Bournemouth

The busy seaside town of Bournemouth, which is a short journey away from the New Forest National Park, was developed as a Victorian resort and still retains a lot of its original character.  The town has a pier, walks, gardens and seven miles of sandy beaches.

Heritage

Genteel Bournemouth attracted the cream of Victorian society, and was described by Thomas Hardy as ‘a Mediterranean lounging place on the English Channel’. The aroma and perfume of the pine trees was considered health-giving and sea-bathing became fashionable.

Today the pine trees still exist and Bournemouth is renowned for its many public gardens. You can take a 1.5 mile walk from the seafront through the famous Upper, Central and Lower Gardens, which still have much of their Victorian charm and are Listed Grade II.  

Entertainment and Culture

Bournemouth is one of the most popular clubbing venues on the south coast. There are also several cinemas and theatres offering a wide choice of films, shows and concerts.

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum is home to varied art exhibitions and fascinating collections of artefacts.

A popular open air art exhibition is held in the Pine Walk in Bournemouth Gardens throughout the summer.

Shopping

Bournemouth offers all the shops, hotels, clubs and facilities that you could wish for in a major town. Many retail outlets ranging from the larger high street stores to small, exclusive boutiques are located in and around the pedestrianised town centre.

For more information, contact:

Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre
Westover Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH1 2BU
Tel: 0845 051 1700

Email: info@bournemouth.gov.uk