Summary
Situated on the South Coast of England, Bournemouth is an elegant Victorian seaside resort that exudes a refined atmosphere.
This reputation is largely attributable to its numerous gardens, which feature sub-tropical plants such as palms and ferns that flourish in the town’s warmer microclimate.
Bournemouth boasts some of the warmest sea temperatures in England, comprising seven miles of coastline that includes four Blue Flag beaches, recognized as among the finest in the nation.
The beaches are bordered by verdant cliffs, with funicular railways from Bournemouth’s Victorian era providing access down to the sandy shores.
In several locations, the cliffs are interrupted by a ravine, referred to on the South Coast as a ‘chine,’ often enhanced with gardens.
Let us explore the top attractions in Bournemouth:
1. Bournemouth Beach
The quintessential centerpiece throughout the year, Bournemouth Beach is frequently hailed as the best in the country.
The term “Bournemouth Beach” is often used to refer to all seven miles of the town’s coastline, but it primarily describes the central area near the pier and Lower Gardens.
This segment boasts a broad expanse of golden sand, alongside the Undercliff Promenade, which features cafes, ice cream shops, and charming wooden beach huts adorned with colorful doors.
Paths meander down the cliffs, or you may utilize one of the three Victorian funiculars from the street above.
Along Bournemouth Beach, there are facilities to rent windbreaks, deck chairs, and parasols, while younger visitors will enjoy the Land Train, which provides transport to some of the more tranquil neighboring beaches.
2. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum
Perched atop the East Cliff, this exquisite Art Nouveau villa was constructed at the turn of the 20th century for Merton Russell-Cotes, the proprietor of the Royal Bath Hotel.
The villa was a present for his wife, Annie, filled with fascinating artifacts collected during their travels to destinations such as New Zealand, Australia, Russia, and Japan.
Visitors can admire the stunning Art Nouveau interiors, illuminated by stained glass skylights and a magnificent bay window in the conservatory.
Additionally, the collection of Japanese ceramics is well-regarded, and pre-Raphaelite paintings along with memorabilia related to Victorian stage actor Henry Irving can be found in the room where he stayed during his visit.
The venue hosts temporary art exhibitions, special “drop-in” tours, lectures, and “Board Game Fridays” in the Cafe Gallery throughout the year.
3. Lower Gardens
This splendid park serves as a hub for intersecting pathways.
The Lower Gardens, nestled at the end of a three-kilometer stretch of green spaces that follow the course of the Bourne, is a mere five-minute walk from the beach and pier, as well as from Bournemouth’s main shopping area.
During the summer, visitors can relax in the shade of towering cedars and pines, amidst attractions such as a crazy golf course, an aviary, the Pinewalk Bandstand, and an outdoor art exhibition.
At the end of August, the park hosts the Candlelight Nights, a century-old tradition where thousands of tea lights are arranged in creative patterns.
In December, the Lower Gardens become the site for Bournemouth’s ice rink.
4. Westbourne
Located a 15-minute walk from Bournemouth town center, Westbourne is an upscale shopping and dining district, often referred to as “The Village.” During the summer months, visitors will notice the abundance of outdoor seating at cafes, restaurants, and bars, contributing to Westbourne’s European atmosphere.
Poole Road and Seamoor Road feature a stunning Victorian shopping arcade, characterized by its metal and glass canopy and a facade of alternating brick and white limestone.
Similar to its surroundings, the arcade houses design shops, a variety of boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and specialty food stores.
Additionally, it is home to the smallest cinema in the UK, the “Bournemouth Colosseum,” which accommodates only 19 patrons.
5. Hengistbury Head Beach
Located six miles east of Bournemouth town center, Hengistbury Head is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
This promontory commands views over the English Channel and has been inhabited by humans since the Upper Palaeolithic era.
If you do not have access to a vehicle, it can be reached via the Land Train or by cycling along the promenade.
A continuous beach extends to the west and north of the headland, bordered solely by a nature reserve and the waters of Christchurch Harbour.
The southern beach is a mix of pebbles and sand, while to the north on the Mudeford Sandbank, soft golden sands stretch across a sequence of bays separated by groynes.
6. Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre
In 2013, a new sustainable visitor centre was inaugurated within the nature reserve adjacent to Hengistbury Head.
This thatched building features interactive exhibitions focusing on the area’s geology, ecology, and archaeology, alongside knowledgeable staff ready to provide comprehensive information about Hengistbury Head.
Information boards detail various species inhabiting the freshwater of Christchurch Harbour as well as the saltwater of the Channel. Additionally, live footage of nesting boxes in the Site of Special Scientific Interest is available on screens.
Historical insights spanning 14,000 years of human existence in the area can also be explored, along with artifacts from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
7. Oceanarium
This aquarium on Bournemouth’s seafront replicates ten different marine and riverine habitats from around the globe.
Among these are the Great Barrier Reef, The Mediterranean, Key West, and the Amazon, each housing its respective native species such as clownfish, piranhas, green sea turtles, stingrays, pufferfish, dwarf crocodiles, otters, and zebra sharks.
A recent addition to the Oceanarium is the Humboldt penguins, residing in a well-designed beach environment that allows observation above and below the water.
A children’s “Playzone” is available, in addition to a schedule of feeding times throughout the day.
8. West Cliff Lift
A practical and long-standing mode of transport to the beach and promenade, the West Cliff Lift is a funicular railway that has been operating since 1908, accommodating 12 passengers at a time. It is one of three funiculars in the town, all operational during the summer months.
This particular lift has the steepest grade, spanning a 44-meter line with a gradient of 70%. In the 1960s, the vintage wooden cars were replaced by modern aluminum cabins when the line was electrified, offering pleasing views of the pier to the east.
9. Bournemouth Pier
Serving as a central landmark in Bournemouth for nearly 140 years, the 305-meter Bournemouth Pier (built in 1880) remains a focal point during the summer months.
During this season, a nominal fee is required for entry, while visits in winter do not incur any charge.
Regardless of the time of year, a stroll along the pier offers a splendid vantage point to survey Bournemouth’s seven miles of shoreline, as well as views over the Solent, the Isle of Wight, and the Purbeck Hills to the west.
In summer, the pier features all the trademark attractions of a traditional English seaside, including games, an arcade at the landward end, and concession stands.
The pier’s former theatre closed in 2014 and is now transformed into an indoor play facility for children, while older kids and adults can enjoy the Pier Zip, a zip-line that transports riders over the waves to the shore from a tower on the pier.
10. Boscombe Chine Gardens
Located just behind Boscombe Pier, these charming Victorian chine gardens have undergone significant regeneration since the 2000s.
Previously overgrown and associated with unsavory behavior, the gardens have been revitalized through selective clearing and replanting, all while preserving some of the original Victorian features.
These gardens feature two spa shelters and a lodge, surrounded by vibrant flowerbeds.
Children can enjoy the water play area, and families can partake in a mini-golf round, available during the summer months.
Adjacent to the mini-golf area and tennis courts, visitors will find the Clock Cafe, ideal for refreshments such as tea or coffee.
11. Alum Chine Beach
Situated to the west of Bournemouth and removed from the more lively pier area, Alum Chine Beach offers a serene environment for a tranquil summer afternoon.
This Blue Flag beach features a typical combination of sand and shingle, and its location attracts primarily locals and those with holiday homes in Branksome and Canford Cliffs.
Families can travel to the beach via the Land Train, which runs along the promenade from Bournemouth Pier.
A “KidZone” exists at Alum Chine Beach to assist in reuniting lost children with their parents, alongside an adventure playground, ice cream vendors, and nearby pubs.
The beach derives its name from Alum Chine, the largest chine in Bournemouth, situated nearby, with a Tropical Garden benefiting from Bournemouth’s microclimate.
12. Central and Upper Gardens
Less bustling than the Lower Gardens, the Central and Upper Gardens offer a tranquil retreat that traces the course of the Bourne River from the town center to a small pond known as the Coy Pond.
Along the river, visitors can follow a paved pathway leading to the Poole suburb of Branksome, with the option to return on foot or by taking the train for a single stop back to Bournemouth.
The Central Gardens are meticulously landscaped, featuring heather beds, rose borders, a rhododendron walk, and a pergola established in 1990 to commemorate the centenary of the Borough of Bournemouth.
Conversely, the Upper Gardens present a more natural aesthetic, showcasing a series of quaint red bridges over the Bourne.
13. Shelley Theatre
This 160-seat theater, named after Mary Shelley—author of Frankenstein and spouse of the eminent Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley—was originally constructed as an attachment to Boscombe Manor, the Shelley family residence from 1851, now the site of a medical center.
Though Mary Shelley passed away shortly after the theater’s inception, her son and his wife, Lady Jane, later developed the larger venue that opened in 1870. In her later years, ailing Lady Jane Shelley would watch performances through a shutter in her bedroom, now repurposed as the theater’s projection room.
14. St Peter’s Church
This graceful Gothic Revival church, featuring a 62-meter spire, serves as a significant landmark for Bournemouth.
Designed by George Edmund Street, renowned for the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the church incorporates contributions from notable Victorian architects in its interior.
The chancel is particularly opulent, embellished with frescoes and stained glass by the esteemed Clayton and Bell workshop.
This church also contains the Shelley family vault and serves as the burial site for Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and their son, Sir Percy Florence Shelley.
Mary was originally interred at St Pancras alongside her distinguished parents, Mary Wollstonecraft (a noted feminist) and William Godwin (a political theorist), but was later relocated here by her son.
Percy Shelley met an untimely demise in a shipwreck in Sardinia in 1822.
15. A.F.C. Bournemouth
A remarkable sporting narrative has unfolded in Bournemouth throughout the 2010s.
The local football club, A.F.C. Bournemouth, which has predominantly played in the third tier of English football throughout its 108-year history, ascended from League Two (fourth tier) to the Premier League (top tier) in a remarkable span of merely six years.
The Cherries compete at Dean Court, which has a capacity of 11,360, recognized as the smallest stadium in the Premier League, yet known for its vibrant atmosphere, possibly due to its fans’ disbelief in their fortunate circumstances.
The club does not own this stadium, having sold it during a financial crisis in 2005, and is actively pursuing plans to establish a new stadium.
The Premier League season runs from August to May, with Bournemouth hosting a home game approximately every two weeks.
