Durdle Door is arguably Dorset's most iconic landmark with hundreds of thousands of visitors going out to see its unique limestone arch each year.

It was created when the sea pierced through the Portland limestone around 10,000 years ago and has created a tourist hotspot with its surrounding beaches and bays.

Understandably it gets incredibly busy during the summer months, which brings up a few complaints in visitors.

Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door as a whole is well-received, having earned a 4.5/5 score on Tripadvisor from 4,273 reviews.

Bournemouth Echo: Durdle Door is often listed among the UK's best beachesDurdle Door is often listed among the UK's best beaches (Image: Tom Lawrence/Newsquest)

However, not everyone shares the overall sentiment with plenty of similar criticisms having been aimed at it over the years.

Tourists bemoan Durdle Door in reviews

A lot of complaints relating to Durdle Door were about parking costs, with one person comparing it to highway robbery.

They titled their review: "At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask!"

Many others made points about how crowded the beach areas were, with one saying it was like "pretending to be a sardine".

They added: "The area is absolutely heaving, Imagine the pyramid stage at glastonbury, but pre-crowd control era, and then everyone from all the other stages stampede there too..."

Some people got creative with their comparisons, with the packed nature of the beach being used for several intriguing metaphors.

One wrote: "I would avoid going to Durdle Door unless it’s off-season or early hours. This is a beautiful place but is best viewed in pictures without the crowds. It is like going Christmas shopping."

Sadly for some their experiences with the toilets were not always pleasant, as one person expressed in their Tripadvisor review.

They wrote: "The toilet facilities are disgusting; some of the worst I’ve ever seen and they were clearly not cleaned for days, with old roof leaks, stains and puddles of urine on the floor and there’s some pretty poor snack bars selling over priced rolls and drinks if your [sic] desperate."

Recommended reading:

Meanwhile, another shared: "If you like nature, space tranquility [sic] do NOT visit. Completely overrun by tourists. Similar to Disney Land."

Some were just unimpressed as a whole with the place, with one person dryly describing it as "just a pebble beach with no toilets and drinking water available".

Another expressed similar sentiments, writing: "Lulworth Cove looks beautiful from the air, but from the 'beach' it's just two uninteresting stretches of cliff that curve around - no grand vistas, just a geological curiosity."