by Rachel Knowles

Created on: November 19, 2010

Weymouth is a seaside town in Dorset on the south coast of England. It is in the heart of an area known as the Jurassic Coast - designated a natural World Heritage site because of its outstanding natural beauty. It has been a popular tourist destination since the 1780s when King George III visited Weymouth for his health and has plenty to offer visitors today.

The key attraction of Weymouth must always be the beach. There is a long stretch of sandy beach with safe waters for swimming. During the summer season, the beach is patrolled by lifeguards and dogs are prohibited making it a clean, safe beach for everyone to use. Along the seafront you will find pedaloes for hire and a traditional Punch and Judy show. Other activities on offer include trampolines, mini golf and, for the more adventurous, a bungee-jumping trampoline. Donkey rides are available down on the beach all summer and a land train offers rides along the promenade which runs all along the main Weymouth seafront. There is a small funfair and amusement arcade near the seafront and a much larger amusement complex at Bowleaze Cove.

 One of the highlights of Weymouth seafront is the traditional sand sculpture display which changes every year. The 2010 sculpture is of the Mad Hatter’s tea party from Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” film.

Weymouth is a popular venue for sailing, wind-surfing and kite-surfing and will host the sailing events for the 2012 Olympic Games. There are also a variety of boat trips available, from high speed, white water experiences to fishing trips and boat tours of the Jurassic Coastline. It is also a scuba diver’s paradise with a large number of wrecks in the surrounding waters.

Lodmoor Country Park is home to Weymouth Sea Life Centre with its shark breeding centre and underwater walk-through tunnel where you can see turtles, sharks and tropical fish swimming overhead. In the same complex, you will find Pirate Adventure mini golf – an 18 hole crazy golf course – and other attractions including a small go-kart track.

Weymouth boasts several venues of interest to birdwatchers and nature lovers. In addition to Lodmoor Country Park, there is the Radipole Lake RSPB Nature Reserve right in the middle of Weymouth and the Chesil Bank and the Fleet Nature Reserve on Chesil Beach, between Weymouth and Portland. The South West Coast Path travels right through Weymouth and is a popular route for walkers.

For those interested in history, Weymouth boasts a ruin and a fort. Whilst it is not possible to go into the ruins of Sandsfoot Castle, it makes a very impressive silhouette against the sea and it is possible to visit its sister castle, Portland Castle, on the other side of the harbour. Portland Castle is owned and operated by English Heritage and offers an audio tour detailing much of the history of Weymouth and Portland. Nothe Fort is a Victorian defensive construction and its loyal team of volunteers offers a variety of fun events throughout the year.

There is no shortage of hotels and bed and breakfast establishments in Weymouth as well as several holiday parks and a wealth of self-catering, camping and caravanning opportunities in the surrounding area, so there should be something to suit everyone’s taste and budget.

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