Weymouth Harbour

The working harbour at Weymouth is one of those places that rewards a proper wander rather than a quick photo stop. Fishing boats still tie up here alongside leisure craft, and there's real maritime life happening - not the sanitised version you get in some seaside towns. Watch the trawlers unload their catch, grab a coffee from one of the harbourside cafes, or just sit on a bench and watch the water traffic.

It's genuinely free to walk around, and you can spend anywhere from twenty minutes to a couple of hours depending on how much you want to linger. The quay itself is flat and accessible, which makes it good for families with buggies or anyone who doesn't fancy hills. Kids tend to enjoy spotting boats and wildlife - gulls, swans, the occasional seal if you're lucky.

From Rodwell it's a short hop into town, and the harbour sits right at the heart of Weymouth's seafront. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Chesil Beach Lodge gets genuinely decent reviews - the harbour is walkable for most, though the seafront path from somewhere like Littlesea would take you a fair walk. The surrounding town has the usual amusement arcades and chip shops, but the harbour itself feels like the real thing. Worth half a morning at least, especially if the tide's right and the boats are active.