Exhibitions & Events
At West Bay Discovery Centre we have both permanent and temporary free exhibitions for you to enjoy. Our pop up exhibitions are popular and are changed on a regular basis, so the Centre is a place that you can visit time and again.
Exhibition: Smuggling- Myth and Reality
Imagine a ship gliding in from France in the Dorset at midnight, the splash of a line going over the side: the sound of the oars splashing in the tide; a dark object being slipped into the sea, and another … and another.
The Centre’s latest seasonal exhibition, running from 15th February to 29th June 2025, looks back to a time in the mid-18th to 19th Centuries when smuggling was widespread along the South Coast. The governments of the time repeatedly raised customs and excise tariffs on luxuries like brandy, rum, silks, tobacco and tea, to fund war and imperial expansion. For people in rural areas, subsistence wages and ‘Free Trade’ promised good money, adventure and access to luxury items. The exhibition “Smuggling – Myth and Reality” explains why Dorset was ideal for smuggling, and why it wasn’t a harmless pursuit. It tells stories of the individuals and gangs involved in it and those who faced the challenging task of preventing their exploits.
Permanent Exhibition
Our permanent exhibition will introduce you to the history, geology and nature of West Bay. Get hands on with our interactive displays and audio-visual displays; and admire the artwork created by our young visitors. The aim of the exhibition is to transform how people discover and explore the natural and cultural heritage of the landscape. It will ignite your curiosity and encourage to explore West Bay in new ways.
Other Events
Weekly Guided Walks
Our weekly guided walks are back from 1st May 2025! Our friendly and knowledgeable volunteer guides are here on a Thursday morning to help you enjoy exploring West Bay with a selection of walks covering the history and nature of West Bay. All walks leave from West Discovery Centre, there is a £5 fee per person, payable on the day (no booking required). Walks start from outside the Centre at 11am sharp.
Find out which walk we are running on a specific date here.
West Bay Beach of Dreams
A free, drop in event outside the Discovery Centre inviting residents and visitors to explore their hopes and dreams for West Bay’s iconic beach using creative writing, flag-making and beach windmills.
Writer Ros Huxley and artists from Emerald Ant are inviting groups, residents and visitors who visit the coast and harbour to drop into the Discovery Centre and share their memories, hopes and concerns for our beach.
We are using paper flags and windmills made of maps and historic images. On one side participants will answer the question “What’s Your Dream For West Bay?” and the other ” How Can You Make Your Dream Come True” which we hope will lead to various commitments. We plan to exhibit the artworks later and encourage our local council to display in public sites.
This is part of a UK-wide coastal arts festival exploring the unique heritage, cultures, and futures of our coastlines in the face of the climate emergency. For more details of other events around the coast, please see here.
Ahoy Me Hearties! Half Term Pirate Fun.
It’s West Bay Day’s Annual Pirate Day, and on Sunday, May 25th, we will continue the Pirate Theme all half term week in the Discovery Centre with pirate-themed activities – fun for all the family!
Pirate Storytelling and Shanties Time
Join Dorset folk singer Alastair Braidwood for a session of pirate storytelling and sea shanties at the West Bay Discovery Centre. There are 2 sessions (11 am, 12 pm) that will last 30 minutes.
Children and family free event. No booking required.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Activity will take place weather permitting, and could be changed at the last minute. Please check our website and social media if the weather is changeable.
This is a free event – donations welcome!
