At the heart of the Jurassic Coast is a beautiful sandy beach which has become one of the top-rated beaches in England and is recommended by experts for a day out or staycation this May bank holiday. Overlooked by magnificent Georgian architecture is Weymouth Beach, tucked away on the Dorset coastline.

The beach is so popular it has won prestigious accolades including the 2024 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, Weymouth Beach has ranked in the number 2 spot for England’s Best Beach and 19th best beach in Europe.

Furthermore, Weymouth Beach was awarded winner of The Times’ 2023 Great British Beach Guide.

Experts from Millets, who analysed Google reviews, water quality ratings, ocean temperatures, beach facilities, accessibility and parking costs, have dubbed it one of the best beaches to visit May bank holiday. The beach only narrowly missed out on the top spot which was awarded to Tynemouth beach in the northeast of England.

“The aptly named and award-winning Weymouth Beach is located at the very heart of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site, and has an overall Google Review score of 4.7 out of five from more than 5,000 reviews,” commented Millets. “The Environment Agency also gave this beach’s water quality rating of three out of three, and the warmest water temperature recorded is 16.8C as of 2023, but the average cost of parking is £4.25, a bit more expensive than in Tynemouth.”

The sandy stretch has a long history behind it, with some royal links. Weymouth was a famous of King George III in the late 1700s who would frequently visit to bathe in the coastal waters.

After that, it shot to fame as one of the nation’s most popular seaside resorts. While Weymouth is a sand-filled haven, the adjoining beaches at Greenhill and Preston offer a quieter, shingle alternative.

The beach is also home to a historic harbour, which has been revamped in recent years with modern cafés, restaurants and bars overlooking the water.

The spring and summer are some of the best times to visit, not only for the weather, but also thanks to numerous services including RNLI Lifeguards, First Aid, accessible facilities, Lost Children Services and Beach Attendants which are all in place between April and September.

On Tripadvisor, Weymouth Beach has scored an impressive 4.5 out of a possible five stars, with visitors applauding the “lovely” and “soft” sand.

One visitor to the beach commented: “The beach is one of my favourite places to be and Weymouth beach is perfect. I want to visit it as often as I possibly can on my short break. It’s wide and mostly sand, with a bit of shingle towards the town end. I can certainly see why it’s been recently voted the UK’s best beach!

“The beach and the sea are both very clean. The sand is lovely and soft. There’s plenty to do along the shore too, with fairground rides, donkey rides and a sand sculpture exhibit to enjoy. They also have beach volleyball nets set up for people to use. It’s such a great place to be! The seashore even lights up at night which is very pretty. I highly recommend visiting!” [SIC]