Southside Funfair

The seafront at Weymouth wouldn't be complete without a proper funfair, and Southside delivers exactly what you'd expect - dodgems, rides, arcade games, and the sort of controlled chaos that keeps kids entertained for an afternoon. It's right there on the beach, so you can drag the family between the rides and a paddle in the sea without much faffing about.

The rides range from gentle stuff for younger children to proper thrill machines, and there's enough going on that you won't hear complaints about boredom for at least a couple of hours. The arcade section is standard fare - racing games, shooting galleries, the usual suspects - but it keeps the kids occupied while adults grab a coffee. Admission is typically pay-per-ride rather than a gate charge, so you've got some control over spend.

Timing-wise, late afternoon tends quieter than midday if you're avoiding queues, and school holidays obviously get rammed. Summer weekends are your standard hectic affair. Worth noting: weather matters here. A wet day flattens the appeal considerably.

If you're based at Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park or Haven Weymouth Bay, you're essentially on the doorstep - five minutes' walk at most. Even further afield at Rosewall Camping or Littlesea, it's a straightforward drive for an evening out. It's not going to replace a proper theme park day trip, but as a seaside diversion when you've got restless kids and an hour to kill, it does the job.