Dorset
Charmouth (Stonebarrow)
Stonebarrow, to the east of Charmouth, is one of the busiest and most productive sections of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Renowned…
UK FOSSILS · FOSSIL COLLECTING GUIDES
Fossil hunting
in the UK
Where to find fossils and what to look for. Explore hundreds of fossil collecting locations across Britain and Ireland, with geological guides, fossil photographs and practical advice for beginners and experienced collectors.
341 location guidesBritain & Ireland
341 location guides
What is a fossil, and where can you find one? Our fossil collecting guides and advice help you recognise finds, understand the geology and prepare for your next visit. You can also explore fossil hunting tours and events.
A FEW PLACES TO START
Where will curiosity
take you?
Yorkshire
Whitby
Whitby is one of the most iconic fossil localities on the Yorkshire coast, renowned for its rich Jurassic heritage and dramatic cliff scenery.…
Kent & London
Warden Point (Isle of Sheppey)
Warden Point provides access to the fossil-rich London Clay coast of the Isle of Sheppey. Small fossils collect in beach shingle and pyrite…
Somerset
Watchet
Watchet is a highly productive Jurassic location, well known for its reptile remains and abundant ammonites. The foreshore also reveals impressive geological features,…
Gloucestershire
Aust cliff
The striking red and white cliffs at Aust, on the Severn Estuary, expose the Rhaetian Penarth Group, home to one of the most…
Dorset
Seatown
Seatown is one of Dorset’s classic fossil-hunting locations, offering rich Jurassic material set against some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the…
Kent & London
Herne Bay (Beltinge)
Beltinge, near Herne Bay, is one of the UK’s premier locations for collecting fossil shark teeth, attracting collectors from across Britain and Europe.…
Hampshire
Barton on Sea
Barton-on-Sea is one of the UK’s most famous Eocene fossil sites, with the Barton Clay yielding hundreds of species of shells, particularly gastropods.…
Browse all 341 fossil location guides
Every location guide, organised by region. Open a guide for directions, fossil photographs, geology and current access advice.
Cambridgeshire
Cornwall
Cumbria
Derbyshire
Devon
Dorset
- Black Head
- Bowleaze Cove
- Burton Bradstock
- Chapman’s Pool
- Charmouth (Black Ven)
- Charmouth (Stonebarrow)
- Charmouth (West Beach)
- Church Ope Cove
- Cogden Beach
- Durlston Bay
- Eype
- Freshwater Bay
- Hengistbury Head
- Kimmeridge Bay
- Langton Herring
- Lulworth Cove
- Lyme Regis
- Monmouth Beach (Lyme Regis)
- Osmington Mills
- Peveril Point
- Pirates Cove
- Redcliff Point
- Ringstead Bay
- Seatown
- Smallmouth Sands
- Spyway Dinosaur Footprints
- St. Oswald’s Bay
- Studland Bay
- Swanage Bay
- Thorncombe Beacon
- Tidmoor Point
- Watton Cliff
- West Bay
- West Weare
- White Nothe
- Wyke Regis
Durham & Cleveland
East Midlands
East Riding
Essex
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Kent & London
Lincolnshire
N.Ireland & Ireland
Norfolk
Northumberland
Scotland – Central
Scotland – North
Scotland – Skye
Scotland – South
Shropshire
Somerset
Suffolk
Sussex
Wales – Central
Wales – North
Wales – South
Wales – Southwest
West Midlands
Yorkshire
ACROSS BRITAIN & IRELAND
Explore your corner
Follow a familiar coastline or discover somewhere new. Our regional guides bring the locations together.
- Cambridgeshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Dorset
- Devon
- Durham & Cleveland
- East Midlands
- East Riding
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent & London
- Lincolnshire
- Ireland & Northern Ireland
- Norfolk
- Northumberland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- Suffolk
- Sussex
- Yorkshire
- West Midlands
- Wales – Southwest
- Wales – South
- Wales – North
- Wales – Central
- Scotland – South
- Scotland – Central
- Scotland – North
- Scotland – Skye
START WITH THE BASICS
A little knowledge
A lot to discover
Where to find fossils
Know where to look, from beaches to quarries and streams.
What is a fossil?
Get to know the traces of life preserved in stone.
Equipment Guide
Choose the right tools and prepare for a day in the field.
FRESH FROM THE FIELD
Recently updated guides
Dorset
Charmouth (Black Ven)
Norfolk
Weybourne
Kent & London
Warden Point (Isle of Sheppey)
Wales – Central
Upper Gilwern Quarry
KEEP EXPLORING
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READ
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Explore JOINTours & guides
Find fossil hunting tours, guided trips and events.
ExploreDISCUSS FOSSILS · YOUR FINDS
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interesting?
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