A weekend in Bournemouth

Enjoy a seaside escape to this South Coast favourite

Bournemouth Beach

Blessed with a mild climate and seven miles of famous golden sands, Bournemouth is seaside town that’s popular for good reason.

From its traditional pier and palm-tree-lined parks to a bustling town centre and vibrant food-and-drink scene – this town on the south coast has it all. Here are our rated recommendations for your Bournemouth Weekend Escape.

Things to do in Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s town centre is shaped around the Lower, Centre and Upper Gardens. This long, leafy park around the flowing Bourne is home to magnificent island flowerbeds, an aviary and plenty of kiosks and cafés. With so much to do, it’s easy to spend an afternoon here exploring everything on offer.

If you’re looking to hit the shops, you’ll find the main shopping streets around Bournemouth Square. The town boomed towards the end of the 19th century, which a wander through the streets will attest to – most of the buildings are Victorian, interspersed with some later art deco. Head to the largely pedestrianised Old Christchurch Road to find the town’s arcades – the most appealing of these is the glazed 1866 Victorian Arcade, which houses several popular outlets.

Oceanarium

The lower end of the park runs past the Pavilion Theatre to Bournemouth’s famous seafront, with the pier just ahead. Complete with striped deck chairs, arcades and spectacular views out to sea, no trip would be complete without enjoying a stroll along the town’s famous landmark. On your way back, look out for the twin domes near the pier’s entrance, which mark Bournemouth’s Oceanarium. With 12 naturally themed environments to explore, prepare to be awestruck by rare green sea turtles, magnificent sharks and more.

It’s not just Bournemouth itself that’s gloriously picturesque. The hop-on-hop-off City Sightseeing bus will take you on a loop to Poole Quay via Sandbanks and Poole Harbour, all accompanied with interesting and entertaining commentary. Once back in Bournemouth, don your walking boots and venture out east to see the spectacular scenery of Hengistbury Head.