Complete Guide to Working and Living in Weymouth
Are you thinking of living in Weymouth?
Most people who are considering a move to a new location will have some idea of what to expect when they get there.
Even a little knowledge, though helpful doesn’t give you the full picture.
If Weymouth sounds as though it might appeal to you, to be absolutely sure you are going to be able to settle here, it makes sense to visit and spend some time exploring the town.
Our Complete Guide to Living and Working in Weymouth hopefully manages to provide you with some of the most important and practical features the town offers.
Whilst we cannot cover every aspect of moving to Weymouth, we are confident that you will be much more informed about life in this wonderful part of the UK.
Is Weymouth a Nice Place to Live
Weymouth is appealing in so many ways.
It is a great value destination for property hunters and sits close to a vast amount of beautiful countryside.
The Dorset Area of Natural Beauty wraps itself around the town at its back, and the English Channel sits on three sides, to the east, south and west of the town.
Situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey, Weymouth is the third largest settlement in Dorset after Bournemouth and Poole.
The coast in this area is well known as the Jurassic Coast, boasting 185 million years of history and where you can still find fossilised shells and other marine creatures.
Being among the top three places in the UK for the highest hours of sunshine means you can make the most of the Blue Flag beaches and stunning landscape on offer.
Alongside a swathe of exciting places to visit, the town has a thriving year-round events program.
The Nyetimber Seafood Festival and Weymouth Food Festival rank highly as does the annual Quayside Music Festival.
Life is never boring when living in Weymouth.
House Prices in Weymouth
Old cottages, Weymouth. Image credit: Depositphotos
Budget, personal circumstances and age are just a few of the criteria that will determine where in the town you are looking to settle.
With an average house price of £315,466 properties in Weymouth are just a tad over the UK’s national figure of £281,684.
As the building of new homes in Weymouth took hold during the Victorian era, there are some very fine examples of properties from this period dotted throughout the town.
In fact, they are the most in-demand properties and rarely do they remain on the market for long.
Best examples can be found in the high street, along the seafront and several streets back from the esplanade area.
You can expect to pay between £200,000 and £800,000 for a Victorian terrace.
282 homes are on the town’s property portfolio ranging from first-time buyer apartments to massive, detached homes sitting on the outskirts of town.
Having such a large area of coast, you might be lucky enough to buy a home with a panoramic view of the English Channel.
If you can afford it, a four-bedroom detached house with sea views is for sale currently for offers over £500,000.
There is a huge choice of homes for sale so you are almost certain to find one you love somewhere in Weymouth.
Renting a Home in Weymouth
The trend for renting a home in the UK has risen sharply in the past three years.
Many towns have limited rental stock. In Weymouth, even with widening your search to a mile outside the town, there are still only 26 properties available to lease.
As a short-term measure, before you decide where in Weymouth you want to settle permanently, renting a home has certain benefits.
Firstly, renting means you have a chance to see if the neighbourhood you like is going to suit you.
If it doesn’t, you simply test drive somewhere else in Weymouth.
Secondly, it could save you money in the long run if you have sold your previous property.
Sellers love a quick chain free sale.
If you have cash readily available then you are in a good position to barter for a better price.
It is most definitely a case of win-win here.
But, what can you expect to pay to rent a home in the town?
Size matters and prices will increase the larger the home you choose to rent.
As a guide, you will pay as little as £495pcm for a one-bedroom flat in the centre of town.
Two-bedroom properties are available starting from £800pcm.
If you are moving with children, a home with three bedrooms minimum will likely be what you are after. In this case, you need to budget from £1100pcm up to £1600pcm.
No matter what sized rental home you are searching for, you will need to be quick as the lettings market is incredibly fast-moving in Weymouth.
Stats provided by Zoopla.
Schools and Education in Weymouth
Weymouth College of Further Education. Image Credit: Wikipedia
Having a family to consider will also affect your choice of location in Weymouth.
For convenience, you will need to live close to a school that provides your children with a good education.
Weymouth has 14 primary schools and 3 secondary schools.
With the vast majority of schools performing at least to Ofsted’s “good” level, finding a home near a reputable school will at least be made that much easier.
Primary schools achieving a “good” rating from Ofsted include Holy Trinity Church of England VC Primary & Community Nursery School, Wyke Regis Church of England Junior School and Radipole Primary School.
The three secondary schools serving the town are All Saints Church of England Academy in Wyke Regis; Budmouth Academy in Chickerell; and Wey Valley Academy in Broadwey. They have all relatively recently converted to Academies.
For those seeking a school providing specialist care, Westfield Art College caters for children between 4-19 years.
A foundation special school for children with moderate learning difficulties and associated additional needs. Ofsted rated the school as “outstanding”
School leavers can attend Budmouth Academy’s sixth form centre plus, they can choose to travel to Weymouth College in Melcombe Regis (2 miles).
Weymouth FE College educates had around 3,000 students from Southwest England and overseas.
Part of The University of Plymouth Colleges Network, the college offers a wide range of practical and academic courses in many subjects, ranging from apprenticeship courses to full and part-time university-level courses.
Travel Connections in Weymouth
Weymouth Train Station. Image credit: Wikipedia
For those who work full-time and cannot work from home, it is important to include good transport connections in your search for a new home in Weymouth.
You may have to travel to work in other towns in the region such as Poole, Wool, Beaminster or Axminster so, getting around by road or rail is a huge consideration.
Weymouth railway station is the terminus of a route to and from London Waterloo (2hrs 40min), Southampton (1hr 38min), Westbury (1hr 32min), Bournemouth (51 mins), and Poole (39 mins).
For a full timetable of services visit the Southern Western Railway’s website.
First Buses Wessex provide local bus services for the town.
A regular timetable of services run from Weymouth to the Isle of Portland, Dorchester, Poole, Wool, Beaminster, Axminster, and to other villages and the town’s holiday parks.
Easy links to Weymouth’s main roads make travel by car a viable option as well.
The main A354 runs from Weymouth to Dorchester where it splits into three routes.
The A35 goes east towards Bournemouth and Poole.
The A37 continues northwards as far as Yeovil whilst the A35 west provides a direct run to Axminster and Honiton.
The closest airport is Bournemouth International (38 miles). It provides scheduled flights to Western Europe and the Mediterranean area, with charter and seasonal services serving North Africa, North America, and the Caribbean.
Exeter Airport (52 miles) is another option and offers both scheduled and holiday charter flights within the United Kingdom and Europe.
Additionally, if you like to use a greener method of getting around, Route 26 of the National Cycle Network runs through Weymouth.
Working in Weymouth
Weymouth Harbour and Bay. Image credit: Wikipedia
For centuries Weymouth harbour was a passenger terminal and trade and cargo port: goods handled included wool and spices, and in the 20th century, fertiliser, and cars.
Weymouth Harbour is now home to a commercial fishing fleet, pleasure boats and private yachts, these could be areas where you might find work.
The largest sectors in the town are Wholesale, Retail and Repair representing as much as 17.66% of all local businesses.
Those in search of employment in Weymouth will also do well if they have any skills that may fit within the tourism industry.
Many of the town’s 53,000+ residents work within this sector.
Unsurprising when you consider that during 2019, over two-million-day trips and 469,600 longer stays, brought £209,560,000 of visitors’ money into the Weymouth and Portland area.
According to Payscale.com, the average salary in Weymouth is £25k.
There are some mid to large companies based in the region including ASM Technologies, Ultra Electronics, and ASM International.
Check out and register with Indeed, one of the most popular online employment agencies.
Indeed have over 2,400 vacancies to fill and there may be one that is just what you are looking for.
Amenities in Weymouth
Brewers Quay, Hope Square, Weymouth. Image credit: Wikipedia
You don’t want to move to a town and find that you must travel for miles to find good amenities.
That won’t happen when living in Weymouth.
You will find everything you need is close to hand.
Shopping in the town provides residents with a comprehensive retail experience, from clothing stores to the weekly food shop.
Bond Street Shopping Centre is the best place for fashionistas to hang out.
You will find big-name brands here such as JD Sports, TK Maxx, Peacocks and New Look.
The centre is complemented by a busy pedestrianised high street.
Located between the Marina, The Esplanade, and Weymouth’s very attractive seafront, you will find even more stores to browse.
These areas combine to provide a swathe of great pubs, cafes, and restaurants, ideal for a quick bite or something more substantial day or night.
You will also find the local cinema here too.
Cineworld Weymouth is a 9-screen cinema and is served by good parking facilities.
Hope Square is another excellent shopping location.
Home to a range of cafes, bars, bistros and the historic Brewers Quay building.
When you need to do food shopping, there is a good assortment of supermarkets to choose from such as Co-op, Lidl, Asda, Iceland, and a large Sainsbury’s superstore.
For further information, Expedia has the ultimate guide to shopping in Weymouth. Why not check it out?
Leisure Facilities in Weymouth
Weymouth and Portland national sailing academy, Osprey Quay, Weymouth. Image credit: Wikipedia
If you were thinking that Weymouth might not provide you with lots of things to do and see, think again.
Whether you are a keen sports person, a gym bunny or simply enjoy a leisurely cycle ride, Weymouth comes up with the goods.
Here are just a few of the places you may want to spend time keeping fit when you live in Weymouth:
- Weymouth Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre
- Osprey Leisure Centre
- Budmouth Community Sports Centre
- Active Fitness Club
- Zone Fitness
- Weymouth and Portland national sailing academy
Nearby Attractions
Weymouth Beach. Image credit: Depositphotos
Weymouth has been a coastal holiday destination for generations.
Weymouth Beach, a Blue Flag awarded stunning stretch of golden sand is three miles long.
Boasting bracing blue waters means there is always plenty of space available even at the height of the peak season.
Just steps away, the quaint, colourful quayside harbour offers gift shops, alfresco dining, crabbing, antique emporiums and award-winning fish and chips.
However, there is more to Weymouth than the seaside.
If getting out and exploring your local surroundings is more your kind of thing, you have some real treats in store.
Weymouth Sea Life and Adventure Park is packed with all types of sea life.
The under-ocean tunnel is a real favourite for all ages.
You can even book ahead and take part in feeding some of the local residents.
A great day out for all the family!
RSPB Radipole Lake and RSPB Lodmoor offer the chance to get up close and personal with the local wildlife with regular participatory events for young and old to enjoy.
A bracing walk along the Southwest Jurassic Coastal Path is a great way to spend time.
The views along the way are beautiful.
There are plenty of water holes to discover too, so there is no need to pack lunch
If you like to get about on two wheels, there are several great traffic-free paths of all lengths to explore.
No matter where your interests may lay, you can be sure that Weymouth will provide you with something to do all year round.
Doctors, and Dentists in Weymouth
Although entertainment and amenities are very important, your health is also a priority.
Weymouth can supply you with a good choice of doctors and dentists.
Depending on where you live in the town there will be a medical centre close to you.
It is even more of a priority to register with a new doctor if you take any kind of medicine that requires a prescription.
Ensuring your medical notes are transferred in a timely fashion will avoid unnecessary, potentially dangerous delays.
The Find-My-Doctor website is a handy tool, you can quickly locate which surgery is going to be closest to you.
The next step is to arrange for the transfer of your notes. It is a simple process.
All you need to do is to pop in or call your new doctor and complete a form. They can then make the necessary arrangements.
It should all be done within a few days.
The same process applies to dental services.
Weymouth has plenty of dentists dotted about the town however, it may prove a bit of a challenge to find an NHS dentist.
The best way to search for an NHS-registered surgery is by searching the Dental Choices website online.
Are you Ready to Make the Move to Weymouth?
Now that you are armed with much more information about living in Weymouth, are you ready to take the plunge and move here?
Moving home requires plenty of planning and preparation.
It is a huge challenge and will take you right out of your comfort zone so you will need some help.
Your first port of call is to enlist the services of a removal company.
Consider White and Company when moving to Weymouth.
We have been serving the Weymouth community for over 150 years, helping to move thousands of people to new locations across the UK, Europe and internationally.
We know a thing or two about removals.
Our fully trained staff, a fleet of vehicles of all sizes and experience in the removal industry is hard to beat.
Following a personal visit or virtual survey, we can supply you with a no-obligation written quotation tailor-made just for you.
Call us today.
Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.
Posted in: News
Leave a Comment (0) ↓
