Looking for UK holiday recommendations please!

[GraceUnderPresure]

Looking at Dorset / Somerset, possibly Devon. We're after a sandy beach with arcades, cafes, pubs, snack bars on the beach + good water cleanliness. Stuff to do in the evening for young teens + not clubby / stag do type places!
Not a caravan type park, just looking for what towns / villages to search for self catering accommodation.
Where would you recommend?
Thanks!

Weymouth or Swanage. Both are lovely.

We liked Lyme Regis, the fossiling up the coast at Charmouth is good and the teen had fun on the beach (some crabbing and rocks to scramble).

Town has lots of little shops and places to eat; not huge but lots of characters. I’m not sure about the evening entertainment for teens though… what kind of thing are you looking for?

@GraceUnderPresure

Weymouth!

(Plus you can take the scenic open top bus or drive to Portland Bill lighthouse, to West Bay/Bridport or to Swanage (stopping at Lulworth Cove, Wareham and villages- although it takes 2 hours!)

Weymouth also has the harbour with many pubs, cafes and restaurants in addition to those on the Esplanade. They might want to have a go at crabbing?

Your teens may enjoy a fast boat ride on a rib to Durdle Door - it’s great fun! (They did fast donuts 🍩 when we went on it!)

They might also enjoy Bowleaze Cove which has open air movies/sports on a big screen, adjacent to a snack bar (hot dogs/burgers/pizzas) and indoor restaurant for meals, arcade, air hockey etc (it’s open to all but part of the Waterside holiday company).

Also just on the causeway to Portland is Billy Winters which is a cool beachside diner, sometimes with a band playing and you can paddle board there.

(There is also a fabulous new Malaysian restaurant with very reasonable prices called Malaya Lah in the Carlton Hotel on the Esplanade with sea views. The White Pepper restaurant is very good too: coastal Keralan Indian cuisine).

I’ve never been there but friends highly recommend the Tank Museum at Bovington which is interactive.

I can’t help regarding accommodation but there is a Dorset agency for holiday cottages in the county:

www.dream-cottages.co.uk and probably other agencies such as Sykes.

Swanage is also a lovely place but smaller so not so much to do for young teens.

I would also recommend staying in Weymouth (Dorset) for sandy beach, arcades, plus pubs and restaurants for teens in the evening.

Swanage is lovely, has a few arcades and some lovely cafes and restaurants and we've stayed lots of times, but i wouldn't say there's much for teens to do specifically.

There's boat trips, paddle board hire and rock climbing all along that part of the Dorset coast ...