with your eyes on the shingle, searching for hidden treasures. Even the town's lamp posts are shaped like ammonites.

2. Walk the Cobb and Lyme Regis harbour

   The Cobb is the great curving harbour wall that has sheltered Lyme Regis for centuries and starred in The French Lieutenant's Woman and Jane Austen's Persuasion. Walk its length when the weather and tides allow for wonderful views back over the town and out across the bay towards Golden Cap.

3. Follow the Sculpture Trail through the gardens

   Perched above the sea, Langmoor and Lister Gardens have been home to the Sculpture Trail since 2015. Wander among contemporary works by local artists, from 'The Air We Breathe' to 'The Trapeze', set against a backdrop of sweeping coastal views. Time your visit for late afternoon for the sunset over Lyme Bay.

4. Relax on Lyme Regis' beaches

   The seafront is lined with sheltered sandy and pebble beaches, with clean, clear water that is safe for swimming. Hire a deckchair on the promenade, let the little ones loose at the Anning Road playing field with its pirate-ship theme, or head to Church Cliff for rock pooling and fishing. If you fancy stretching the trip along the coast, it pairs well with camping along the Devon coast a little further west.

5. Discover the Lyme Regis Museum

   Built on the site of Mary Anning's home, the Lyme Regis Museum tells the story of the town's fossils, smugglers and literary visitors. It runs regular fossil-hunting walks with expert guides, the best introduction to the Jurassic Coast for newcomers. If you can, visit during the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival over the early May bank holiday.