What living by the UK's best beach is really like

It was a childhood dream but in my late 20s I finally got my own flat with a sea view. Or rather, a sea glimpse.

You had to stand on your tiptoes to see over the roofs of the buildings on Brunswick Terrace but it was definitely there. My home was just a two-minute walk from Weymouth Beach, which was recently voted the best in the UK by the Sunday Times. And any visitor can see why.

The sand is perfect for building sandcastles, sunbathing or just strolling along the beach. There’s loads of kids' entertainment, from donkey rides to a Punch and Judy show and a funfair in the summer, plus a huge selection of ice cream shops and restaurants, from top-end seafood offerings to quick family-friendly bites.

I lived in Weymouth for almost a decade and loved every minute. When I finally got my seafront flat I often took a cup of tea down to the beach to soak up the peace in the mornings before work, or ate my dinner down there, watching whitebait thrashing around in the shallows trying to avoid the marauding mackerel.

This is the Weymouth that tourists often don’t see - early in the morning, late at night or out of season. The peace and beauty of the coastline, stretching from Burning Cliff to the heights of the White Nothe, the old ruined coastguard cottages perched on top, and the distant peninsula of St Aldhelm’s Head.

You’ll be joined not by crowds of ‘grockles’ - as holidaymakers are locally known - but by a lone fisherman, wild swimmer or paddleboarder.

The title of UK’s best beach is long-deserved. When I lived there a common talking point was that Weymouth’s heyday had been and gone, and that it happened sometime in the Georgian or Victorian era.

Yes, the twin high streets of St Mary and St Thomas Streets look a tad dilapidated and the space around the harbour and Pavilion peninsula could be put to better use. I’ve often heard people say that more attractions are needed for tourists to enjoy on a rainy day although personally, I was never at a loss for things to do.

In 2016 Kelvin MacKenzie, then-editor of The Sun described Weymouth as ‘more brassic than Jurassic’ while former Great British Bake Off host Sandi Toksvig described it as a ‘tacky’ town with ‘bad-tempered’ residents in the 1990s, although she has since apologised.

I’m thrilled to see Weymouth finally get some recognition. The Sunday Times guide - the first of its kind that’s reader nominated - described an ‘outpouring of love for Weymouth’. It got three times the number of nominations of its nearest rival, Woolacombe, as well as more recommendations than all the beaches in the southeast and southwest combined.

And the best part? It’s just three and a half hours from Coventry on a good run.

Here’s my guide to all you need to know about Weymouth from accommodation to food and entertainment.

The beach

It’s the jewel in Weymouth’s crown, right in the town centre and the heart of many memories. Its soft sand and clear waters make for a perfect family day out and there’s even a dedicated space up near the Pavilion-end where dogs are allowed all year round.

The beach is sandy up to the old pier bandstand, becoming more shingly as you go east towards Bowleaze. There are ramps down to the beach from the promenade, making it accessible for the whole family, and beach wheelchairs are available on request. There’s also plenty of toilets on the Esplanade not far from the beach.

In summer kids can enjoy donkey rides and the Punch and Judy show. There’s also a funfair and Sandworld attraction, plus you can hire pedalos and kayaks to take out into the bay.

Restaurants

You’ll never be short of an ice cream shop or a chippy in Weymouth. The harbourside has plenty of offerings from pub grub to fancy seafood, although if it’s a crab sandwich you’re after you can do worse than popping into Weyfish, the harbourside fishmonger, before picking up some bread in a town centre bakery.

If you explore further into the town you’ll find plenty of Indian restaurants and Chinese takeaways while Enzo, on the seafront, is a popular Italian choice. Crustacean is a nice option for a meal out, with its Thai-inspired seafood dishes, while the Fantastic Sausage Factory is a top choice for a quick bite.

One gorgeous place often missed by tourists is the Stone Pier Cafe, over the other side of the harbour from the town centre. It’s a lovely walk down the harbourside with outdoor seating overlooking the beautiful bay. A great spot for a glass of wine and a bite to eat.

What to do

Away from the beach, there’s plenty to do in Weymouth. There are two RSPB nature reserves within walking distance of the town centre at Lodmoor and Radipole - the latter in particular often holds events. There's miles of walking along the coastline in both directions and it’s also possible to walk along the Ridgeway, getting up close to the White Horse carved into the hillside in honour of King George III.

And speaking of history, there’s tonnes of it in Weymouth. It actually used to be two towns which found themselves on opposite sides in the English Civil War - to this day there’s a cannonball lodged in one of the buildings in the town centre. The Nothe Fort is a very family-friendly attraction with a maze of underground tunnels and a Victorian gun deck.

There’s a Sea Life centre which one friend with school-age children who lives in the Midlands tells me is the best in the UK because it’s got a splash zone and pool. Nearby Sandworld is a fascinating visit as well.

Sand sculptures of koala bears — Sandworld has some fascinating creations

There's usually something going on at the Pavilion, which gets some big names for its size and location. Jimmy Carr is a regular visitor.

When I first moved to Weymouth there was a year-round calendar of events but government cuts to local authorities have taken their toll and these have been pared back. There’s still plenty on offer, including a November 5 bonfire and fireworks display, Beach Motocross (October), Weymouth Folk Festival (June), Seafeast - previously known as the Dorset Seafood Festival - (September) and much, much more.

Accommodation

There’s a huge range of options depending on your budget and preference. Traditional guesthouses line the seafront and are really close to the town centre with its beach and restaurants.

There’s a number of holiday parks close by too, including Bowleaze Cove, a short walk to the east of the town centre. The beach here is shingle rather than sand but it’s only a short walk along the paved promenade to the town. There’s also Osmington Holiday Park a little further out along the coast. On the other side of town closer to Portland there’s Haven Littlesea and Chesil Beach holiday parks.

There’s a huge selection of Airbnbs as well, although personally, I've found these to be quite expensive. If you’re on a budget, you can make huge savings by going out of season or staying further out - Dorchester and Bridport are both lovely towns. And don't forget camping. The countryside around Weymouth is truly beautiful and there are some gorgeous campsites.

Sign up for our daily newsletter here for all the latest news about Coventry.