Out and About
|
Best Western Hotel Prince Regent
139 The Esplanade
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 7NR
Tel: 01305 771313
Fax: 01305 778100 |
Please click here to open the general map (PDF)
Please click here for more detailed street plan (PDF)
Our two Sea front Hotels are both situated
on Weymouth's famous esplanade. Just a few metres from the
beach, they enjoy spectacular views across Weymouth Bay to
the craggy Dorset coastline in the distance.
Weymouth is renowned for its glorious sandy
beaches, easily accessible shops and level terrain, with plenty
of places to visit close by. Entertainment is provided nightly,
though on a smaller scale than at our Entertainment Resorts.
These locations provide a more relaxing
holiday experience whilst still offering some extra activity
and enjoyment in the evenings.
Weymouth and Portland
Weymouth, located within the heart of the World Heritage Jurassic
Coast, has so much to offer the visitor. Weymouth varies
from a rich heritage heartland with historical buildings and
Georgian seafront, to a bustling, modern town centre complemented
by quaint side streets with traditional pubs, contemporary
bars, cafés and restaurants. Weymouth’s picturesque
harbour boasts fishing boats, yachts, catamarans and the high-speed
Condor Ferries, making day trips to the Channel Islands and
St Malo in France.
Just a few hundred metres from Weymouth’s
town centre, you'll find the Swannery and RSPB Nature Reserve
and a host of indoor and outdoor attractions open all year.
With the variety of places to visit and over 200 year-round
events, there really is something to suit everyone.
Frequented over 200 years ago by King George
III, Weymouth’s central beach with its golden sands is
a consistent winner of the national 'Tidy Britain' Seaside
Awards and is one of the 'Elite 8' beaches in the UK.
Other Attractions
Portland Castle is one of Henry VIII's
finest coastal fortresses. Built in the early 1540s, the fortress
is perfectly preserved in a waterfront location overlooking Portland
Harbour. The museum within the walls gives a fascinating incite
into the diverse history of the castle, ranging from its Tudor
roots, through the English Civil War to its use in World War
II as a seaplane station and the part it played in the D-Day
operations.
Lulworth Castle & Park
Open: All year
Address: East Lulworth, Dorset.
Tel: 0845 4501054
Website: www.lulworth.com
Situated on the coast between Swanage and
Weymouth is the delightful Lulworth Castle and Park. Originally
built in the 1500s by the son of the Duke of Norfolk, the castle
has seen a number of uses and occupants and has a varied and
colourful history. Enjoy a stroll through the grounds as well
as experiencing a fine English home, or wander down to the
animal farm for a more tactile experience.
For those who want to take in the sea air
or walk along the beautiful coast, Lulworth Cove and Durdle
Door are both close by.
Kingston Maurward Garden & Animal Park
Open: All year
Address: Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, Dorset
DT2 8PY
Tel: 01305 215003
Website: www.kmc.ac.uk/gardens
| Situated a little
farther afield is Kingston Maurward Garden and Animal
Park. Situated in the grounds of one of the south’s
leading colleges, the gardens have been extensively renovated
over the last 20 years. |
|
Kingston Maurward House was built in
the early 1700s by George Pitt, a cousin of the famous 18th
century Prime Minister, William Pitt. The house is also known
for its involvement with the famous Dorset author, Thomas Hardy,
who lived in the nearby village of Bockhampton and was known
to be a frequent visitor during his youth, referring to the house
as ‘Knapwater House’ in his novel Desperate Remedies.
Visitors who want to learn more about Thomas Hardy can also visit
his cottage nearby, which is owned by the National Trust.
(Please see the following entry on this page or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for
more information).
The house was occupied during the war by
American servicemen and the extensive parkland was used as
a fuel dump for the D-Day Landings. The gardens have undergone
extensive restoration since 1990. The Gardens and Animal Park
are now open to the public all year.
Dorset County Museum
Open: All year
Address: Dorchester DT1 1XA
Tel: 01305 262735
Website: www.dorsetcountymuseum.org
Dorset County Museum was founded in 1846
to help protect and record the county's unique historical and
natural environment. It is an ideal place for first-time Dorset
visitors who would like to get the most out of their stay in
one of England’s most diverse counties.
Museum visitors can find out about local
writers, history, archaeology, geology and the natural sciences
in one of the Museum's many galleries. There are also video
displays as well as audio-guides which can guide you round
the exhibits. Collections include Roman mosaics, original Thomas
Hardy manuscripts, and fossilised dinosaur footprints – a
broad selection of exhibits showing the diverse nature of the
county.
Weymouth Sea Life Park & Marine Sanctuary
Open: All year except Christmas Day
Address: Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7SX
Tel: 01305 761070
Website: www.sealifeeurope.com/uk/weymouth
| The Weymouth
Sea Life Park & Marine Sanctuary is one of the
South Coast’s most popular tourist attractions
and is situated on Weymouth’s seafront, in
Lodmoor Country Park across the road from the beach and
sea. With one of the |
|
most diverse collections of marine creatures
in the UK, this is a 'must' for any visitor who wants to learn
more about all things fishy!
Over the last 20 years, the Park has welcomed
over 4.5 million visitors and its unique mix of indoor and
outdoor attractions makes it a great day out for visitors of
any age. Set in spacious landscaped grounds, the Park offers
a new Penguin Sanctuary along with seals, otters and an amazing
variety of marine creatures.
Abbotsbury Swannery
Open: April-October
Address: New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset DT3
4JG
Tel: 01305 871858
Web site: www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk
| For over 600 years, the Abbotsbury
Sanctuary, sheltered by Chesil Beach, has been home to
a colony of friendly mute swans. This ancient and special
site provides protection for hundreds of nesting swans
and their broods. Towards the end of May, visitors can
wander safely |
|
around the nests, observing at close
quarters the antics of the fluffy cygnets.
Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens
Open: All year
Address: Bullers Way, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset DT3
4LA
Tel: 01305 871387
Web site: www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk
The Abbotsbury Gardens were established
in 1765 by the first Countess of Ilchester as a kitchen garden
to her nearby castle. It has developed since then into a magnificent
20-acre garden filled with rare and exotic plants from all
over the world. The Gardens feature both formal and informal
environments, with charming walks and woodland valley paths.
The Gardens are world famous for their camellia groves and
magnolias and noted for their rhododendrons and hydrangea collections.
Hardy’s Cottage
Open: March to October
Address: Higher Bockhampton, Nr Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8QJ
Tel: 01305 262366
Web site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
| One of Dorset’s
most famous sons was Thomas Hardy, the 19th Century author
who wrote Far from the Madding Crowd and Under
the Greenwood Tree, amongst others. His work is
still celebrated throughout the world. |
|
This beautiful thatched cottage in High
Bockhampton was the birthplace of Hardy in 1840. The house had
been built in the previous century by his great-grandfather and
remains little changed, even today. The house has a wealth of
Hardy memorabilia and has been restored to look as it did during
his childhood. Many of his early works were also written here.
Brewers Quay
Open: All year
Address: Hope Square, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8TR
Tel: 01305 777622
Web site: www.brewers-quay.co.uk
| This re-developed Victorian
brewery at the heart of Weymouth's picturesque Old Harbour
offers a variety of activities from speciality shopping
and entertainment to eating out. Visitors can step back
in time at the award-winning 'Timewalk & Brewery
Days' attraction. |
|
The undercover Shopping Village features
over 20 specialist shops offering a superb choice of goods,
from handmade chocolates and local crafts to home furnishings
and a wide variety of giftware to suit all ages and occasions.
Other attractions include The Weymouth Museum, Discovery Science
Centre and Bowlingo, plus Courtyard Restaurant and Excise House
pub.
Please visit the website for a full programme
of free events and festivals.
For more information about what to see
and do, please visit the following websites:
Weymouth Tourist Information Centre
Kings Statue
The Esplanade
Weymouth
Dorset DT4 7AN
Tel: 01305 785747
Website: www.weymouth.gov.uk/visitors/
Additional Information Sources
www.dorsetforyou.co.uk
www.essentialdevon.com
Other Local Towns and Places of Interest
- Bournemouth
- Poole
- Lyme Regis
- The Jurassic Coast
- Dorchester
- Swanage
Where possible, we have tried to accurately
convey the facilities of the various attractions. Visitors
should consider contacting the individual resorts before visiting
as opening times and facilities may change without notice.
Martyn Leisure Breaks cannot be held responsible for any changes
made by the individual attractions.
If you know of any other resorts or attractions
which you feel should be featured here, please contact
us. |
