Bournemouth
Discover Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a seaside resort town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. Bournemouth is known for its popularity with pensioners and has many residential care homes due to its constant and warm weather (by English terms). However, it is still possible to find vibrant nightlife and youthful activities like watersports. Bournemouth's spa magic has been revitalised and history is repeating itself. A century ago the cream of Victorian society including royalty flocked to Bournemouth's pine forest landscape of luxurious villas.
Famous Beaches
Taste of Bournemouth...
Bournemouth has many different restaurants suiting different tastes and budgets. The Old Christchurch Road at the "top" of the main shopping area has a string of low to mid-range eateries alternating with your orientated bars and clubs. There is another crop of eateries in the West Cliff area (around the International Centre), and in the Triangle, and in Westbourne. The number of takeaways in Bournemouth has also increased over the years, offering a cheap alternative to a restaurant meal. In the city centre you find the usual chain restaurants like JD Wetherspoon, Taco Bell, Greggs (bakery) and Franco Manca. At night the town comes alive with a vibrant bar and club scene. It is one of Britain's most popular clubbing locations, with many stag and hen parties held in Bournemouth. There are over 50 nightclub venues which are open every day of the week. On busy clubnights, roughly 40,000 people are out in Bournemouth. The Triangle area in Bournemouth (5 minutes walk up Commercial St from the main square) is where the gay community is concentrated with several gay-friendly clubs and pubs. Most night clubs are in and around town centre, with the exception of the O2 Academy in Boscombe. Old style pubs are at a premium in the centre with the emphasis more on trendy bars. There is an absolutely incredible number of stag and hen parties passing through the centre during the summer, but they tend to be loud rather than dangerous.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Bournemouth.
Bournemouth has a good range of shops with mainly well-known high street outlets in the centre. The Boscombe area is well known for its many antique shops and for those who are into designer, vintage, and specialist clothes, Westbourne offers a good variety of designer boutiques. For out of town shopping the massive 50.75392-1.842031 Castlepoint Shopping centre is easily accessible by public transport, although there is little else to do in the area. Bournemouth has many different restaurants suiting different tastes and budgets. The Old Christchurch Road at the "top" of the main shopping area has a string of low to mid-range eateries alternating with your orientated bars and clubs. There is another crop of eateries in the West Cliff area (around the International Centre), and in the Triangle, and in Westbourne. The number of takeaways in Bournemouth has also increased over the years, offering a cheap alternative to a restaurant meal.
Climate
Bournemouth is famous for its year-round mild and temperate climate. The warmest months are May to September which is when you may enjoy long, hot and sunny days. It can get very cold in the depths of winter though, and will sometimes reach temperatures below zero. Bournemouth's annual rainfall is well below the national average. The sun is up from 5AM to 9:15PM in the summer months, but only between 8AM and 4:15PM in the winter months. Unless travelling from the South-West of England most journeys by road will be via the M27 which turns into the dual-carriageway A31 and passes through the New Forest. At Ringwood look for the (A338) Bournemouth exit. Care is necessary when entering into Bournemouth on the Wessex Way as there are numerous speed cameras.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsUnless travelling from the South-West of England most journeys by road will be via the M27 which turns into the dual-carriageway A31 and passes through the New Forest. At Ringwood look for the (A338) Bournemouth exit. Care is necessary when entering into Bournemouth on the Wessex Way as there are numerous speed cameras. Only those with a penchant for long queues of congestion should think about arriving at mid-day/early afternoon on a warm and sunny day! It is strongly advised to either get there very early or even arrive the evening beforehand otherwise you will be sitting in traffic for a considerable length of time on the A31. CrossCountry trains from Manchester via Birmingham New Street terminate at Bournemouth and some trains arrive from other cities like Nottingham and Newcastle upon Tyne. Summer sees a wider variety of places linked directly to Bournemouth. National Express bus from London Victoria direct (approx. 2½ hours)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Bournemouth is small enough to walk around, but a local bus service operates frequently within the town centre. The station is a hike (10 or 15 minutes, uphill) from the centre, so consider transport. The main bus operator is the "blue" More buses, whose routes extend over the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area. The main stops are at the rail station and the Square. The Square is the name given to the open space where the Tourist Information office is, the main gardens are, the pier can be accessed, and the river Bourne empties (although it is not in fact particularly square). It is naturally the lowest point in central Bournemouth, so you can generally aim for it by walking downhill. The main shopping area is due inland/north from the Square. Old Christchurch Road (note the 'Old') marks the upper limit of the main shopping area. Holdenhurst Road, leading from Old Christchurch Road to the station, is a student area of late-night takeaways.
Where to Stay
There is an absolutely incredible number of stag and hen parties passing through the centre during the summer, but they tend to be loud rather than dangerous. Drunken youths tend to congregate in Old Christchurch Rd late at night. It is advisable to travel in groups very late at night due to infrequent but present knife crime and agressive panhandling. As of March 2022, Bournemouth has 4G from EE and O2, and 5G from Three and Vodafone.
Money & Budget
Bournemouth has a good range of shops with mainly well-known high street outlets in the centre. The Boscombe area is well known for its many antique shops and for those who are into designer, vintage, and specialist clothes, Westbourne offers a good variety of designer boutiques. For out of town shopping the massive 50.75392-1.842031 Castlepoint Shopping centre is easily accessible by public transport, although there is little else to do in the area. Bournemouth has many different restaurants suiting different tastes and budgets. The Old Christchurch Road at the "top" of the main shopping area has a string of low to mid-range eateries alternating with your orientated bars and clubs.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
There is an absolutely incredible number of stag and hen parties passing through the centre during the summer, but they tend to be loud rather than dangerous. Drunken youths tend to congregate in Old Christchurch Rd late at night. It is advisable to travel in groups very late at night due to infrequent but present knife crime and agressive panhandling. As of March 2022, Bournemouth has 4G from EE and O2, and 5G from Three and Vodafone.