The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival was first held in 2005, and conceived by local enthusiasts alongside Dr Paul Davis of the Natural History Museum and the Lyme Regis Development Trust. Originally intended as a one-off celebration of the Jurassic Coast’s rich geological heritage, its overwhelming popularity transformed it into an annual family-friendly event. Nestled at the heart of Lyme Regis, also known as “The Birthplace of Paleontology”, the festival honours local fossil pioneer Mary Anning and her ground-breaking discoveries in Jurassic marine fossils. Each year, over a weekend attendees can enjoy guided beach walks, hands-on science activities, palaeoart workshops, expert talks, and fossil fairs, among other activities designed to educate and inspire people of all ages, while showcasing the latest in earth‑science research. Supported by museums, universities, community groups, and local councils, and coordinated by Lyme Regis Museum and the Lyme Regis Development Trust, the festival has become the largest free public palaeontology event in the UK. I was lucky enough to visit for the first time this year, on the festival’s 20th anniversary.

In case you’ve been living under an ichthyosaur fossil, Lyme Regis Bay, situated along England’s Jurassic Coast, is geologically significant due to its rich sequence of fossil-rick rock layers. The cliffs and foreshore at Lyme Regis, composed mainly of Blue Lias and Charmouth Mudstone, are particularly fossiliferous, preserving a remarkable variety of marine life from the Early Jurassic period. These strata have yielded exceptionally well-preserved fossils of ammonites, belemnites, marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, and early fish, offering crucial insights into the evolution of life after the end-Triassic extinction. Frequent landslides and coastal erosion continually expose new material, making the bay a dynamic and accessible field site for both amateur fossil hunters and professional palaeontologists. The area’s geological importance is further underscored by its status as part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast, marking it as a key location for understanding ancient marine ecosystems and the history of life on Earth. This area was made famous by Mary Anning 200 years ago.

Mary Anning (1799–1847) was a pioneering English fossil collector and self-taught palaeontologist who made some of the most significant geological discoveries of the 19th century, all while working along the cliffs of Lyme Regis. Born into a poor family, she began collecting fossils as a child to help support her family after her father’s death. Despite having little formal education and being excluded from the scientific establishment due to her gender and social class, Anning discovered the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton when she was just 12 years old. She later found the first complete plesiosaur and important pterosaur and fish fossils, dramatically shaping the early development of palaeontology. Although her work was often published under the names of male scientists, her keen observations and fossil expertise were widely respected by leading geologists of the time. Today, Mary Anning is celebrated as a trailblazer whose contributions helped transform our understanding of prehistoric life. She is one of the few female scientists who has thankfully been given the credit and recognition she deserves.

I was also fortunate enough to attend three of the talks at the festival, given the high demand for tickets, I am surprised I managed to secure my seats – although I am glad I did! The first of these was by Dr Steve Etches of The Etches Collection. If you haven’t heard of it before, The Etches Collection is a world-renowned fossil museum located in the village of Kimmeridge, Dorset. Founded by amateur palaeontologist Dr Steve Etches (hence the name), the museum houses over 2,000 extraordinary fossils (many that he personally discovered) and has prepared over more than 30 years of collecting from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation, a Late Jurassic marine deposit around 155 million years old. What makes The Etches Collection significant is both the scientific value and exceptional preservation of the fossils it contains. These include not only marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, but also delicate and rare specimens such as ammonites with preserved soft tissue, crustaceans, squid-like cephalopods with ink sacs, and fossilised marine microorganisms. Many of the fossils display previously unknown features that have advanced scientific understanding of Jurassic marine life and palaeoecology. The collection bridges the gap between professional science and public engagement, offering interactive exhibits and educational programs. It serves as a vital research resource and a testament to how citizen science can make major contributions to palaeontology. You may have previously seen the Collection and Steve on Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster. I really need to visit at some point in the future!

The next talk I attended was by another fellow Steve, Dr Steve Brusatte who is an American palaeontologist and evolutionary biologist based at the University of Edinburgh. He is known for his expertise in dinosaur evolution and for making complex scientific ideas accessible to the public. For the Fossil Festival, Brusatte gave a talk themed around his bestselling book, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World, which provides a compelling narrative of the dinosaurs’ evolutionary journey, from their humble beginnings in the Triassic, through their dominance in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, to their sudden extinction 66 million years ago. By blending cutting-edge science with vivid storytelling, Brusatte draws on the latest fossil evidence and his own fieldwork to bring the prehistoric world to life. His talk highlighted (like the book which shares it name) the dynamic nature of dinosaur research and illustrated how these ancient creatures continue to shape our understanding of evolution, extinction, and survival. As always, Brusatte’s talk was well attended and there were a number of awesome questions from the younger members of the audience.

The third and final talk I attended was by my good friend and a god within the palaeontological science communication sphere, Dr Dean Lomax. Lomax is a renowned British palaeontologist, ichthyosaur specialist and author, whose journey into academic research highlights his passion and determination. This is one of the many reasons that makes him the perfect role model for younger audiences. You may have seen news coverage in the past couple of years of the “Rutland Sea Dragon”, whichLomax led the excavation of. It is the most complete large ichthyosaur skeleton ever found in the UK. However, this is not the topic that Lomax spoke on, instead it was on the discovery of the first few dinosaur species 200 years ago and had a replica of the original Megalosaurus jaw described by William Buckland. It was great to see Baryonyx get a mention and a large number of younger audience members ask questions putting Dean on the spot, however his advice and guidance will likely continue to shape those future palaeontologists for years to come.

Another bonus of the Fossil Festival was that the Lyme Regis Museum was free to enter. I only plan on giving you a quick summary here as a future post will explore the museum in more detail – be sure to keep an eye out for that! To me, the museum is a small and charming place that was built in 1902 on the site of Mary Anning’s childhood home. The addition of the modern Mary Anning Wing in 2017 provides a home for some of Lyme Regis’ most prized fossils. Other than the palaeontological artefacts, there are also exhibits and items that document the history of Lyme Regis, from maritime and social heritage on the ground floor, plus a writers’ gallery celebrating literary links (Jane Austen, John Fowles), and local history displays. It was clear from my visit that the museum is also a vibrant community hub offering guided fossil walks, children’s activities, rotating exhibitions, and educational programmes, all backed by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Do be warned though, some of the rooms are quite cramped but it is certainly worth a visit!

I am a tad upset that I didn’t manage to make it to the live recording of Terrible Lizards, the palaeontological podcast by Dr Dave Hone and Iszi Lawrence, due to space limitations. If you don’t already listen, be sure to check it out! Without dragging on too much and spoiling the Fossil Festival for your future visit, I would like to make a heartfelt thank you to the organisers, volunteers, scientists, and local partners behind the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival for delivering such a vibrant, inspiring, and educational event. Your hard work and dedication created an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages, blending world-class palaeontology with hands-on fun in the stunning setting of the Jurassic Coast. From expert talks and fossil walks, to creative workshops and engaging exhibitions, the festival truly helps to bring science to life. If you’re passionate about natural history, or simply curious about the incredible stories buried in our ancient cliffs, I highly recommend planning a visit to next year’s festival. It’s a unique celebration of discovery, learning, and community that shouldn’t be missed.

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