Disclosed is a bifunctional polymerizable compound represented by the formula [1]. Also disclosed is a polymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising at least one bifunctional polymerizable compound represented by the formula [1] and a polymerizable liquid crystal compound. The bifunctional polymerizable compound has a high polymerizability. When added to a polymerizable liquid crystal compound to prepare a polymerizable liquid crystal composition, the bifunctional polymerizable compound enables to remarkably improve the thermal stability of a polymer produced from the composition. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing the bifunctional polymerizable compound has a low crystallization temperature and shows a stable liquid-crystallinity under ordinary environment wherein X1, X2 and X3 independently represent a single bond or a benzene ring; Y represents —O— or a single bond; M represents a lactone ring or an acrylate group; and n represents an integer of 4 to 10.