Holidays in Weymouth Through the Decades

How Holidays in Weymouth Changed from the 1950s to the 1990s

For generations, Weymouth has been one of Britain's favourite seaside resorts. Long before cheap flights and overseas package holidays became the norm, thousands of families headed to Dorset every summer to enjoy a traditional British seaside holiday.

For many people, a holiday in Weymouth wasn't simply a week away � it became an annual tradition. Parents who had visited as children returned years later with children and grandchildren of their own. Many stayed in the same guest houses, visited the same caf�s and built sandcastles on the same stretch of golden beach.

Although much has changed over the decades, Weymouth has never lost the charm that made it such a popular destination. From donkey rides and Punch and Judy shows to bustling amusement arcades and family boat trips, every generation has its own memories of holidays by the sea.

This is a look back at how holidays in Weymouth changed through the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

The 1950s � The Return of the Great British Seaside Holiday

After the hardships of the Second World War, the 1950s brought renewed optimism. Families finally had the opportunity to enjoy holidays once again, and Britain's seaside resorts welcomed thousands of visitors every summer.

Many people arrived in Weymouth by steam train, stepping onto the station platform carrying large suitcases, picnic baskets and excited children eager to catch their first glimpse of the sea. Others travelled by coach, while private car ownership was still relatively uncommon.

Accommodation was simple but welcoming. Hotels, boarding houses and guest houses lined the Esplanade, many run by families who welcomed the same holidaymakers back year after year. Breakfast usually consisted of a hearty full English before everyone headed straight for the beach.

Entertainment was wonderfully simple. Children spent hours building enormous sandcastles, paddling in the shallow waters or enjoying donkey rides across the sand. Punch and Judy shows regularly attracted large crowds, while ice creams, sticks of rock and paper bags of freshly made doughnuts became essential holiday treats.

Evenings were quieter than today. Families would stroll along the Esplanade, enjoy fish and chips overlooking the harbour before listening to music at the bandstand or simply watching the sun set across Weymouth Bay.

There were no smartphones, no social media and very little technology. Holiday photographs were carefully taken on film cameras, often with just 24 or 36 exposures available for the entire week.

The Swinging Sixties

By the 1960s, holidays in Weymouth were busier than ever. Britain was enjoying greater prosperity and more families owned their own cars, making holidays to Dorset much easier than in previous decades.

The beach became a colourful patchwork of striped windbreaks, deckchairs and beach umbrellas stretching along the golden sands. Children entertained themselves for hours with buckets and spades, while parents relaxed in folding chairs watching them play.

Holiday camps and caravan parks became increasingly popular, offering affordable accommodation for growing families. Guest houses remained busy, particularly those along the Esplanade with wonderful sea views.

Weymouth Harbour was as lively as ever, with fishing boats landing their catches alongside pleasure boats taking visitors out into Weymouth Bay. Boat trips became one of the highlights of many family holidays.

The amusement arcades were filled with traditional slot machines, penny falls and games that kept children entertained for hours. Pocket money rarely lasted long once the flashing lights and sounds of the arcades came into view.

Perhaps most importantly, holidays were still about spending time together. Families explored on foot, enjoyed picnics on the beach and ended each day with an evening walk along the Esplanade, often finishing with fish and chips or an ice cream before heading back to their guest house.

The 1970s � The Golden Age of the British Seaside Holiday

For many people, the 1970s represent the golden age of the British seaside holiday. Family car ownership had become much more common, making the journey to Weymouth easier than ever before. Every Saturday throughout the summer, streams of cars could be seen making their way into the town as another wave of holidaymakers arrived.

The beach was often packed from end to end. Brightly coloured windbreaks stretched across the sand, children queued patiently for donkey rides and families spent entire days by the sea without ever leaving the beach.

A typical day might begin with a hearty breakfast at the guest house before heading straight to the sands carrying deckchairs, towels, buckets, spades and inflatable lilos. Children happily entertained themselves digging enormous holes, building sandcastles or splashing in the calm waters of Weymouth Bay while parents relaxed in the sunshine.

The amusement arcades became an essential part of every holiday. The sound of fruit machines, flashing lights and the familiar clatter of 2p machines drew children and adults alike through their doors. A few pounds of holiday spending money could easily disappear in an afternoon.

Evenings followed a familiar routine. Families enjoyed fish and chips by the harbour, wandered along the Esplanade with an ice cream, browsed the souvenir shops or simply sat watching the boats come and go as the sun set across the bay.

Many visitors also began exploring beyond Weymouth itself, discovering places such as Portland, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Corfe Castle during their stay. A week in Dorset was becoming more than just a beach holiday.

The 1980s � New Attractions and Changing Holidays

The 1980s brought significant changes to British holidays. Cheap package holidays to Spain, Portugal and Greece tempted many families overseas for guaranteed sunshine, but Weymouth remained one of Britain's favourite traditional seaside resorts.

The town adapted to changing expectations. Holiday parks expanded, guest houses modernised and visitors increasingly explored the wider county rather than spending every day on the beach.

Although the beach remained the main attraction, families often planned day trips to Portland Bill, Monkey World, The Tank Museum, Corfe Castle and Lulworth Cove. Dorset itself was becoming part of the holiday experience.

The amusement arcades evolved too, introducing newer electronic games alongside traditional fruit machines and 2p pushers. For many children, an evening in the arcades became almost as exciting as a day on the beach.

Boat trips continued to be popular, whether it was a leisurely cruise around Weymouth Bay or simply watching the fishing boats returning to the harbour with their daily catch.

While overseas holidays continued to grow in popularity, thousands of families still returned to Weymouth every summer. For many, nowhere quite matched the atmosphere of the harbour, the golden sands and the simple pleasure of an evening stroll along the seafront.

The 1990s � Rediscovering the Great British Seaside

By the 1990s, holidays were changing once again. Overseas package holidays were now affordable for many families, but at the same time people were beginning to rediscover the charm of Britain's traditional seaside resorts.

Weymouth remained one of the country's favourite holiday destinations thanks to its beautiful sandy beach, bustling harbour and friendly atmosphere. Many visitors still returned to the same hotels, guest houses and holiday parks they had enjoyed for years, while others chose self-catering cottages or caravan holidays.

Families increasingly used Weymouth as a base for exploring the wider county. A day on the beach might be followed by trips to Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Monkey World, Corfe Castle or the Isle of Portland. Holidays had become about experiencing everything Dorset had to offer rather than spending every day by the sea.

The arrival of home computers and the early internet had little impact on most holidays. Visitors still relied on tourist information centres, guidebooks and leaflets collected from hotels to decide where to visit next.

Children continued to enjoy the simple pleasures that had entertained generations before them. Building sandcastles, crabbing around the harbour, eating ice creams on the Esplanade and spending pocket money in the amusement arcades remained favourite holiday memories.

Weymouth Today

Although holidays have changed enormously over the years, much of what makes Weymouth special remains exactly the same.

The golden sands still stretch across Weymouth Bay, children continue to build sandcastles on the beach, and families still enjoy fish and chips overlooking the harbour�although they're just as likely to be keeping a watchful eye on the ever-hopeful seagulls!

The picturesque harbour remains the heart of the town, with fishing boats, yachts and pleasure craft coming and going throughout the day. Visitors can still enjoy boat trips, explore the historic streets of old Weymouth or simply relax with a drink beside the water.

Today's visitors also benefit from the many attractions surrounding the town. Portland, the Jurassic Coast, Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle and countless other destinations are all within easy reach, making Weymouth the perfect base for exploring Dorset.

Whether you're returning after fifty years or visiting for the very first time, there's something wonderfully familiar about Weymouth. The sea air, the sound of children laughing on the beach, the smell of fish and chips drifting along the Esplanade and the sight of colourful boats in the harbour all combine to create memories that last a lifetime.

Do You Remember Holidays in Weymouth?

Every family has their own special memories of holidays in Weymouth.

Perhaps you remember travelling by steam train in the 1950s, staying in a seafront guest house during the 1960s, spending hours in the amusement arcades in the 1970s, exploring Portland in the 1980s or introducing your own children to the beach in the 1990s.

Maybe you have old holiday photographs tucked away in an album, postcards sent home to grandparents, or funny stories about chasing windbreaks across the beach on a windy day.

Whatever your memories, we'd love to hear them.

Continue Exploring Weymouth's Past

If you enjoy reading about old Weymouth and Dorset, you may also like these nostalgic articles and personal memories from years gone by.

• The Roaring Twenties in Weymouth � Step back to the 1920s and discover what life and holidays were like in Weymouth a century ago.
• Growing Up in Dorset � A nostalgic look back at childhood, family life and growing up in Dorset through the decades.
• Growing Up in a Weymouth Fishing Village � Discover what everyday life was like in one of Weymouth's traditional fishing communities.
• Share Your Weymouth & Dorset Memories � We'd love to hear your holiday stories, childhood memories and see your old photographs.