How bad is Western-Super-Mare?

[ohdaisydaisy]

I used to go when I was very little but that was over 50 years ago now!

We are looking at holiday cottages and have seen a lovely one but the nearest seaside is Western. We will do other things in Somerset but the kids (teens) will want at least one day at the seaside. One loves the sand and the other loves arcades.

However I've been told Western is (now?) a complete dump, stinks of cannabis and is rife with crime.

I think the kids will like it and it would be nostalgic for me (although I do have an irrational fear of sinking sand and I've heard this is a thing there!)

Anyone have any recent experience of W-S-M?

It’s a bit shit. I love the beach, but I’d absolutely drive a good distance for a nice beach and not just be stuck there. You might try Brean or if it’s swimming/water sports you want, Clevedon marine lake. My only real association with Weston-super-mare is that it’s where dh’s dad used to get sent rehab in the 90s. I’m not sure the scene is much improved now. It may still be worth a day trip, but only if you can do it with a good dose of irony.

Thanks for the honest reply @mindutopia Does Brean have a sandy beach and arcades?

Many a West Country child met with a vast expanse of mud as their first experience of ‘the seaside’ at Weston - that and donkeys, greasy chips on the pier, general shabbiness. Not been there in over 50 years myself.

It's grim.
It's a shame as a lot of money has been spent on the pier. I can't say it's nice but it's a bit of fun for kids.
The beach is t the best and the town quite rough.

Where is the holiday cottage? Charmouth/Lyme Regis or North Devon might be reachable more easily for a sandy beach day. But Weston beach is OK.

Plenty of other fun things to do round Weston too. Cheddar gorge is fun. Sand point north of weston is absolutely beautiful for a walk.

We went for the day a couple of years ago. It was by far the worst place I have been, and I live 30mins from Clacton!

It’s quite muddy.

It's pretty awful

It's a seaside town. Good arcades and sand. Lots of things to do locally.
But you can not swim or paddle in the sea. The Bristol Channel is grim, you'd have to drive for 1.5 hr to find sea.

We live 20 minutes up the 'coast'.

I had the unfortunate experience of living there for a couple of years as a teenager (moved into my mother's boyfriend's house). It is an absolute shit hole. West Somerset is lovely for a holiday eg. Minehead (has sandy beach & arcades) can visit dunster, blue anchor, & there is the steam railway, Butlins etc.
Why anyone would go to W-s-M through choice is beyond me!

The beach & sand is good for sandcastles & walking. Marine Lake is a small beach & swimming area even when the tide is out. Some nice cafés along the seafront. Arcades are OK, town is a bit run down. Uphill end is good for a walk & views as is the other end (Sand Point). Brean leisure Park is a drive & good for kids. It's not far to drive to Cheddar, Wells & maybe the clifton suspension bridge in Bristol (great views & clifton village is lovely). It is a bit run down but also has it's own charm in my opinion & holidays are what we make them. Enjoy 😉

It’s not a decent beach holiday. If you want to do Somerset it’s better to get a cottage in the middle of the countryside which is beautiful and you can do day trips to places like Cheddar Gorge / Wookey Hole. Also the Somerset Steam Railway is a fun day out. You could pop over to Bristol and see the S S Great Britain - but park and ride to the centre. Also the Bristol Zoo project is on the outskirts by the M5 and fun. You could pop over to Bath that’s a lovely day eg to see the Roman Baths and walk around. Tyntrsfield is also good - National Trust and Montecute House. Wells Bishop Palace is interesting. Also several farm kiddy places eg Puxton Park

It's nor really by the sea. Its by a river. Its mud. Weston super mud.

Go elsewhere. Wales is nice

Exmouth/dawlish?

Echo what everyone else says - WSM isn't really a destination for those who live this way.
When we want a beach day we'd go to North Devon (Saunton, Croyde, Woolacombe); or Dorset (Lyme, Charmouth, Beer, Branscombe etc).
Exmouth is ok but lots of sewage on the beach atm
What else are you wanting to do on your holiday? Might be able to point you to a better base than WSM.

Sandy beach, caravan park, no arcades.

😂 How is Clacton these days? We used to go there when I was a kid. Either there or Southend. Haven't been for donkey's years.

It’s not great. It’s basically the banks of the Bristol Channel and half the time the waters so far out you can’t even see it. The beach is muddy rather than sandy. The town is not pretty. I would try and find somewhere else no matter how nice the cottage was.

Weston-super-Mare (not Western!).

Apart from the amusement arcade on the pier there's not enough to keep you entertained.
Brean isn't much better. The local Pontins is being used as accommodation for workers at the Hinkley Point power station.

Quite alot of money has been spent on the pier and tidying up, but sadly many (most) of the people that live there are pretty awful.

Do this!

I grew up in North Somerset and the country is lovely but the coast is mud and disappointing. Just enjoy what is good!

I think you have to drive several hours down towards exmoor / Dorset for good sea side.

WSM was a dump 40 years ago and we called it Weston super mud. there’s a reason Banksy chose it for his ironic depressing art exhibition.

It’s proper grim….even when the sun shines

Avoid, it's awful and quite racist area.

Please can you link the holiday house?

It's OK for an hour to go on pier and walk on the beach (mud) but as others have said its not great. The sea is never in and it's a really tacky place. The town centre is not any better either