Greenhill Gardens sit on the slope above the Esplanade at the north-eastern end of Weymouth, in the Greenhill suburb, about a kilometre and a half from the town centre.
They slope up from the beach and promenade, which means the whole garden faces the sea and every level has a view across Weymouth Bay.
They are free.
Terraced lawns and formal beds, immaculately maintained, with seasonal bedding that changes through the year.
A rose garden and herbaceous borders.
Sub-tropical planting — the Dorset coast is mild enough for palms and tender shrubs, and the gardens use it.
A bowling green, tennis courts and a putting green.
A children’s play area.
Shelters and benches throughout, positioned for the view.
A café with outdoor seating, well liked and reasonably priced.
The bandstand, which is where the gardens come alive in summer.
The Friends of Greenhill Gardens, a volunteer group who do a great deal of the maintenance and fundraising, run a series of free Sunday afternoon concerts through the summer.
They begin in late spring and run through the season — local bands, brass, jazz and popular music — and they are well attended by residents and by anyone who happens to be walking past.
They are genuinely free, family-friendly and one of the more agreeable ways to spend a summer afternoon in Weymouth. Dates are advertised locally and on the Friends’ website.
Greenhill is a stop on a walk rather than a destination.
The seafront promenade runs the full length of Weymouth Beach from the harbour to Lodmoor, and Greenhill is roughly two-thirds of the way along — which makes it the natural place to break the walk with a coffee and a sit-down before continuing to SEA LIFE and Lodmoor at the far end, or turning back towards the town.
The consistent description from visitors is exactly that: an excellent place to sit and enjoy a coffee, walk around, and take a break on your walk.
Free, open at all times.
Time: thirty minutes to an hour.
Location: Greenhill, on the Esplanade about 1.3 kilometres north-east of Weymouth town centre.
Facilities: café, toilets, bowling, tennis, putting, play area.
Access: the gardens are terraced with slopes and steps, but the lower levels and the café are reachable from the level promenade.
Parking: on-street on the Esplanade, charged and busy in summer.
Weymouth Beach runs the length of the seafront directly below.
SEA LIFE Weymouth and Lodmoor RSPB reserve are ten minutes further north-east.
Weymouth town centre and the harbour are twenty minutes’ walk south-west.
Lodmoor Country Park with its play areas is nearby.
Yes, free and open at all times.
Yes — the Friends of Greenhill Gardens run free Sunday afternoon concerts through the summer, advertised locally.
Yes, with outdoor seating, well liked and reasonably priced.
On the Esplanade at the Greenhill end, about 1.3 kilometres north-east of the town centre, sloping up from the beach.
The gardens are terraced with slopes and steps, but the lower levels and café are reachable from the level promenade.