Weymouth, Dorset

The photo shows Weymouth Marina on the south coast of England.

This popular seaside town has long been a favourite of holidaymakers and has recently been found to be amongst the top five emerging destinations worldwide. Renewed interest in this historic town has largely been attributed to the fact that many Britons are choosing to holiday in the UK rather than book packages abroad. Tourism has however, played a significant role in the local economy for many years now, with the summer breaks in Weymouth first being made popular by King George III who holidayed there around fourteen times between 1789 and 1805.

Weymouth plays host annually to numerous events many of them with an emphasis on all things nautical! The temperate climate and low average rainfall make Weymouth an ideal choice for event organisers.

The harbour and marina areas offer visitors an abundance of restaurants and bars to suit all tastes and pockets, serving anything from traditional fish and chips to a gourmet dinner in a fine dining establishment. The daily catch is brought ashore in the harbour area and for those up early enough proves to be an interesting experience to watch the fishermen as they bring in their nets full of fresh fish.

As regards accommodation; there are a wide choice of hotels and guest houses located along the harbour area, many of them boasting a harbour view from your bedroom.

Weymouth has several claims to fame including the fact that English novelist and poet Thomas Hardy spent several years in the seaside town. Hardy was perhaps best known for his works Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd. It is widely acknowledged that Hardy was very fond of Weymouth and perhaps drew inspiration from his surroundings during his time in the town.

For those considering a visit to Weymouth, either for a short break or a longer holiday, there really is plenty to fill your days, even if the weather is a little inclement for a boat trip. The 17th century harbour adds to the rich history that spans hundreds of years and is further enhanced by the fabulous World Heritage coastline. The Weymouth area forms part of the Jurassic coastline with the entire World Heritage site extending over a length of 95 miles taking in Dorset and East Devon.