River Cottage HQ

Top choice


This is the humble whitewashed house and kitchen garden from where celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall launched his culinary career. The house hosts a range of dining events throughout the year, from Sunday lunches and farmhouse dinners to slap-up Sunday roasts. As you can imagine, they're very popular, so you'll need to book well ahead. Cooking courses are offered too.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Dinosaurland

2.67 MILES

This joyful, mini, indoor Jurassic Park overflows with fossilised remains; look out for belemnites, a plesiosaurus and an impressive locally found…

2. Town Mill

2.69 MILES

An atmospheric, creaking, grinding, 14th-century working watermill. Cafes, art galleries, a jewellery workshop and microbrewery sit alongside.

3. Lyme Regis Museum

2.77 MILES

In 1814 local teenager Mary Anning found the first full ichthyosaur skeleton near Lyme Regis, propelling the town on to the world stage. An incredibly…

4. Cobb

2.8 MILES

First built in the 13th century, Lyme's iconic, curling sea defences have been strengthened and extended over the years, and so don't present the elegant…

5. Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre

3.84 MILES

The centre has engaging displays about the Jurassic Coast and also runs between one and seven fossil-hunting walks a week (adult/child £8/4). They're…

6. Beer Quarry Caves

6.39 MILES

Beer's creamy chalk cliffs hint at the presence of a seam of high-quality masonry material called Beer stone. It's been used in countless famous buildings…

7. Forde Abbey

7.56 MILES

Built in the 12th century as a Cistercian monastery, Forde has been a private home since 1649. The building boasts magnificent plasterwork ceilings and…

8. Donkey Sanctuary

9.47 MILES

This irresistible attraction is home to around 400 donkeys, some rescued from mistreatment or neglect, others retired from working the beaches. Walkways…