Weymouth

Three miles of golden sand stretch along one of Dorset's most enduring seaside towns, where Georgian terraces overlook a harbour that's welcomed everyone from medieval merchants to modern Olympic sailors. Weymouth's seafront promenade feels properly Victorian with its candy-coloured beach huts and donkey rides, but there's real substance behind the seaside charm.

The town splits neatly between old and new. Cross the harbour bridge and you'll find the original settlement around St Edmund Street, all narrow lanes and Tudor buildings. But most visitors stick to the newer town where the beach action happens. The sand here is genuinely lovely - fine enough for sandcastles, backed by that famous esplanade where Punch and Judy shows still draw crowds.

Weymouth Bay hosted the sailing events for the 2012 Olympics, and you can still feel that legacy around the marina. The harbour's working side remains busy with fishing boats and the Condor ferry to the Channel Islands, giving the place an authentic maritime edge that many resorts have lost.

Just inland, the countryside rolls into proper Thomas Hardy territory. St Osmond and St Osmund's Church in nearby Broadmayne mark ancient settlements, while Mayne Stone Circle hints at much older stories. The coast path westward leads to some of Dorset's most dramatic scenery - the limestone cliffs and natural arch of Durdle Door are barely 20 minutes' drive away.

Dorchester lies eight miles north for shopping and culture, while the A354 brings you straight down from London in under three hours. Staying at one of the holiday parks along this stretch - particularly around Bowleaze Cove or towards Durdle Door - gives you the best of both worlds: easy access to Weymouth's attractions with the Jurassic Coast literally on your doorstep.