Weymouth is one of my favourite places, I’ve been so many times that I’ve lost count! It’s hosted many of our family holidays, from when my children were young to more recent holidays with my grandchildren. In fact, we visit most years, even if only for short break.

So what is it, that makes Weymouth so special that we want to visit over and over? I don’t know that there’s a simple answer – it’s a traditional seaside resort with a sandy beach, fish & chips shops aplenty & in peak season there is a helter skelter, donkey rides on the beach, swingboats and other attractions. However, there is so much more, just a couple of miles outside the town centre & you are in the Dorset countryside & in the opposite direction, linked to Weymouth by the road causeway & the mighty Chesil Beach, is the isle of Portland.

Portland itself is full of charm & hidden places to discover, Church Ope Cove, the High Angle Battery for example. The Bill itself , with it’s iconic lighthouse which has guided vessels through the hazardous waters close to the bill since 1906, is also a great place to visit. A scramble down the rocks to visit Pulpit Rock will leave you feeling like you’re almost on the edge of the world with sea almost all around, so much so that you can see the curvature of the earth, weather permitting of course!

But back to Weymouth itself, the town is full of history, and was one of two settlements in the area, each on different sides of the harbour, the other one being Melcombe Regis. Both towns were important trade towns and Melcombe Regis is believed to be the first port where the Black Death entered England. During Queen Elizabeth I’s reign both towns were unified and become known as Weymouth.

King George III was a Weymouth fan (there is a statue of him on the seafront) and visited the town for health reasons, using a bathing machine to take to the sea each morning during his stays. Fast forward to the 20th century and during WWII Weymouth played host to US military embarking to the Normandy landings. That’s just a few highlights of Weymouth’s history, there is so much more and there are castles, museums & other historical sites to visit across Weymouth & Portland if you want to discover more about the town’s history.

Today, it’s a popular seaside resort and alongside the amusement arcades, swingboats, helter skelter & other attractions there are many cafes, restaurants & bars too. I’ll share a few of my favourite eateries with you…one of my favourite places to eat is The Gurkha – an all you can eat buffet offering Asian cuisine including Chinese, Indian, Thai & Nepalese dishes. There’s a lot of variety, the food is hot and delicious and it’s a great opportunity to try different dishes! My grandson, who loves broccoli, said the broccoli at the Gurkha is the best he’s ever tasted!

Fish & chips….there are quite a few chippy’s in the town centre, the most well known being The Marlboro & Bennett’s. I prefer The Marlboro but that’s just my personal preference, both are good. If you’re looking for gluten free options The Old Harbour Fish & Chips is the place to go!

We also like the Cove House Inn on Portland, it’s practically on the beach so the views are fantastic and the food is excellent. It does get very busy though, so definitely worth booking a table if want to eat there.

We usually stay at a Haven Holidays caravan site, there are three in Weymouth & we have stayed at all of them, but our preferred site is Seaview. Within a short walk of the Seaview site, the Spice Ship does great food and there is a good chippy too, Straceys just a bit further down the hill.

Mr Fixit and I will be getting our Weymouth fix in a couple of months time, so I’ll be sure to check out some other places to visit and share them with you!