Weymouth Beach

Weymouth Beach is three miles of sand in a sheltered bay, wide and gently sloping, with the Esplanade along the back of it. King George III began visiting Weymouth in 1789, and his visits helped make bathing fashionable. The main beach is sandy, while the neighbouring beaches at Greenhill and Preston are shingle.

Swimming and lifeguards

RNLI lifeguards patrol the beach through the summer season, and the RNLI beach page gives the dates and times for the year. The town council asks swimmers to heed signs and swim between the flags. The sand slopes gradually into the sea.

Dogs

Dogs are excluded from the central beach, from the dog exercise area to the groyne at Greenhill, between 1 May and 30 September. A dog exercise area at the Pavilion Theatre end of the sandy beach is open all year, and Visit Dorset lists it as off the lead. Dog rules are set by council order and can change, so check Dorset Council’s dog page before you travel.

Facilities and access

The town council beach page lists toilets, three outdoor showers at the beach office building and toilets for disabled visitors. A deckchair hire service runs through the summer, and Punch and Judy shows play during the summer months. For access, there is ramp or level access to the sand, and wheelchair matting is laid at two places on the main beach and at Greenhill from May to September. Beach wheelchairs can be hired subject to availability.

The Pavilion Theatre stands at the end of the Esplanade beside the beach, and the Greenhill end of the bay lies at the north-east. The Beach Office is on 01305 239832.

Parking

There are many car parks in the town and on the harbourside, several close to the railway station and bus routes.

Nearby

The Wild Chesil Centre sits between Weymouth and Portland, beside Chesil Beach. Heading east along the coast, Durdle Door is a different kind of beach: shingle, steep steps and no lifeguards.