I loved my visit to the beautiful little seaside town (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Lyme Regis is widely considered one of the best seaside towns in the UK and regularly called the England’s prettiest, featuring at the top of national rankings year in and year out. Dubbed the “pearl of Dorset”, the small town is known for its charming atmosphere, scenic harbour, golden beaches and fossil hunting.
In 2025, Lyme Regis, located on the Jurassic Coast, was named the third best seaside resort in the UK while a survey by Which? ranked it among the top 15 seaside towns in Britain the year before. Unlike other well-known locations across the South West region, such as St Ives and Salcombe, Lyme Regis is popular for having a calmer and quieter atmosphere. I visited the seaside town, and here’s why I rank it as one of the best in the nation.
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Lyme Regis has a stunning coastline (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
As well as growing up in Devon, I’ve been lucky enough to visit a number of seaside towns while working for the Daily Express, including Blackpool, Weymouth and Brighton. However, my visit to Lyme Regis stood out from the rest for a number of reasons.
The first thing I noticed was how quiet and calm the town centre seemed. I parked at the top of Silver Street before strolling down Broad Street, which is lined with shops and cafes, before heading to the beautiful seafront.
Although it was a Tuesday afternoon, as opposed to visiting at a weekend, Lyme Regis, which has a population of around 4,000, seemed peaceful, unlike other top seaside towns that I’ve been to. There was a blissful buzz in the air as locals sat outside independent cafes and wandered in and out of shops.
However, it wasn’t until I reached the bottom of Broad Street that the true beauty of the town hit me. From Marine Parade, a small car park leading onto the beach, there were stunning panoramic views out to sea and the wider Jurassic Coast.
The town has a thriving shopping scene (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Meanwhile, the promenade next to the beach is lined with traditional colourful beach huts which lead to The Cobb. This famed sea wall is the perfect spot to soak up the amazing views and acts as a popular walking route for visitors.
Lyme Regis benefits from having four beaches, with each offering something different to visitors. The Town Beach, located near the harbour, is the ideal spot for swimming and building sandcastles, while Church Cliff Beach is known for its rockpools, East Cliff Beach for its quiet atmosphere and Monmouth Beach for its fossils.
After spending some time down at the seafront, and grabbing a bite to eat at the Rock Point Inn, I walked back up Broad Street to have a look at the shops on offer. As well as quirky independent stores, selling a range of unique arts, crafts and local products, there are also galleries which showcase the work of local artists.
I then headed to the “artisan quarter”, which is found at Combe Street and the Town Mill complex. It was here I found a number more art galleries and gift shops offering handmade jewellery, ceramics, art and crafts.
Lyme Regis frequently ranks among the best seaside towns in the nation (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
From my experience, most traditional seaside towns lack this sort of shopping experience. While they can often guarantee shops that sell buckets, spades, fishing nets and bodyboards, they tend to lack higher quality shops such as those available in Lyme Regis.
As I walked around the shops, and interviewed some business owners, I found everyone to be very welcoming and friendly. They were happy to chat about their beloved town while also offering me advice on where to grab a coffee or a bite to eat.
For those who don’t fancy relaxing on the beach all day or going shopping, there are plenty of other things to do in Lyme Regis, including visiting the Marine Aquarium and the independently-operated Dinosaurland Fossil Museum. During the busier summer months, the town also welcomes a Jazz and Blues Festival as well as a Regatta and Carnival Week.
As my day in Lyme Regis came to an end, it was clear to see why the town often ranks among the best in the nation. It has everything – friendly locals, a stunning coastline, independent shops and a relaxing atmosphere.