UK’s ‘most beautiful’ seaside town with ‘prettiest’ beach in England crowned

02 April 2024 , 18:04

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Weymouth Beach overlooks the English Channel in Dorset (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A charming British seaside resort boasts one of Europe's best beaches, according to TripAdvisor.

Weymouth itself was also described as one of the “most beautiful small towns in the UK” by CN Traveler. Its beach has royal connections as King George III frequently visited it in the late 18th century, and even ventured into the sea in his bathing machine.

Nowadays, colourful historic homes line up next to the picturesque harbour in the Dorset town, home to around 53,000 people. Tourism has always been important to Weymouth and, last year, the beach there was the only British one to make a list of the 25 best beaches in the world, compiled and released by TripAdvisor.

Weymouth also boasts colourful houses beside the harbour (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Jane Biscombe, a town clerk in the resort, said: "Weymouth has everything you need. It has lifeguards; crystal-clear waters; a wide, sandy beach; shallow waters that are safe for the kids; toilets, showers, free drinking water; deckchairs and sunloungers; donkeys, beach volleyball courts, a dog area, and a place where you can borrow buckets and spades. The council also runs special events including fireworks, funfairs and sports festivals. It’s an amazing place."

The Times recently described the sandy shores as having the “prettiest urban backdrop to any beach in the country." It echoed praise Weymouth has had on TripAdvisor for its seaside, described on the site as "a real family gathering spot" and as "one of the nicest beaches we have visited inside the UK".

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George III first visited the area in 1789, 29 years into his six-decade-long reign. He visited fourteen times in total, historians say. The town quickly became the most fashionable place for Georgian nobility to take holidays.

The town is well known for its elegant Georgian historical homes on the seafront and was even a popular destination amongst the Victorians, as Queen Victoria built the colourful Jubilee Clock Tower in Weymouth to celebrate 50 years on the throne. The clock was built in 1887 to overlook the promenade and entrance and stands 40 feet tall, making it an iconic landmark of the town.

Bradley Jolly