Things to do in Weymouth

Weymouth is a great place for a family holiday as it has the charm of an old-fashioned seaside town but with plenty of modern amenities too.

We stayed in a family room at the Harlequin Guest House which is at one end of the seafront, and about a ten minute walk from the town centre and harbour area. It was good value at around £80/night and owner Mike was very helpful with advice on places to eat and things to do. We could park for free right outside, or in nearby roads if needed.

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Weymouth beach

One of Weymouth’s main features is its glorious sandy beach and there is so much to do there. From donkey rides to sandcastles, you can hire a pedalo or kayak, or just sit and eat an ice cream or have a picnic.

There are so many places to eat on the seafront too. We went to Enzo on our first night and had a delicious Italian meal there. In the past we’ve been to The Gloucester too which has a wide menu and is great value.

Lodmoor Country Park

Lodmoor Country Park is at the eastern end of the seafront, and has a range of fun activities for all the family. We went go-karting which is great for kids and adults alike. There are single and double-seater karts and I went in one with my son and we drove rather sedately around the edge while my husband raced against the other, more daring, drivers.

We then went to see the sand sculptures which were awesome. The theme this year is TV and film, and it was well worth a visit. If your hotel has a leaflet for this attraction then look out for a £1 discount voucher. We paid £18 for two adults and a child, and although my husband initially thought that was a lot, once he got inside he was really impressed with the skill it takes to make the giant sculptures.

There are areas of sand for children to play and make their own sandcastles, as well as a cafe area and gift shop.

The park includes other things to do including a Sea Life Centre, mini golf and much more.

Weymouth Harbour

At the other end of the town is the harbour area which is home to many places to eat and drink. On a sunny day it’s lovely to sit and watch the world go by. We had fish and chips outside Bennetts where the seagulls were hovering and hoping for scraps. There are some nice little independant shops and art galleries so it’s lovely to just wander around, exploring it all.

Weymouth Funfair

Next to the beach at the top end of the promenade is a little funfair for children.

Many of the arcade machines are operated using a card which you buy credits for with ticket machines. We played air hockey, basketball, bowling and other games which was great fun!

Portland Bill

Portland Bill is a five minute drive from Weymouth and you go over the causeway of Chesil Beach onto the island. As it was a bit foggy on the day we went we didn’t stop at the viewing point, so we headed straight for the famous lighthouse. The car park is pay and display, although the machines weren’t working when we went. We wandered around the grounds of the lighthouse, climbing over rocks and marvelling at the power of the sea as it crashed below us.

We then popped into the Lobster Pot cafe for a hot chocolate.

Bowleaze Cove

If you drive past Lodmoor Country Park and keep going then you’ll arrive at Bowleaze Cove which is a real hidden gem. It’s a lovely curved beach with cliffs overhead, served by bars, eateries and a funfair. When we visited there were surfers, country walkers and families enjoying the facilities. It is overlooked by the Riviera Hotel, which you can walk past and up over the hills with glorious views of the bay, Portland and beyond.

There are a couple of car parks next to the funfair but you might be lucky to park in the road that leads down to the cove. There is a children’s play area next to the outside bar which is ideal for adults and kids alike.

You can hire stand up paddleboards (or SUPs for short) from a hut in front of the hotel, something which is a great activity for adults and children alike. I would recommend waiting for a calm day though as it can be difficult to keep your balance when the waves are a bit choppy. On a choppy day it’s best to get your surfboard out, or grab a boogie board, or head to Chesil Beach for some kite surfing.

There is also a popular ice cream parlour but sadly it was closed when we visited! We had fun in the fair though, which features dodgems, teacups, a helter skelter, amusements and mini go karts.

Places to eat in Weymouth

On our first morning we enjoyed breakfast at the Corner House Cafe which is just one road back from the harbour. The second day we tried the Custom House Cafe on the quay where we sat outside. They served delicious cakes as well as breakfast, lunch and drinks.

As mentioned before, Enzo is a great Italian on the promenade near the clock tower.

For a traditional British family holiday you can’t go wrong with Weymouth. There are so many other landmarks close by including Durdle Door, Corfe Castle, Monkey World and more. It’s not far from Somerset which also has plenty of things to do for a family-friendly holiday. We could easily spend a week here but sadly only had a couple of full days before we had to head home.

If you want to see what Weymouth has to offer then here are some hotel and B&B options on Booking.com.

Booking.com