West Bay Discovery Centre

A Multi Award Winning Visitor Attraction on the Jurassic Coast.

Welcome to West Bay Discovery Centre

West Bay Discovery Centre is the perfect place for visitors to start exploring West Bay and this stretch of the Jurassic Coast. We are free to visit, and there is no need to book. For the first time ever we will be open seven days a week during the Summer School Holidays from 11am – 4pm! At the beginning of September we will revert back to six day opening (closed on Mondays.)

Situated on the edge of the beach in the charming fishing village of West Bay we are located inside the former historic Methodist Church and tell the stories of West Bay both past and present. The spectacular scenery of West Bay was the location of the TV drama “Broadchurch” and the Church was even featured in the first series. Our visitor centre is the perfect starting point to explore West Bay.

We use interactive experiences to make learning about West Bay fun for all ages. Our challenge to visitors is to make your own discoveries, then come back and share them with us. We offer changing themed exhibitions and aim to provide the latest local information. A programme of talks, guided walks, and events are also on offer.

Internal view of West Bay Discovery Centre

We also have a small gift area and are proud to offer products from local producers. We are a charity and admission is free, but to do this we depend on donations from our visitors to meet our running costs.

What's on

Below is a list of forthcoming events...

West Bay - The Resort to Rival Others

Pop up Exhibition

Our new exhibition will reveal what happened when some 140 years ago a group of local businessmen believed that with investment and imagination Bridport Harbour could become a seaside resort to rival Weymouth or Bournemouth.

Talk: The History of the British Seaside in 100 Objects

Thursday 10th October 7:30pm

The talk at Bridport Town Hall is by historian Kathryn Ferry who specialising in Architecture,Design and Seaside Culture will unpick our experience of the seaside through the things that make it distinctive. Tickets £8 from Bridport Tourist Information Centre.

West Bay- That Was The Year That Was

Booksigning with Sylvia Stafford

Sylvia Stafford will be at West Bay Discovery Centre on Thursday, October 17 between 11 am-2pm to sign copies of her new book entitled That Was The Year That Was.

It is based on Sylvia’s own journal, documenting life in the small harbour and popular tourist resort of West Bay in 2012.

West Bay Guided Walks

Every Thursday 10:30am

Our volunteers run guided walks every Thursday. Join them to discover more about West Bay! In October our walks are sponsored by Bridport 24 Town of Culture and are FREE.

Spooktacular Half Term

Halloween Fun

Come and enjoy the Spooktacular Half-term activities at the West Bay Discovery Centre, between 26th of October to 3rd of November, including Monday (only during Half-term). The Centre will be filled with a wicked creepy crawler trail and exciting crafts activities for children.

Let's Make West Bay The Holiday Resort of your Halloween Dreams

With Oops Wow Messy Art

Inspired by the fantastic plans for the 'West Bay: A Resort to Rival All Others' Exhibition we are inviting you to come and make the West Bay Holiday Resort of your Halloween dreams, out of cardboard, with Jo from Oops Wow Messy Art. We can make anything with cardboard and imagination; we can't wait to see what you come up with!