Christchurch

Just a short journey to the west of the National Park is the small coastal town of Christchurch.

Heritage

Although small, Christchurch has a lot to offer: two rivers, two castles, an 11th century Priory Church, a mill of Saxon origin, a Medieval bridge and the site of a civil war siege in 1645.

Its most famous landmark is the Priory Church, acknowledged as one of the finest churches in the country. The Priory Quarter is the oldest part of the town and is also home to the Red House Museum, which was built as a workhouse in 1764 and now tells the story of the town’s rich history.

If you wander along the riverside Convent Walk, you will pass Place Mill, which dates from Saxon times and was mentioned in the Domesday Book. You will also see the ruins of Christchurch Castle, which was built around 1100 and was the centre of a siege during the Civil War.

Highcliffe Castle is a grade 1 listed mansion house in an attractive clifftop setting in the nearby village of Highcliffe. It has a heritage centre featuring exhibitions about the castle’s intriguing history.

Entertainment and Culture

There are music concerts, weekly lunchtime recitals and floral and craft festivals throughout the year at the Priory Church. The Regent Centre in the High Street is home to a variety of films, shows and exhibitions.

Christchurch hosts a number of arts festivals and events throughout the year, as well as food and wine festivals and the annual regatta and carnival. A popular market is held every Monday in the High Street.

Highcliffe Castle offers an extensive programme of art and craft exhibitions, concerts, shows, workshops and talks.

Beaches

Predominantly sandy beaches which extend for four miles across Christchurch Bay, from Highcliffe Beach in the east to Avon Beach in the west, are very popular with visitors.

For more information contact:

Christchurch Information Centre
49 High Street
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 1AS.

Telephone 01202 471780
E-mail: enquiries@christchurchtourism.info