Bridport for the weekend with 3 & 5 year old -

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Have got a couple of nights booked in Bridport and wondered if anyone had any suggestions of best places in the area for young kids? Best beaches, restaurants, attractions etc within a short drive. Never explored Dorset much, aside from a short break in Weymouth. Thanks in advance

Lyme Regis beach but you have to get there early to be able to park.
Abbotsbury Swannery.

The main beach at Lyme Regis is large, flat and sandy. There’s an amusement arcade with some great games for kids, and there are usually ‘pay per go’ trampolines just beyond the beach, in front of the pastel beach huts. The Rockpoint Inn has a really good kids menu.
There’s also an aquarium which is a must-do if it’s rainy or if you need a break from the sun. Loads to see and a few hands-on areas including opportunities to feed some of the sea creatures.
Axe Valley Wildlife Park is highly rated. It’s really well presented, bigger than I thought and has a great variety of interesting animals. Plenty of playgrounds and picnic tables. Friendly staff and well priced shop.
Charmouth is great for rock pools and The George pub has an amazing play area and animal corner!

There is a nice playground at West Bay if they just need to let off some steam. There is also a place right on the beach called the Watch House cafe that does great pizzas.

Watch out for the cliffs. The council have been putting notices out saying the hot, dry weather makes cliff falls more likely. Don't walk or sit anywhere near the base of the cliffs or walk near the edge up top. When they fall there is literally zero warning.

West bay harbour and rowing down the river.

Lyme regis

Charmouth beach

Seaton tramline

Weymouth

Abbotsbury swanary

Burton bradstock has a park and a nice pub.

If you don’t fancy trekking to Lyme Regis there are a couple of smaller sandy beaches along the promenade the other side of the main rocky beach, though there are no lifeguards on the smaller beaches. They are safe in calm weather. They are also well away from cliff fall risk. There have been several along the coastline recently.

There is a lovely play area in the main West Bay car park.

I can highly recommend Baboo Gelato - kiosks at West Bay, and Lyme Regis.

The Tythe Barn at Abbotsbury is probably of more interest to kids than the swannery though tickets are expensive.

If you do go to Lyme I can also highly recommend taking the short walk to Coombe Street. From the small clock car park at the east end of the promenade, take a right and then it’s the first left after Rainbows. There is a great bakery up there for breakfast or lunch. The pancakes are amazing and the owner is Jack Frost, which kids love.

Its worth a walk further along the sea front to see the Mary Anning statue, though you may need to bribe with a visit to Lyme Rocks sweet shop on the way back.

If you’re only there for two days I would do one day in West Bay and one in Lyme Regis.