Lyme is a quiet, rural community in New London County with about 2,400 residents. The town sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River and takes pride in preserving its agricultural roots, small-town feel and close-knit community atmosphere. Preserving open space has long been a mission of the town, and it has thus forged strong relationships with both the Nature Conservancy’s state chapter and its local land trust in order to make open space acquisition an ongoing priority. Lyme is also known for its exceptional schools and is part of a two-town regional school district with Old Lyme. The town has four principal communities, including North Lyme, Hamburg, Hadlyme and Bill Hill, as well as about a dozen minor communities. Municipal services include town hall, the local library, bulky waste landfill, highway department, volunteer fire department and a private ambulance association.

Transportation

Public transportation throughout Lyme and surrounding communities is provided by the Estuary Transit District. The district’s services include connections to the Old Saybrook station, served by Shore Line East and Amtrak rail service.

Recreation

Lyme’s network of parks and preserves provide a plethora of passive recreation opportunities. The town’s natural resources are a source of pride, particularly its pristine Wild and Scenic Eightmile River, a federally designated site that provides residents and visitors with miles of trails and unspoiled scenic beauty. Every two years, the community comes together to celebrate the river with a free family event sponsored by the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee. Also, for those seeking some quality tee time, there are a number of golf courses nearby, in Old Lyme and East Lyme, as well as tennis clubs and sports camps.

Historical Sites

Residents take great pride in Lyme’s history, and numerous historic sites throughout town have been preserved and protected. Three historic districts are on the National Register of Historic Places: the Hadlyme Ferry Historic District, the Hadlyme North Historic District, and the Hamburg Bridge Historic District. Other locations included on the register are Cooper Site, Hamburg Cove Site, Lord Dove Site, Selden Island Site and Seventh Sister.

Shopping & Dining

Residents of Lyme are drawn to its abundance of natural resources and unspoiled beauty. It has, thus, retained its small-town atmosphere, and has a relatively small retail scene, but residents are still close enough to a myriad of convenient shopping and dining establishments in surrounding communities. Waterfront dining, an abundance of fresh seafood, cafes, international cuisine and pizza parlors and more are only a short drive away.