Weymouth

Georgian terraces sweep down to one of England's finest sandy beaches, where donkey rides and Punch and Judy shows still draw the crowds. Weymouth's seaside charm feels properly British - no fancy marina developments or artisan coffee shops, just good old-fashioned bucket-and-spade holidays done right. The harbour buzzes with fishing boats and pleasure craft, while the esplanade stretches for miles with traditional beach huts painted in seaside pastels.

Crook Hill offers cracking views across Weymouth Bay and the Isle of Portland beyond. It's a bit of a climb but well worth it on a clear day. The town centre's got that lovely mix of independent shops and traditional seaside attractions - the kind of place where fish and chips still come wrapped in paper and taste all the better for it.

Jurassic Coast stretches in both directions from here. Portland's dramatic limestone cliffs are just a short drive south, while Chesil Beach runs northwest in an unbroken 18-mile pebble ridge. The whole area's a fossil hunter's paradise - you'll find ammonites and belemnites scattered along the shoreline after winter storms.

Direct trains from London Waterloo get you here in about three hours, though driving gives you proper freedom to explore the coast. Dorchester's the nearest county town, just eight miles inland through rolling downland. Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense - you're close enough for early morning beach walks but far enough from the summer crowds to get a decent night's sleep.