Bournemouth Hotels, seaside holidays, tourist attractions

Bournemouth seaside boasts seven miles of gently shelving sands running from Hengistbury Head in the east to Alum Chine in the west and continuing on past the border with Poole. We are proud to hold "Blue Flag" Awards signifying safe, clean holiday beaches.

Paragliding, jet skis, banana rides, powerboats pedaloes and boat cruises are some of the fun activities available from Bournemouth's beautiful holiday beaches, which are all are safely monitored. Dogs are not allowed on the beaches during the summer months, ensuring a safe environment for all.

Shopping

Bournemouth town centre boasts a wide range of shops, with additional shopping precincts at Boscombe, Westbourne and Southbourne, plus the adjacent market town just across the river at Christchurch, and the Dolphin Centre at Poole.

Entertainment

A wealth of entertainment is to be found in Bournemouth including:

• Bournemouth International Centre, featuring shows and exhibitions
• Pavilion Theatre and Ballroom
• Pier Theatre and Show Bar
• Cinemas including Imax
• Night clubs and numerous restaurants
• Ten-Pin Bowling, Quasar and Sega World
• Soft Play centres for children in both Bournemouth and Boscombe.

Museums

Several museums are in the immediate area:

• Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum
• Shelley Rooms, Boscombe - dedicated to the famous Poet
• Waterfront Museum and Scaplens Court on Poole Waterfront

Sports

• Bowling is available on the many renowned greens in and around Bournemouth
• 2 Municipal Golf Courses locally and 12 other courses within twelve miles
• Course fishing on the Stour and Avon rivers; sea fishing from the Piers or on-board boats
• Tennis at local Municipal Courts and the Bournemouth Tennis Centre
• Swimming is a fun event at the Littledown Centre or 2Riversmeet Leisure Centre at Christchurch
• Skiing on the Christchurch dry slope

Out and About

• Poole - an old seafaring town, important in Roman times, with a working quay and Europe's largest natural harbour. Poole Park has a miniature steam railway, children's indoor play area and boating lake. Museums, boat trips to Brownsea Island,Compton Acres, Purbeck Pottery.
  
  
• Christchurch - 11th century Priory, ruins of Norman Keep, Museums, Alice in Wonderland Maze
  
  
• New Forest National Park - the largest area of open heath and woodland in England. The New Forest Museum and Visitor Centre in Lyndhurst provides information and a display. Exbury Gardens, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, 19th Century maritime village of Bucklers Hard, Burley
  
  
• Isle of Purbeck - Wareham, Durlston Country Park, Corfe Castle, Bovington Tank Museum, Arne Toy Museum, Monkey World
  
  
• Swanage - Steam Railway, Putlake Farm
  

Wessex and the Wider Area

Dorset, West Hampshire and South Wiltshire have a wealth of interesting places just waiting to be explored and suitable for all the family. Some of these attractions are illustrated here, though there are plenty more of course, and if you are prepared to travel beyond, say, an hour by road, you can reach many more:

The Concorde aircraft display at Yeovilton Air Museum and all the delights of Somerset, the historic dockyard at Portsmouth where you may board the Victory and the Warrior, or see the world famous Mary Rose Exhibition. By sea you may conveniently take a day out to sample the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

Ideal Base for Sightseeing

Bournemouth is the ideal base for short trips to see the attractions of Poole Quay and historic Christchurch with its Castle ruins and Norman Priory; Corfe Castle and Swanage (linked by restored steam railway) in the Purbecks; the ancient New Forest, now a National Park, and Beaulieu where the National Motor Museum is located. Local coach companies offer a wide itinerary and much of the locality can be enjoyed from open-top buses.

For holidaymakers interested in exploring a little further - Salisbury Cathedral with Britain's tallest spire, world famous prehistoric Stonehenge, and Weymouth are each about an hour's drive; the historic Roman Baths at Bath about an hour and three quarters; the Isle of Wight is a very pleasant short car ferry trip from Lymington Harbour; and the Channel Islands are an exciting day excursion via Poole.

Bournemouth is great for a dash up to London too!