What to See in Weymouth, United Kingdom: Free Audio Guide

Wondering what to see in Weymouth? This Dorset seaside town brings together a historic harbour, royal associations, coastal fortifications and distinctive churches built from local Portland stone. From the Jubilee Clock Tower on the Esplanade to the ruins of Sandsfoot Castle, there is plenty to explore on foot. Neywo also has a free audio guide for Weymouth, with 32 narrated places.

What to See in Weymouth

Jubilee Clock Tower and the seafront

The Jubilee Clock Tower is one of Weymouth’s most recognisable landmarks. Standing on the Esplanade, the free-standing tower was erected in 1888 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 1887 Golden Jubilee.

Its cast- and wrought-iron structure rises from a Portland stone base. The tower was Grade II listed in 1974, reflecting its architectural and historic importance as part of Weymouth’s seafront.

Church of St Mary

Church of St Mary is a prominent Church of England parish church built entirely from Portland stone. Constructed between 1815 and 1817, it has an austere Palladian design based on classical symmetry and proportion.

The building has been Grade I listed since 1953, the highest heritage designation in England. St Mary’s was also connected with Christ Church, a former chapel of ease that served the town between 1874 and 1939.

Church of the Holy Trinity

Built from Portland stone between 1834 and 1836, Holy Trinity Church has been part of Weymouth’s streetscape since the 1830s. The church was designed by Philip Wyatt and later extended and re-oriented in 1886 and 1887.

Its unusual development and architectural character have earned it a Grade II* listing, marking it as a building of particular importance.

Hope Square and Weymouth Museum

Hope Square lies just south of Weymouth Harbour and is surrounded by restaurants and pubs. The Red Lion has stood here since 1851, while the square’s south side is occupied by Brewers Quay, a former brewery currently under redevelopment.

Brewers Quay is also home to Weymouth Museum. Established in 1972, the museum moved to this location in 1990. From Hope Square, Hope Street, Cove Street and Trinity Street lead towards the harbour. The Tudor House Museum is also nearby on Trinity Street.

Tudor House Museum

The Tudor House Museum occupies an early 17th-century building close to Brewers Quay and the harbour. It is one of the best-preserved Tudor buildings in the United Kingdom.

The house has been Grade II listed since December 1953 and now presents Weymouth’s local history inside a building with its own architectural story.

Nothe Fort

At the end of the Nothe Peninsula, Nothe Fort looks out over the coastline and the approaches to Weymouth and Portland Harbours. It was built between 1860 and 1872 by 26 Company of the Royal Engineers, when Portland was becoming an important Royal Navy base.

The fort has a D-shaped plan, with bomb-proof casemates and deep magazines designed to protect its garrison and ammunition. During the Second World War, it remained strategically important while Portland Harbour was used by British and American navies.

The fort was abandoned in 1956 and acquired by the local council in 1961. It is now a museum with models, original cannons and firearms, and British and American military vehicles from the war. The fort and its outer gateway are Grade II* listed.

Sandsfoot Castle

Sandsfoot Castle is a substantial 16th-century artillery fort perched on clay cliffs above Weymouth Bay. Built by Henry VIII as part of his Device programme, it defended the anchorage against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire.

The castle worked alongside Portland Castle across the water. Its original design included an octagonal gun platform connected to a residential blockhouse, with earthwork defences later added on the landward side.

Sandsfoot saw fighting during the English Civil War, changing hands between Parliament and Royalist forces. After Charles II’s restoration, it was withdrawn from military use in 1665. By the early 18th century, it had fallen into ruin, and some of its stone was reused in local building projects.

Wyke Castle and All Saints Church

Wyke Regis offers two different views of Weymouth’s heritage. Wyke Castle, at the top of Pirates Lane, is a mid-19th-century residence built around 1855. It became a Grade II listed building in 1974.

Nearby, All Saints Church is a remarkably preserved 15th-century church built largely from Portland stone. Its design has changed little over the centuries, and it has been Grade I listed since 1953.

Weymouth’s historic churches

Several churches add depth to a walk beyond the harbour and seafront. Church of St John the Evangelist in Melcombe Regis was built between 1850 and 1854 to designs by Talbot Bury. It is a large evangelical Church of England church and a Grade II* listed building.

In Westham, St Paul’s Church was designed by George Fellowes Prynne and built mainly between 1894 and 1896. In the village of Upwey, St Laurence’s Church includes substantial late-15th-century fabric and is Grade II* listed.

St Andrew’s Church stands in Preston, while the former Broadwey Methodist Church recalls nearly a century of Methodist community life before closing in 2021. Christ Church, once a chapel of ease to St Mary’s, was built between 1873 and 1874, closed in 1939 and was demolished between 1956 and 1957.

Explore Weymouth with a self-guided audio tour

A Weymouth self-guided walking tour with Neywo lets you explore the town independently while the app tells the story of each place as you reach it. There is no group and no schedule: walk at your own pace and listen when you arrive.

Neywo’s Weymouth tours include:

• Two walking tours:
  • Georgian Seafront to Tudor Harbour: Weymouth’s Royal Resort — 3.97 km, 112 minutes and 11 narrated stops.
  • Castles by the Bay: Sandsfoot to Wyke Regis — 5.61 km, 118 minutes and 7 narrated stops.
• One bus route: Bus 2: From Broadwey to the Seafront — 7 km, 30 minutes and 5 narrated stops.
• One bike route: Rodwell Trail to Sandsfoot Castle — 2 km, 10 minutes and 3 narrated stops.

The free Weymouth audio guide includes 32 narrated places, and narration is available in 11 languages. If you are exploring more of the country, discover other destinations in England or continue through the United Kingdom with Neywo.