Think you know Weston-super-Mare? From seaside quirks to celebrity secrets, here are 12 surprising facts that make this coastal town unlike anywhere else in the UK.
Weston is one of only two places in the UK with three piers
Most seaside towns are happy with one pier – Weston-super-Mare has three.
There’s the classic Grand Pier, the historic Birnbeck Pier, and the modern Revo Kitchen & Terrace (often called Revo Pier).
Birnbeck is especially unique – it’s the only pier in the UK that actually leads to an island. Meanwhile, Revo is England’s newest purpose-built pier, giving Weston a mix of old and new you don’t often see in one place.
For the record, Blackpool is the only other town with three piers.
Tell your mate: “Weston’s got three piers – and one of them goes to an island.”
A giant mural started life on a train napkin
One of Weston’s most eye-catching artworks – the giant sea life mural featuring seals and flowers – has an incredible story behind it.
Street artist Curtis Hylton first sketched the idea on the back of a napkin from the train buffet car on his way to Weston where he turned that quick doodle into a stunning huge public artwork that now brightens up the town.
Tell your mate: “That massive mural? It started as a sketch on a train napkin.”
Donkeys have ruled the beach for over 100 years
Weston’s donkey rides aren’t just nostalgic – they’re historic.
They’ve been part of the seafront experience for more than a century.
RG Mager & Sons have been providing donkey rides on Weston-super-Mare’s beach since 1886
Tell your mate: “There have been 26 different UK Prime Ministers since donkey rides first came to Weston’s beach.”
The sea doesn’t disappear – it’s just a lot more dramatic
Yes, the jokes are true – sometimes the sea really does look like it’s vanished.
That’s because the Bristol Channel has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world (second only to the Bay of Fundy).
Tell your mate: “The sea hasn’t gone – it’s just getting ready for another world-class performance.”
You could fly to Weston from Cardiff for 60 pence
Weston-super-Mare was once home to a bustling airport. You could fly from Cardiff to Weston for 12 shillings – that’s just 60 pence! The route was popular with the Welsh because weekend and Bank Holiday licensing laws were much more relaxed in England – thus helping to make Cardiff to Weston Airport one of the busiest domestic flying routes of its time.
The old Weston airport was on the site of what is now the world’s biggest helicopter museum.
Tell your mate: “This used to be one of the busiest flight routes in the UK and you could fly to Cardiff for under a quid – now it’s home to the world’s largest collection of helicopters.
A famous children’s author found inspiration in Weston
Before he wrote classics like Matilda, Roald Dahl spent part of his childhood in Weston-super-Mare – and his books drew inspiration from that time.
In 1925, aged just nine, he arrived by paddle steamer from Wales to attend St Peter’s, a boarding school in the town. His experiences there would later help shape some of the formidable (and slightly terrifying) adults in his stories – including the infamous headmistress in Matilda.
The school itself has long since closed, but you can still spot a blue plaque at 2, St Peter’s Avenue marking the site.
Tell your mate: “Some of Roald Dahl’s scariest characters were inspired by his time at school in Weston.”
A Top Gear presenter learned to drive right here on the beach
Long before Top Gear fame, TV presenter Richard Hammond had his first driving experience on Weston’s sandy beach.
As an eight year-old, while on their annual family holiday from Birmingham to visit his grandparents in Weston, he sat on his dad’s lap and steered the family car around the beach. He described it as the highlight of his year and it was something he repeated every year on his holidays to Weston as he grew up.
Tell your mate: “Richard Hammond took his first ‘driving lesson’ on this beach – not a bad place to start.”
Diana Dors came third in the Weston-super-Mare beauty pageant
Former Hollywood actress Diana Dors once came third in the Miss Venus Beauty Pageant in Weston-super-Mare.
As a child, she visited the town with her family staying for their two-week summer holiday at Meadow Villas in Burlington Street and she entered the contest as a teenager.
After hitting the big time she still visited Weston. When appearing at The Hippodrome in Bristol she insisted on travelling back to Weston at night – staying at the Grand Atlantic Hotel.
The Tropicana is currently closed for renovation.
Oasis once turned Weston seafront into an album cover
On their way to Glastonbury Festival, Britpop legends Oasis made a quick stop in Weston-super-Mare – and left with an iconic image.
The cover for Roll With It was shot right on the seafront with a few deckchairs set up in front of the Grand Pier.
A spontaneous seaside photoshoot, and one of the most recognisable bands of the 90s had their Weston moment – sitting on the beach on a red hot day wearing duffle coats and watching TV on the beach!
Tell your mate: “That Oasis cover, Roll With It? Shot right here by the Grand Pier.”
You can take on the UK’s HIGHEst indoor drop slide
If you’re feeling brave, Rock Up Weston-super-Mare is home to the tallest indoor vertical drop slide in the UK.
Climb up… take a deep breath… and then drop.
It’s part of the indoor climbing centre, so you can turn a rainy day into something a bit more adrenaline-filled.
Tell your mate: “You can basically free-fall indoors here – it’s the tallest one in the UK.”
Weston even has its own song (of course it does)
West Country favourites The Wurzels – best known for smash hits like Combine Harvester and I Am a Cider Drinker – couldn’t resist celebrating Weston-super-Mare in song.
In 1988, they released Sunny Weston-super-Mare, a cheerful tribute to the town that perfectly captures its seaside spirit.
Tell your mate: “Even The Wurzels wrote a song about Weston – you can’t get more West Country than that.” You can hear it here:
One of the first operational trials of passenger hovercrafts took place in Weston
One of the first trials using hovercrafts for passenger travel took place in Weston-super-Mare
In 1963, the beach was used for an experimental test service between Weston and Penarth in South Wales, taking advantage of the wide, shallow sands and extreme tidal range.
Hovercraft are still used on the beach today by the RNLI.
Tell your mate: “Weston’s beach helped bring passenger hovercraft travel to the people.”
