Transport in and around Weymouth
Weymouth has a wealth of travel options, including a good bus service provided mainly by First buses. There are very comfortable electric trains operating from London Waterloo twice an hour on weekdays and a diesel service from Bristol and Bath about every two hours.
There are boat trips along the Jurassic Coast and around Portland harbour, as well as a glass-bottomed boat on the Fleet at Ferrybridge.
There are boat trips along the Jurassic Coast and around Portland harbour, as well as a glass-bottomed boat on the Fleet at Ferrybridge.
Weymouth Park and Ride
If you're visiting Weymouth for more than an hour or two, the cheapest, most eco-friendly way is to use the excellent Park and Ride service. It costs from only £1.50 per vehicle (including all occupants) for a whole day. The price is higher in the summer, but still much cheaper than parking all day in town. Follow the signs on all main roads leading to Weymouth and you'll park at Mount Pleasant, from where a comfortable modern express bus will whisk you into town, stopping at three places along the seafront.
Bus Services
There are regular bus services around the town operated mainly by First buses. The most frequent is route 1 to Portland approx every 10 minutes. Other routes are 2 to Littlemoor, 3 to Hereford Road, 4/4a to Preston, 6 to Wyke Regis, 8 to Chickerell and 10 to Dorchester. There are also buses along the Jurassic Coast to Exeter and Poole (X53), as well as Lyme Regis and Axminster (31). A FirstDay Weymouth ticket allows unlimited travel in the town for one day. Damory Coaches operate 5 buses a day to Blandford (route 183) with buses continuing to Salisbury (route 184).
X53 Jurassic Coast bus
The X53 bus operates all year-round approximately every 2 hours. It is one of the longest bus routes in the UK. It runs between Poole, Wareham, Wool, Weymouth, Abbotsbury, West Bay, Bridport, Chideock, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Seaton, Beer and Exeter. Along some of the route, particularly between Weymouth and Beer, there are lovely views of the Jurassic coastline, especially from the upstairs deck. Buy an Explorer ticket from the driver for longer journeys. TIMETABLE
Click here for an excellent short video of the journey.
Click here for an excellent short video of the journey.
31 Jurassic Link bus
The 31 bus operates hourly on weekdays between Weymouth, Dorchester, Martinstown, Bridport, Chideock, Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Axminster. It is intended to connect with trains at Dorchester South station and Axminster station, but in the heavy summer traffic the buses often run late. Buy an Explorer ticket from the driver for longer journeys.
It interlinks in many places with the Jurassic Coast X53 bus, so that you can travel one way on the 31 and return on the X53 or vice-versa. TIMETABLE
It interlinks in many places with the Jurassic Coast X53 bus, so that you can travel one way on the 31 and return on the X53 or vice-versa. TIMETABLE
Damory bus 183 to Salisbury
Damory Coaches operate the 183 bus five times daily to Blandford and Salisbury via Dorchester. The section between Blandford and Salisbury is numbered 184.
TIMETABLE
TIMETABLE
X43 Summer only service to Lulworth & Swanage
The X43 runs during the school summer holidays. It serves Weymouth, Lulworth Cove, Wareham, Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage.
It is excellent for walkers who want to cover part of the South-West Coast Path along the Jurassic Coast. It also offers the only direct bus service from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove.
The service stops at Norden Park and Ride station, the starting point for the Swanage Railway steam-hauled trains to Corfe Castle and Swanage.
During the rest of the year you can get to Lulworth by bus from Wool station. Click for bus TIMETABLE.
It is excellent for walkers who want to cover part of the South-West Coast Path along the Jurassic Coast. It also offers the only direct bus service from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove.
The service stops at Norden Park and Ride station, the starting point for the Swanage Railway steam-hauled trains to Corfe Castle and Swanage.
During the rest of the year you can get to Lulworth by bus from Wool station. Click for bus TIMETABLE.
Train Services
There's an excellent service of electric trains twice an hour to London Waterloo and a less frequent service of diesel trains to Bath and Bristol
South-West Trains to London
South-West Trains operate an excellent electric service of two trains each hour on weekdays to Dorchester, Wareham, Poole, Bournemouth, Brockenhurst, Southampton (City and Airport), Winchester and London Waterloo. The trains are comfortable and air-conditioned. Saver fares are available to London if booked well in advance from £12 single. The fast trains leave at 3 minutes past each hour. The semi-fast trains leave at 20 minutes past the hour. These times are during the day on weekdays. If you can be flexible over travel times Megatrain tickets are available from £5 (Weymouth to London single) Book online.
First Great-Western trains to Bristol - "Heart of Wessex" line
First Great-Western operate diesel trains to Dorchester, Yeovil, Castle Cary, Westbury, Bath and Bristol. Some services are extended to Gloucester, Worcester or Great Malvern. A good ticket to buy for a day trip to both Bath and Bristol is a "Heart of Wessex" Day Ranger, currently priced at £17.50 (£11.55 for Senior Railcard holders). This enables you to hop-on and hop-off anywhere between Weymouth, Bristol & Swindon for one day. The first train this ticket is valid on is the 08.53 from Weymouth. The next is the 11.10. At weekends and on Bank Holidays you can use any train.
Special Offer to Bus Pass holders
On the Heart of Wessex rail line, if you hold an English National Bus Pass you can travel off-peak anywhere between Weymouth and Westbury with one-third discount. This is the same discount you would obtain with a Senior Railcard. This is a Government experiment until September 2013.
Click the button below to see live arrivals and departures at Weymouth railway station. Times with the letter "a" after them show arrivals. The others are departing trains. The letter "P" at the top of the column shows the platform number.
Coach Services
National Express operate long-distance express coaches from Weymouth (outside the Pavilion Theatre) to London (route 035) at 09.00, Bristol, Manchester & Blackpool at 09.50 (route 333), Oxford, Birmingham and Liverpool at 10.40 (route 304), Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton & Eastbourne at 13.35 (route 315) and Devon and Cornwall at 14.50 (route 315). These times are for weekdays and are subject to change. It's possible to travel to other destinations on these coaches by changing.
Ferry Services
Ferry to Portland and Lulworth Cove
Coastline Cruises operate a ferry service from Weymouth (Brewers Quay) to Portland Castle and Lulworth Cove. They operate two boats - "Enchantress" and "My Girl", both veterans of World War II.
The Portland ferry usually leaves Brewers Quay from April to October at 11.30 and 14.30. The journey lasts 35 minutes. The ferry returns from Portland Castle at 12.20 and 15.20.
Portland Castle was built by Henry VIII to defend Britain. It is owned by English Heritage and is open to visitors from April to October. Ferry passengers receive a discount on their admission tickets.
The Lulworth Cove ferry service usually runs from May to September. Journey time is 1.5 hours each way.
Latest sailing information on their website or phone 01305 785000.
Local boatmen also operate boat trips round the bay from the harbour steps near the Pavilion Theatre during the summer months.
The Portland ferry usually leaves Brewers Quay from April to October at 11.30 and 14.30. The journey lasts 35 minutes. The ferry returns from Portland Castle at 12.20 and 15.20.
Portland Castle was built by Henry VIII to defend Britain. It is owned by English Heritage and is open to visitors from April to October. Ferry passengers receive a discount on their admission tickets.
The Lulworth Cove ferry service usually runs from May to September. Journey time is 1.5 hours each way.
Latest sailing information on their website or phone 01305 785000.
Local boatmen also operate boat trips round the bay from the harbour steps near the Pavilion Theatre during the summer months.
Weymouth Harbour Ferry
During the summer months local boatmen operate rowing-boats across the harbour near the Pavilion Theatre. This is a novel way of getting from the town and beach to Nothe Fort, Brewers Quay and Newtons Cove. It saves a long walk up to The Town Bridge. Current fare is £1 adults and 50p for children under 12.
The service operates every few minutes until about 5.30pm, sometimes with a break for lunch.
The service operates every few minutes until about 5.30pm, sometimes with a break for lunch.
Weymouth Tower (Sea-Life Tower)
The Weymouth Tower opened in June 2012. It is 53 metres high (173 ft) and cost £3.5 million pounds to build.
It is owned and operated by Merlin Entertainments, who also operate the Weymouth Sea-Life Centre, together with the London Eye, Alton Towers and most of the major theme parks in the UK.
Passengers travel to the top in a viewing gondola which climbs slowly up the steel column and rotates slowly at the same time. From the top there are spectacular views of Weymouth, Portland Harbour and the Jurassic Coast. The gondola can hold 70 passengers and the experience lasts between 10 and 20 minutes.
It operates every day of the year, except Christmas Day. The walk-up cost is £7.20 per person, but by booking online passengers can obtain a considerable discount.
It is owned and operated by Merlin Entertainments, who also operate the Weymouth Sea-Life Centre, together with the London Eye, Alton Towers and most of the major theme parks in the UK.
Passengers travel to the top in a viewing gondola which climbs slowly up the steel column and rotates slowly at the same time. From the top there are spectacular views of Weymouth, Portland Harbour and the Jurassic Coast. The gondola can hold 70 passengers and the experience lasts between 10 and 20 minutes.
It operates every day of the year, except Christmas Day. The walk-up cost is £7.20 per person, but by booking online passengers can obtain a considerable discount.
Weymouth Land Train
The iconic land train is now operated by Merlin Entertainments (Weymouth Sea-Life Centre and the Weymouth Tower).
It runs between The Weymouth Tower (by Weymouth Pavilion) and Lodmoor Country Park (for the Sea-Life Centre, Sandworld, go-karting and the Pirate Golf)
It operates between Easter and October and costs £1.50 single.
It runs between The Weymouth Tower (by Weymouth Pavilion) and Lodmoor Country Park (for the Sea-Life Centre, Sandworld, go-karting and the Pirate Golf)
It operates between Easter and October and costs £1.50 single.
