Sealife Centre

The tanks here are proper close-up, which is either brilliant or slightly uncomfortable depending on your tolerance for staring at octopuses through glass. Weymouth's Sea Life Centre sits right by the harbour - you can practically smell the salt water while you're learning about seahorses and rays. It's a working aquarium rather than a sprawling wildlife park, so don't expect to spend six hours here. Two to three hours maximum, really, unless your kids are genuinely mesmerized by jellyfish.

You're getting tanks of UK native species mixed with tropical stuff - rays you can touch in the shallow pools, a proper tunnel where sharks swim overhead, octopuses doing their thing. The interactive bits work well for under-tens. Teenagers will probably find it a bit small and samey after the first hour. Adults visiting with young children or grandchildren will appreciate the compact layout and the fact you can grab a coffee without leaving the building.

It's paid admission - worth checking their website for current prices and opening times, which aren't listed here. The real value comes if you're already in Weymouth for a beach week at Waterside or Chesil Beach Holiday Park. Slot it in on a rainy afternoon rather than as your main event. The proximity to the seafront means you can wander the harbour afterwards, grab lunch, and feel like you've had a proper outing without having driven anywhere.