WEYMOUTH Beach has been named as one of the best beaches in the UK according to The Sunday Times annual guide.

The guide, published in print today, is the definitive and most comprehensive list of Britain’s 50 best beaches - with Weymouth Beach and West Bay Beach making the cut.

READ MORE: Weymouth Beach makes Tripadvisor's top 25 beaches across Europe

Weymouth Beach and West Bay were the only tourist hotspots picked across Dorset, and are two of eight beaches chosen across the whole of the south west region, according to the guide.

The regional winner for the southwest is Perranporth in Cornwall.

Chris Haslam, the paper's chief travel writer, chose the top 50 out of more than 800 beaches he visited around the UK’s coast.

Mr Haslam said: "This has been the 15th circumnavigation of the British coast for me, and the second for my Jack Russell assistant Dave T. Dog.

"Over eight weeks we've seen sunrises and sunsets, sand and shingle, surfed with dolphins and kayaked with seals.

"We've navigated canyon-like lanes to empty coves, queued to get onto urban hotspots, and, in one case, swam through a tunnel to reach an otherwise inaccessible bay."

Councillor Ann Weaving, Mayor of Weymouth, said: "As the summer season is in full swing, it’s fantastic to learn that Weymouth Beach has been named as one of the 50 best beaches in Britain in The Sunday Times' guide.

"It was one of only two beaches in Dorset to make the cut, according to the guide, which is great news for the town which continues to be a go-to destination for a wide range of holidaymakers."

Mr Haslam added: "This is the most comprehensive and detailed beach guide available and it proves that, when the sun is shining, our beaches are the most beautiful on earth."

The guide highlights the world-beating magnificence of the British seaside, and gives readers a description of the scenery and setting, as well as all the practical information needed to plan a beach day, including car parking, toilets, refreshments, shops and accommodation.

Earlier this year, Weymouth Beach was also named as one of the best beaches in Europe.

New rankings from travel website Tripadvisor has placed Weymouth Beach 19th on the list for the top 25 beaches across the continent - beating spots in Crete, Italy and France.

It comes as Tripadvisor, which is the world's largest travel site, has released its annual Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2022, the Best of the Best Beaches in Europe.

North East and overall winner: Sandhaven, South Shields

Scotland: Big Sand, Highland

East: Old Hunstanton, Norfolk

South West: Perranporth, Cornwall

South East: Dymchurch, Kent

Wales: Three Cliff Bay, Gower