West Bay Discovery Centre
About This Museum
People don't just stumble upon the West Bay Discovery Centre; they seek it out, drawn by the promise of a story told not in dusty glass cases, but through the very landscape that surrounds it. Tucked right on the water in a converted chapel, this place feels less like a museum and more like a key to understanding Dorset's dramatic Jurassic Coast. You'll find yourself learning about shipwrecks and fossils one moment, then stepping outside to see those same cliffs looming over the harbour. It’s a small but wonderfully immersive experience that connects you directly to the soul of this coastal town.
Collection Highlights
The centre brings local history to life with tactile exhibits on the area's famous geology and its treacherous maritime past. One of the most compelling displays details the fossil hunters who still comb these beaches, while another maps out the shocking number of ships lost along this picturesque yet perilous coast.
Visitor Information
You'll find it right where you'd hope—in 'The Chapel on the Beach' on West Bay Road. It's compact, so you can easily soak it all in within an hour, making it a perfect rainy-day refuge or a fascinating pit-stop before a clifftop walk.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a charmingly converted stone chapel, its original ecclesiastical character has been preserved, giving the entire experience a quiet, almost reverent atmosphere that perfectly suits its stunning beachfront location.
Contact & Location
Address: West Bay Discovery Centre, Station Road, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset, England, DT6 4EL, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1308 427288
Website: Visit Website
