Weymouth: A Proper Seaside Day Out

Weymouth is one of those places that doesn't try too hard. A wide curve of sandy beach, a working harbour lined with painted houses, and a town that's been doing the British seaside thing since the Georgians made it fashionable. On a bright spring day it's hard to beat.

The Beach

Weymouth's main beach is the famous one — three miles of soft golden sand sweeping round the bay. Wander a little further along the coast, though, and you find quieter pebble stretches where the water turns properly clear. The kind of green-blue you don't expect this far north. King George III used to come here for sea bathing in the 1790s, which is essentially how Weymouth became a resort in the first place. There's a statue of him at the seafront looking pleased with himself.

The Old Harbour

Walk past the beach into the old town and you hit the harbour — and this is where Weymouth really earns its keep. Fishing boats moored along one quay, pleasure boats along the other, and a row of pastel terraced houses curving down to the water. It looks like a postcard, but it's a working port too. There are pubs and cafés all the way along, and a few decent fish and chip places that aren't too touristy. The George Inn on the west side has been there since the 18th century and still does a proper pint.

Gateway to the Jurassic Coast

Weymouth makes a good base for the Jurassic Coast. Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are a short drive east. Portland — that strange tied island of stone — sits just to the south, with cliffs and lighthouses worth an afternoon. You can be on a remote stretch of coast path within twenty minutes of leaving the harbour. The town itself is the easy part of the day, the wild coastline is the reward at the end of it.

Why It Works

Some seaside towns feel like they peaked in the 1970s and never recovered. Weymouth somehow doesn't. It's tidy without being sanitised, busy without being overwhelming, and it still has that mix of locals and visitors that gives a place its character.

Bring layers, walk further than the main beach, and stay long enough to see the harbour lights come on.