Weymouth Harbour and the Old Town
Weymouth Harbour is a five minute walk from The Escape and is the social heart of the town. The harbour front is lined with restaurants, pubs and cafes, many with outdoor seating overlooking the water. In summer you can watch fishing boats come and go, catch a ferry to the Channel Islands, or join a mackerel fishing trip from the quayside.
The Old Town sits behind the harbour on the south side, with narrow streets, independent shops and some of the oldest buildings in Weymouth. Brewers Quay, a converted Victorian brewery, houses antique shops and a food market. Trinity Street and St Mary Street are worth a wander for vintage finds and local crafts.
Family Activities
Weymouth has plenty for families beyond the beach. The SEA LIFE Adventure Park is a 15 minute walk along the seafront from The Escape, with penguins, sea turtles, sharks and an outdoor splash zone. It's one of the original Sea Life centres in the UK and a reliable rainy-day option.
Nothe Fort is a Victorian coastal defence overlooking the harbour entrance, about a 10 minute walk from the property. It has cannons, tunnels, ramparts and exhibition rooms - engaging for children and adults. The views from the top stretch across the entire bay.
Other family-friendly options in town:
- Weymouth Pavilion - live shows, pantomime and comedy nights
- Pirate Adventure Mini Golf on the seafront
- Amusement arcades along the Esplanade
- Sandworld sand sculpture park (seasonal, May-September)
- Model World on Lodmoor Country Park
- Weymouth Tramway - a miniature railway running along the harbour
Watersports and Outdoor Activities
The sheltered waters of Weymouth Bay make it one of the best places on the south coast for watersports. Paddleboard hire is available directly from the beach, and several local operators offer kayak tours around the harbour and along the coastline.
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, built for the 2012 London Olympics, sits at the southern end of the bay. It runs courses for all levels, from complete beginners to competitive sailors. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular at Portland Harbour, a 10 minute drive south.
The South West Coast Path passes through Weymouth and provides some of the best walking on the English coast. You can head east towards Osmington Mills for cliff-top views, or west along the Fleet towards Chesil Beach.
Food and Drink
Weymouth has a strong food scene for a town its size. The harbour-front restaurants specialise in fresh seafood - crab, lobster and locally caught fish. For fish and chips, Bennetts and Fish 'n' Fritz are local favourites. The town centre has a growing number of independent cafes and bakeries, and the weekly market on the Esplanade sells local produce every Thursday.
The brewery scene has picked up in recent years, with a handful of taprooms and micropubs within walking distance of The Escape. Real ale pubs along the harbour front serve Dorset-brewed beers alongside views of the water.
Day Trips from Weymouth
Weymouth is perfectly positioned for day trips across the Dorset coast. The most popular drives:
- Lulworth Cove - 12 miles east, 20 minutes
- Durdle Door - 13 miles east, 22 minutes
- Corfe Castle - 19 miles east, 30 minutes
- Lyme Regis - 30 miles west, 45 minutes
- Portland Bill - 8 miles south, 15 minutes (lighthouse, coastal walks, Portland stone quarries)
- Dorchester - 7 miles north, 15 minutes (county town, Thomas Hardy's home, Dorset County Museum)
Where to Stay in Weymouth Town Centre
The Escape is a 4.9-rated holiday rental in the heart of Weymouth, 100m from the beach and walking distance to everything. Book direct and save 18% on Airbnb fees.