With such a breath-taking stretch of coastline, you’ll want to find the best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast. Whether you are a hiker, a beachgoer, or a do-nothing-er; this guide helps you choose your perfect spot.
With 95 miles of coastline and 185 million years in the making, the Jurassic Coast is a geological marvel, a scenic refresher and a hiker’s paradise. Finding where to stay on the Jurassic Coast is just the start of a great escape to some of the best coastal activities the UK has to offer.
Spend an afternoon in rejuvenation mode either hiking along rugged white clifftops or lazing on pebble beaches below them. Take in the Jurassic Coast light via a sunrise excursion to a decaying castle, or under the exposed lightbulbs of a hipster brewery producing artisanal ales.
The Jurassic Coast is a 2-hour drive from one end to the other, so it’s important to understand where you want to stay. Pick from a stylish clifftop hotel staring, a shepherd’s hut, a cool treehouse or a traditional pub in a remote location.
Whatever accommodation you are after, our guide of the best places to stay on the Jurassic Coast explains each of the regions along the coast and what you can expect to find.
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1 – PURBECK PENINSULA
Best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast for superb hikes and dramatic scenery
The Purbeck Peninsula is a sixty square mile patch of England, jutting out into the English Channel and bordered on three sides by water. Nowhere along the Jurassic Coast is the scenery more dramatic than in the Purbeck Peninsula. Towering white cliffs and mighty stacks of rock drop precipitously to the sea.
Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks – the iconic sights of the south of England – are scattered across the peninsula, connected by a stunning coastal path that is one of the best-hiking destinations in the UK. Just inland, the exceptionally photogenic Corfe Castle and several abandoned villages, add to the remote feel of the region.
There are some great Jurassic Coast hotels on the Isle of Purbeck. Remote pubs all alone on the southwest coastal path, grand hotels in charming market towns or a bit of luxury along the bay in Studland.
OSMINGTON MILLS
SMUGGLERS INN
Remote pub with traditionally furnished rooms perched right on the coastal path with stunning views.
BOOKING.COM
STUDLAND
PIG ON THE BEACH
A gem of a 16th-century manor house on Studland Bay with a committment to local produce and quality service.
BOOKINGS
STUDLAND
COSY COTTAGE
This cosy 3 bedroom cottage sleeps 5 and is ideal for families. It’s a lovely 10-minute walk to the beach.
VRBO.COM
2 – LYME REGIS
Best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast for a hip and welcoming seaside town
There are a few seaside towns along the Jurassic Coast, but the pick of the bunch is Lyme Regis. Unlike some of the tourist-driven towns on the coast, Lyme Regis capitalises on the character of the area. Independent shops stocked with local produce line the high street beside quality restaurants and surprisingly good coffee. The Lyme Regis micro-brewery perched over a tiny brook is a secret worth knowing about.
Down on the front, the part shingle, part sandy beach bends in an arc backed with colourful huts and cute townhouses. It’s a lovely, authentic town with a working harbour that still clamours with activity in the early hours as fishermen head out to sea.
A little further afield, take part of a fossil-hunting expedition at Charmouth or enjoy a circular walk around the weird rock formations of West Bay. The barrel-vaulted, 14th Century Chapel at Abbotsbury is as traditionally English as you could hope to find.
LYME REGIS
COVERDALE
A comfortable and spacious 1 bedroom apartment located just 450 metres from the beach.
BOOKING.COM
3 – DORCHESTER
Best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast for a charming market town with easy connections
If you want to explore all the things to do on the Jurassic Coast then Dorchester is a great option. Centrally located between the Purbeck peninsula and Lyme Regis, it’s a great base to explore most of the main attractions on the coast.
But as the capital of Dorset, Dorchester has its own appeal as well. The High Street is lined with grand and imposing architecture, excellent restaurants and museums. Perhaps more importantly, there’s good coffee at Coffee Saloon. As a major centre, it has a good range of accommodation from top quality B&B’s to grand Jurassic Coast hotels in landmark buildings.
Dorchester is a great option for where to stay on the Jurassic Coast. In less than an hour’s drive you can be at many of the best spots anywhere along the coast.
DORCHESTER
FRAMPTON ARMS
A well-priced guest house near the centre of town with hosts who will go out of their way to make your stay comfortable.
BOOKING.COM // HOTELS.COM
4 – DESTINATION STAYS
Best Jurassic Coast hotels and innovative stays which are the attraction in themselves
The Jurassic Coast has its fair share of quirky accommodation; places so good it hardly matters that you’re also in one of the most scenic parts of the country.
Go off-grid in a well-equipped and cosy Shepherds’ Hut set in the Dorset countryside, or unwind in stylish, quirky accommodation overlooking the sea.
For something completely different, escape to the outdoor luxury accommodation of a treehouse; a unique stay on the Jurassic Coast and a memorable way to unwind.
BURTON BRADSTOCK
THE SEASIDE BOARDING HOUSE
Stunning clifftop views from this stylish hotel with an on-site restaurant serving some of the best food in the area.
BOOKINGS
WHERE NEXT?
We’ve spent a lot of time exploring Britain, from rain-soaked outings in the Lake District to strolling historic villages in the Cotswolds. Here are some more of our guides from our home country including popular iconic sights and lesser-known hidden gems.
CORNWALL
Our favourite places to stay in Cornwall
Pedn Vounder – one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK
The best-hidden gems in Cornwall
DORSET COAST
Most beautiful highlights on the Jurassic Coast
The best of the Seven Sisters walk
Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door hike
PEMBROKESHIRE
The best things to do in Tenby
7 awesome circular walks on the Pembrokeshire Coast
Visiting the Blue Lagoon, Abereiddy
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