13 Awesome Stops on a Jurassic Coast Road Trip

The Jurassic Coast road trip is one of the best routes in England. The drive takes you to one of the country’s most photographed sites, Durdle Door, and you’ll go from seaside village to coastal view in just a few miles. Here are the best stops along the way.

Click for map – six hours drive and around 200 miles.

– The Lulworth Estate, our final destination

DAY ONE: Beaulieu > Brockenhurst > Christchurch > Bournemouth

DAY TWO: Sandbanks > Studland > Swanage > Lyme Regis > Sidmouth

 DAY THREE: Durdle Door > Southsea

DAY ONE

First stop: Beaulieu in the New Forest

So, if you’re coming from the east, you’ll drive through the New Forest – a beautiful part of England that’s well worth a stop. And if you’re coming from the west, then tag on a few extra hours or days to explore the forest while you’re there.

The village of Beaulieu in the New Forest is famous for its Top Gear Museum, country hotels and ponies that roam free with their right of way.

Beaulieu is so pretty, and on a sunny day would be a beautiful place to stop for a coffee and look round. It was a bit overcast when we were there so we carried on (and I wanted coffee).

And then: Brockenhurst

15 minutes drive

I went to Brockenhurst with friends last October for my birthday and loved it there, especially at The Pig. And so that was the first place I wanted to go back to.

It was time for a coffee, cookie and flapjack next to the fire, as you can see in the video below.

And onto: Christchurch

25 minutes drive

I’d been wanting to visit Christchurch in Dorset for a while now, and never been. It’s usually associated with old people to be honest. I did see a few mobility scooters but if I’m ever in one of those, I’d probably head down this way too. I see what they’re doing.

Beautiful place.

We had a quick drive round Christchurch town and then headed for Avon Beach for lunch, where we’d spotted ‘The Noisy Lobster’. One crab sandwich and one fish finger sarnie later, shared between us, and we were ready to hike up to walk the Coastal Path.

I love road trips.

You get to hang out with your chosen friend, it’s not about drinking or partying or any of that nonsense – just getting back to nature and talking, with only the beautiful landscape for distraction. I need to do more of these in the UK for sure.

Watch the Jurassic Coast road trip video!

There’s a ferry in Christchurch – you can get over to Mudeford. Our plan to go on it was thwarted though by the fact that we only had about 70p between us and there’s no ATM round the lobster pots and fishing boats of the marina.

So we left.

Stayed over in: Bournemouth

20 minutes drive

Bournemouth: another famous British seaside town I’d never been to before now.

Well, now I have.

We stayed at the Cottonwood Boutique Hotel which was weirdly good value for the Thursday before Easter at £53 for a family room, because, more beds.

Nice place. Right on the beach and just a walk away from Bournemouth Pier, the town centre and all the fun of the beach front. We went on the Bournemouth Big Wheel – how adventurous are we?! And enjoyed the views from up there, before heading off in search of food.

Our hearts that were so set on sushi soon plummeted when found out Sushi and Roll was a takeaway, surrounded by chain restaurants. Lucky for us – as we realised later – we went to NEO Restaurant as a second choice, neither of us particularly excited. But, oh my days, that beef brisket. Tender, perfectly cooked and served with the tastiest of all the gravy.

My friend Chloe reckoned she had the best risotto she’d ever had. Definitely recommend.

Although, it is pretty fancy. You might not want to turn up in your Nikes and puffer jacket like I did.

I’ve since been back to Bournemouth with my toddler, and had a great time. Click that link to see what we got up to.

More places to stay in Bournemouth

1. The Nici

The Nici is a chic boutique hotel that brings Miami-inspired vibes to Bournemouth. Opened in 2022, it features contemporary art-deco interiors, a stunning heated outdoor pool, and amenities such as a cinema, playroom, and spa. Some rooms offer hot tubs or freestanding baths with sea views. The hotel’s dining options include the South Beach Restaurant with sea views and Old Harry Rocks with a Mediterranean focus.

2. Royal Bath Hotel

The Royal Bath Hotel was Bournemouth’s first hotel. It features classic architecture and beautifully landscaped gardens, offering guests a sense of grandeur and history. Its central location offers easy access to Bournemouth’s beaches and town centre. There’s an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna, and it’s right by the seafront too.

DAY TWO

Click for map

Bound for: Sandbanks

We left our hotel in Bournemouth in search of breakfast and decided to lord it up in Sandbanks – apparently the fourth most expensive place to live, in the world.

Absolutely infested with millionaires.

D’you know what the Sandbanks moneyed don’t have though? Anywhere decent for breakfast.

All.

Closed.

They also don’t have manners. The drivers on this small peninsula were notably more aggressive than anywhere else – we even got the V sign from one Land Rover owner who’d obviously got out of his gold-plated four-poster bed the wrong side, despite us being completely in the right.

So, we got outta there.

You can take the ferry from Sandbanks to Swanage in just four minutes and £4, which is what we did.

Breakfast time: Swanage

Although, we found out on the other side that the toll people don’t take card and so I now have some sort of bailiff collector note I have to pay within 7 days or they’ll hunt me down.

Just as a word of warning for you.

We drove through Studland Bay – four miles of sandy beaches and heathland – admiring the view and questioning why neither of us had ever been before. Stunning.

Coming down into Swanage town and seeing the sun reflecting off the sea in front of us was pretty special. I liked it here. We found an free hour’s parking and went in search of a cash point and coffee.

Java Coffee House was our saviour, with toasted cheese scones and Americanos all round. I’ll come back here one day, but for now, time was ticking.

Lunch time: Studland

And so, just two hours later, there we were scoffing a chorizo flat bread outside our second Pig of the trip – Pig on the Beach. To be fair, we had ‘hiked’ / ambled along the Coastal Path in that time, enjoying such beautiful scenery like this.

Top tip for you: explore.

Many people were just sticking to the path, and seeing as it was Easter Friday it was quite busy. Chloe and I though, being the adventurers that we are, we were drawn to the coast and off roaded our walk to end up scenes like the below.

We also followed our nose to a bacon and halloumi beach shack (next time) and found a little beach with just a few of those in the know kicking back and relaxing the sunshine.

We did it for the fudge: Lyme Regis

The highlight of our next stop, Lyme Regis, was when both of us were let loose on the fudge pick n mix and managed to get exactly 100g, so £1.75, in our bags by eye. I mean, that kind of precision takes years of practice.

I was proud of us.

Lyme Regis was actually where I wanted to stay that night but seeing as it was Easter weekend everywhere had been booked out. And after being there, we were kind of glad. Not sure if I missed something here but I don’t really get the hype.

Do correct me if I’m wrong though…

READ MORE: Check out Dorset Travel Guide’s 21 Things to Do in Lyme Regis for more ideas. 

Where we stayed: Sidmouth

We got into Sidmouth at around 5pm. We’d left the sun and heat in Dorset and Devon looked kind of grim to be honest. Of course we tried not to let that affect our thoughts, but y’know, it did. Sidmouth is famous for its red cliffs and our hotel, Duke’s, was right in the middle of the beach strip.

We checked in and walked round the town to find a spot for dinner. We ended up at The Loft, with unfortunately a bad menu choice of the seafood platter. A few strips of salmon and tasteless prawns later and we were left staring at the steaks being brought out around us, wondering where we’d gone wrong.

Unfortunately that Friday night saw me hanging out the window at 2am shouting at the drunk teenagers below to be quiet. Chloe made me come back in, pointing out that that was us till about two years ago. Not the teenage part, obviously.

We had very little sleep. Just don’t ever stay in room 9 at Duke’s ok?

Where to stay in Sidmouth

1. The Victoria Hotel

Perched with sweeping views of Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast, The Victoria Hotel epitomises grandeur. This 4-star hotel has award-winning dining, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and a tennis court. It’s only a 5-minute walk into town from here too.

2. Harbour Hotel & Spa Sidmouth

The Harbour Hotel & Spa Sidmouth is a luxurious coastal retreat with sea views and modern comforts. It has beautifully designed rooms, a state-of-the-art spa, and an indoor pool. Guests can enjoy fresh, locally sourced cuisine at the restaurant while overlooking the serene seafront.

DAY THREE

Click for map

Final destination: Durdle Door

We made it!

Durdle Door in Dorset is basically a natural archway in the water, but a very, very famous one. There’s a sandy beach and beautiful coastal walks all round, or you can stand and admire. Or sit, as we did.

In peak season it’s mega busy here, so get there early if you want a good view, or even a spot on the beach. And don’t just stay to the beach, there’s lots round here to explore. 

Parking is at Durdle Door Car Park (postcode: BH20 5PU).

From here, a steep, uneven 15-minute walk leads down to the beach. The path can be slippery on rainy days, or heavy traffic days.

Pack light but bring essentials: water, snacks, sunscreen, and a windproof layer (coastal winds can be strong).

For photographers, sunrise and sunset offer golden light over the arch. Swimming? The water is deep, so confidence in open-sea conditions is a must.