There’s a heatwave coming. Brummies are in need of a beach trip. Where’s the first place you think of? It could only ever be Weston-super-Mare. While a two-hour drive from Birmingham, this traditional seaside town has become our go-to summer destination as it’s probably the quickest way to see the sea during a heatwave.
With the temperature in Birmingham hitting above 25°C this weekend, everyone is going to be cooling off with a road trip to the coastal Somerset town via the M5. Known for its golden, miles-long sandy beach and iconic Grand Pier, complete with its traditional amusements, Weston-super-Mare is the ultimate beach town.
What’s there to do in Weston-super-Mare?
If all you want to do is set up the deck chair and wind break and cook in the sunshine all day long, then go ahead, stretching for two miles, Weston-super-Mare boasts plenty of sandy shores to do just that—complete with cute, iconic donkeys. And if you fancy a dip, then there’s even the Marine Lake where the tide is always in!
Elsewhere, the legendary Grand Pier, which stretches 400 metres out to sea, is home to hundreds of rides, attractions and arcade games—from an indoor go-kart track to a house of horrors, a mini golf course, and a dinosaur-themed soft play area. Home to all your seaside cravings too, like ice cream or fish ‘n’ chips, it’s also the place to refuel.
But while most visitors to Weston-super-Mare already know about its beach and pier, there are plenty of surprises to be found on the coast. Like, did you know it’s become a bit of a graffiti hotspot in recent years thanks to its annual street art festival, Weston Wallz? Take a stroll around the town to soak up the open-air gallery of artwork.
It’s also home to the world’s largest helicopter museum, the West Country’s answer to carnival, and the “maddest and baddest” beach motocross race. If walking’s more your thing, then take a stroll to Brean Down, where the three-mile trail boasts stunning views from across Somerset to the islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm.
But whether you’re after an adrenaline-fuelled weekend full of watersports or just a day sunbathing on a beach so you can drive back to Birmingham looking like a happy tomato, Weston-super-Mare is the perfect place for a heatwave—but it’s worth the trip just to see Banksy’s legendary Pinwheel…
