Weymouth Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK)

Tourist attractions in Weymouth appeal to all ages and many are aimed at both children and adults, such as Deep Sea Adventure and Sharky's Play Warehouse and the many shows on offer at the Weymouth Pavilion Theatre, next the pleasure walk. Other top tourist attractions around Weymouth include its spectacular beachfront, where you will find everything from sand modelling and deck chairs, to pedaloes and kite surfing.

Close to the town centre, the many marine attractions at the Weymouth Sea Life Park are always a big hit, and the shark nursery is especially interesting, while those looking for a spot of time-honoured seaside fun will find it hard to beat a ride on the Seafront Land Train.

Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary

Address: Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7SX, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)01305 761 070
A spreading tourist attraction encompassing around 6 acres / 2.5 hectares, the Weymouth Sea Life Park and Marine Sanctuary is part of the Lodmoor Country Park and is amongst the best of its kind. With many outdoor buildings and interesting displays, the Sea Life centre is home to one of the country's biggest collections of marine creatures. Attractions here include a turtle sanctuary, a shark nursery, an enclosure housing entertaining Humboldt penguins, a touch pool with crabs and other crustaceans, otter and seal sanctuaries with underwater observatory, and even a seahorse breeding centre. Also available is a miniature golf course, boat rides, a splash lagoon and a large gift shop with a strong sea life theme.
Open hours: daily, September to June - 09:30 to 19:00; July and August - 09:30 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Weymouth Pavilion Theatre

Address: Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8DZ, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1305 783 225
Offering a range of traditional seaside shows and faces, together with many one-off concerts and evenings with major celebrities, the Weymouth Pavilion Theatre has a capacity of almost 1,000 people. The Pavilion is known for its all-round entertainment and is especially appealing to families, with many shows targeted specifically at young children, including the seasonal Christmas pantomime. Weymouth's Pavilion Theatre dates back to 1908, although it was rebuilt some 50 years later following fire damage, reopening in 1960 and continuing to draw large crowds ever since.
Open hours: box office open daily, performance times vary and often include afternoon matinees
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children

Beachfront

The award-winning golden sands of Weymouth's long beachfront are the resort's number one attraction and have been so for many, many years. Resembling an arc shape, the beach is edged by the long Esplanade, and is lined with local shops, cafes overlooking the sea, ice cream stalls and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views. The clean and sandy beach is especially busy during the summer months, when dogs are restricted to just a small area on the Pavilion side. Lifeguards are present at various locations along Weymouth's beachfront between May and September and deck chairs are also available for hire, together with chalets, windbreaks and even pedaloes. Further beach attractions in the summer include trampolines, inflatable slides, historic donkey rides, and also the town's famous Punch and Judy show, which has been in operation for over 30 years.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Water Sports / Scuba Diving / Kite Surfing

The borough of Weymouth and Portland has long been known for its extensive selection of water sports and superb conditions, so good in fact that the local Academy will be hosting the sailing events for London's Olympic Games in 2012.

Sailing regattas are commonplace during the summer months and many other races take place in the water at this time of the year. The sheltered harbour areas around the coastline offer excellent locations for windsurfing, water skiing and sailing, with the beachfront clearly designating channels suitable for water sports and separate areas for bathing and swimming. A fleet of fishing boats is available should you fancy a spot of mackerel or some serious deep-sea fishing, and in total, Weymouth boasts more than 100 leisure-based attractions, many of which are located around the seafront.

The waters around the coast are especially good for scuba diving and both Weymouth and Portland are considered amongst the country's best dive spots. There are numerous well-known, colonised shipwrecks around the shore, together with some beautiful reefs and fish. Dive shops, instructors and local divers can advise the best places to dive around Weymouth and regular boat trips are chartered by experienced skippers. Other top water attractions include kite surfing, and this exciting activity has really taken off in recent years, particularly around Portland Harbour, where the shallow waters and gusty southerly winds are ideal for this sport. Most people kite surfing in the area head to the Paracademy at Portland's Victoria Square, where you are able to hire equipment and gain advice on the best places.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, charge for equipment hire

Seafront Land Train

Address: The Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK
The Seafront Land Train is an excellent family attraction and always appreciated by young children. Offering many excellent coastal views along the way, this enjoyable ride operates during the summer months and travels between the Tourist Information Centre on the town's Esplanade to the Lodmoor Country Park at regular intervals.
Open hours: daily during the summer
Admission: small charge, discounts for children

Deep Sea Adventure and Sharky's Play Warehouse

Address: 9 Custom House Quay, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8BG - England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1305 760 690
The Deep Sea Adventure is housed in a large, converted warehouse building and tells the interesting story of how the country's coastline has been exploited over the past 200 years. With hands-on exhibits, maritime tales from the Weymouth area, video screenings, computer games and even an exhibition about the ill-fated Titanic, the Deep Sea Adventure also concentrates on charting many prominent historic shipwrecks. One of the main attractions here for younger visitors is Sharky's Play Warehouse, a well-equipped indoor play centre located on the ground floor and offering plenty of slides, swings, climbing apparatus and ball pits. A gift shop completes the attractions and features a variety of souvenirs and postcards.
Open hours: daily, April to October - 09:30 to 20:00; November to March - 09:30 to 19:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors, adults are free at Sharky's Play Warehouse

Lakeside Superbowl

Address: St. Nicholas Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8AD, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1305 781 444
With almost 20 bowling lanes and computerised scoring, tenpin bowling at the Lakeside Superbowl is always popular, especially in the evenings and on rainy days. Other attractions include an amusement arcade area, American pool tables, a bar and diner, and promotions each week on Thursday evenings.
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 10:00 to midnight, Wednesday and Friday - 11:00 to midnight, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to midnight