Attractions

Portland Bill is a narrow promontory (or bill) at the southern end of the Isle of Portland, and the southernmost point of Dorset, England. One of Portland's most popular destinations is Portland Bill Lighthouse. Portland's coast has been notorious for the number of shipwrecked vessels over the centuries. The dangerous coastline features shallow reefs and the Shambles sandbank, made more hazardous due to the strong Portland tidal race.

The Bill is an important way-point for coastal traffic, and three lighthouses have been built to protect shipping. The original two worked as a pair from 1716, and they were replaced in 1906 by the current one.

The harbour forms the mouth of the River Way, as it enters the English Channel.

Weymouth Harbour once included cross-channel ferries but is now home to pleasure boats and private yachts. The Weymouth Harbour Traway ran along the north side of the harbour to the long disused Weymouth Quay railway station. The track was removed during 2020 and 2021 except for two short sections left as a memorial. Immediately to the north at the harbour entrance is Weymouth Pier, separating the harbour from Weymouth Beach and Weymouth Bay.  Weymouth Pavilion is located on the north side of the harbour entrance and Stone Pier on the south side.

The harbour includes a lifting bridge to allow boats into the inner harbour and Weymouth Marina. 

Abbotsbury Swannery is a colony of nesting mute swans near the village ofAbbotsubry in Dorset, England. Located on a 1-hectare (2-acre) site around the Fleet Lagoon protected from the weather of Lyme Bay by Chisel Beach, it is the only managed swannery in the world, and can number over 600 swans with around 150 pairs. Written records of the swannery's existence go back to 1393, though it probably existed well before that and is believed to have been set up by Benedictine monks in the eleventh century.

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.

The garden originates in 1765. In the late eighteenth century, the Fox-Strangeways family (the Earls of Ilchester) built a new house on the location; when it was burnt down in 1913, they returned to their family seat at Melbury House, but the walled garden was maintained—it remains in the ownership of the family. Since then, particularly after the contributions of the 4th Earl of Ilchester, the gardens have developed into an 8 hectares (20 acres) site with exotic plants, many of which were newly discovered species when they were first introduced. There are formal and informal gardens, with woodland walks and walled gardens; in addition, the gardens also contain certain "zones" that exhibit plants from different geographical areas.

The gardens are in a wooded and sheltered valley, leading down towards the sea at Chisel Beach; this combination produces a microclimate in which more delicate plants than are usually grown in southern England can flourish, and plants that would otherwise need a greenhouses can be grown outside. However, in spite of its location, the plants remain vulnerable to bad winters, and the frost that they can bring; in 1990, violent storms damaged many of the rare specimens, which have since been replaced by younger plants. In 2010, Abbotsbury employed the chainsaw artist Matthew Crabb to carve a 200-year-old oak tree that had fallen after a particularly bad winter. The gardens won the Historic Houses Association/Christie's Garden of the Year award for 2012, the first time that a subtropical garden has gained the award.

Set amongst the woodland of Dorset lays 65 acres of sanctuary for over 250 primates. Monkey World was set up in 1987 by Jim Cronin to provide abused Spanish beach chimps with a permanent, stable home. Today Monkey World works in conjunction with foreign governments from all over the world to stop the illegal smuggling of apes out of Africa and Asia. At the park visitors can see over 250 primates of more than 20 different species.

www.monkeyworld.org

The Tank Museum is a collection of armoured fighting vehicles at Bovington Camp. The collection traces the history of the tank. With almost 300 vehicles on exhibition from 26 countries it is the largest collection of tanks and the third largest collection of armoured vehicles in the world.  The collection includes a Tiger 131, the only working example of a German Tiger 131 tank, and a British First World War Mark 1, the world's oldest surviving combat tank. It is the museum of the Royal Tank Regiment and the Royal Armoured Corps and is a registered charity.

Find out more at - www.tankmuseum.org

SandWorld showcases awe-inspiring work by some of the world’s leading sand sculptors. Opened in 2011 by Weymouth “Sandman” Mark Anderson, and David Hicks, an aspiring sand sculptor and good friend of Mark.

The sculptures are so beautifully detailed, it is hard to believe that they are just sand and water.

You are never too young or too old to create your own mini masterpiece. With daily workshops, plus, plenty of tools and water available, you can enjoy hands-on family fun whilst turning your ideas into 3D art.

Find out more at - www.sandworld.co.uk

SEA LIFE Weymouth opened in 1983, making it the second SEA LIFE to be built. 

• 13 DIFFERENT ZONES 
  Home to over 2,500 creatures, you can visit Seal Harbour as well as waddling with the only Fairy Penguins in Europe! 
• ROCKPOOL
  SEA LIFE Weymouth is spread over 5 acres of land and has the largest man-made rockpool in the country!
• NIGHT & DAY OCEAN DISPLAY
  Experience the 24-hour wonder of a coral reef as it moves from night to day in our re-imagined Ocean Tunnel display.
• CARIBBEAN COVE
  Climb aboard the Caribbean Cove Galleon - Dorset's greatest adventure playground!

Find out more at - www.visitsealife.com/weymouth