Visiting Jurassic Coast with Babies Toddlers
Our recommendations for a fantastic weekend getaway in the UK
You might find it hard to believe that I have lived in London for 8 years now and have only been to 2 other cities within the UK. I still cannot believe it myself and I am definitely not alone. London is such a big city. It has 5 airports and a lot of the times it is cheaper to fly to another city within Europe than to visit other cities within the UK. And that is how I haven´t traveled much outside of London. I think there are many other families who haven’t explored the rest of the UK either, hence why I thought I would write a short blog about visiting the Jurassic Coast with Babies.
Not until I became active on Instagram did I realise how beautiful the English countryside, beaches & coastlines are. More specifically I saw pictures of Dorset and it just looked too beautiful of a place to miss out on. And it is true. We had a spectacular time and will definitely go back. A few friends of ours traveled there as well after our recommendation and also had a fantastic time.
Getting There
As we do not own a car, we rented a car for the weekend. We drove down to Bournemouth early Saturday morning and drove back Sunday afternoon. The drive from London is about 107 miles and takes approximately 2 hours.
Accommodation
We stayed at a hotel in Bournemouth as it is only approximately 20-30min from the Jurassic Coast (Durdle Door) and reasonably priced. We had a difficult time finding an AirBnB or Hotel as we left it a little too late to book. Therefore, if you are planning on visiting the Jurassic Coast with Babies in the spring or summer, I suggest to book it a few months in advance. Dorset is quite a popular destination especially amongst the British. They hotel we stayed at was called Hotel Collingwood and they supplied a crib for the baby, which was great.
Baby Foods & Supplies
You will be able to find baby foods, formula, nappies, wipes, etc at any supermarket or boots in Bournemouth, but not by Durdle Door so bring enough baby food.
Bournemouth
As we only drove up for the weekend and went to the Jurassic Coast on Saturday, we didn’t spend too much time in Bournemouth except for sleeping at the hotel and Sunday morning. However, it was a beautiful sunny day and a great day to walk and explore the city. We saw enough to plan a trip back with our daughter next summer. They have a sandy beach and water fountains that our daughter absolutely loved.
Jurassic Coast /Durdle Door
Of course everything is perfect when the sun is out, but this place is especially beautiful on a sunny day. I can imagine it still being just as increíble when its cloudy, but the sun just makes everyone happier right? To get to Durdle Door we simply put the name in the GPS and it took us to the parking area. From there you park and can walk around the coast, down to the beach.
General Tips on Visiting Jurassic Coast with Babies
- Baby Carrier. I recommend bringing your baby carrier instead of a stroller as it is quite hilly and the paths are covered with rocks.
- Wear running shoes. I made the mistake of wearing sandals, because I was so excited that it was finally sunny, but I would recommend wearing running shoes. Especially if you are carrying the baby in the carrier.
- Be careful. You are on the coastline, so you have to be really careful and have an extremely close eye on your child. The cliffs are really steep so keep them in a carrier until its safe or hold your Childs hand.
- Bring Snacks. There isn’t really much close to Durdle Door and the cliffs, so I would recommend bringing food, snacks, water, etc. This is dependent on how long you planning on staying there of course, as some people walk down to the beach area as well. As a mother of a toddler I never leave the house without snacks and am sure the same goes for you 🙂
- Half day/day trip is sufficient. This part of the coastline is a beautiful place for a family excursion, exploring the English coastline and pictures, but if you have kids I think there are a lot better and safer areas you can go to.
See Visit Dorset Website for more details on what to see and do with kids in Dorset.
Whether you live in the UK or are visiting from abroad and have time to escape London for 1-2 days I highly recommend exploring this incredible coastline. The views are absolutely breathtaking.
If you have any more questions about our trip, please feel free to drop us an email with your questions to hello@jetlifebaby.com
Happy Baby Happy Travels.
xo
Marisa
