Lyme regis in the movies…

The fantastic scenery, picturesque town and the unique Cobb have been the backdrop for or even the subject of films and TV shows many times over the years, with the promenade frequently playing host to camera crews and international stars!

Mary Anning & The Dinosaur Hunters (2024-2025)

The stunning scenery of Lyme Regis and the surrounding cliffs, beaches and bays is the setting for a two part biopic Mary Anning & The Dinosaur Hunters which follows the story of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning. The biopic is set in the 1800s and traces her career at a time when women’s research was unrecognised or plagiarised by male peers. Part one, covering Mary’s childhood up to the discovery of a complete Ichthyosaur, was screened to huge acclaim at festivals in 2024 with part two now in production.

Heartstopper (2024)

Scenes from the third season of the Netflix blockbuster hit Heartstopper were filmed along the Lyme Regis promenade and on the sandy beach. The ever-changing and unpredictable Lyme weather conditions in October meant the crew had to stay a day or two longer than they’d anticipated so that they could get their shots… this gave a fans a chance to get amongst the action. The third series of Heartstopper was aired in 2024.

Stars Joe Locke (Charlie) and Kit Connor (Nick) on the sandy beach in Lyme Regis

Wonka (2023)

2023 blockbuster Wonka was released to great acclaim, with Timothée Chalamet playing a young Wonka setting out to build his empire. The movie starts and finishes on a snow-covered Cobb – although you may struggle to spot Lyme Cottage in the movie – as CGI has been used to cover the town in snow!

Ammonite (2019)

The movie Ammonite, telling the story of Lyme Regis star fossil hunter Mary Anning, was filmed in Lyme bay in 2019 – with Kate Winslet taking the lead role. She was frequently to be found in local restaurants, pubs and cafes during the extensive location filming here.

The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)

Probably the most well known movie to be shot in Lyme Regis was the 1981 production of The French Lieutenant’s Woman – which brought Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons to town. The famous shot of Streep in a black cape on a stormy Cobb was iconic.

River Cottage

Countless TV chefs have taken to Lyme Regis because of its daily catch of fresh fish and seafood and stunning scenery. It’s not unusual to take a stroll along the prom to find a TV crew huddled around a makeshift kitchen on the pebble beach! Local chef and green campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage is just a couple of miles up the road in Uplyme so he is often in the bay filming segments or enjoying the local festivities, and members of the public taking courses at River Cottage often choose to stay at Lyme Cottage.

Persuasion (1995, 2007 & 2022 adaptations)

Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion is partly set in Lyme Regis, with the Cobb being a central location. Most recently the 2022 Netflix version starring Dakota Johnson filmed on location in Lyme, with the cast descending on the iconic Cobb, the beaches and cliffs. This follows in the footsteps of both the 1995 BBC adaptation and the 2007 ITV version which both featured many of Lyme’s stunning scenic spots.