The Bournemouth Guide

Bournemouth · Dorset · England

Seven miles of sand. One complete guide.

Beaches, attractions, restaurants, events and places to stay in Bournemouth written with local knowledge and updated all year.

Open the map Explore Bournemouth
–°CLive weather in Bournemouth
7 milesof continuous sandy beach along Poole Bay
~2 hrsby direct train from London Waterloo
1810the year Bournemouth was founded
–°Ccurrent sea temperature

About Bournemouth

What is Bournemouth?

Bournemouth is a coastal resort town in Dorset, on the south coast of England, best known for seven miles of sandy beach, its Victorian pier and gardens, and one of the mildest climates in the country.

Founded in 1810 as a health retreat, the town grew into one of the UK’s most visited seaside destinations. Today it pairs a classic beach holiday pier, promenade, beach huts, gently shelving sand with a modern food scene, a full events calendar and easy access to the Jurassic Coast, the New Forest and Poole Harbour.

Interactive Map

Bournemouth on the map

Every beach, attraction and neighbourhood in this guide, plotted along the bay. Filter by type and tap a pin for details.

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Things to do in Bournemouth

Six ways into the guide pick a thread and follow it.

Beaches

Seven miles of sand across five beaches, west to east.

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Things to Do

Attractions, activities, gardens and days out.

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Food & Drink

Seafront dining, independents and afternoon tea.

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What's On

Festivals, sport and live events all year.

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Where to Stay

Seafront hotels, B&Bs, apartments and holiday parks.

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Boscombe, Westbourne, Southbourne, Poole & beyond.

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Don't Miss

Top attractions in Bournemouth

Boscombe Pier stretching into Poole Bay

01 Boscombe Pier

Pier

Boscombe's restored Victorian pier at the heart of the town's surf and watersports scene.
Bournemouth Pier and the Pier Theatre seen from the beach

02 Bournemouth Pier

Victorian pier

Bournemouth's landmark Victorian pier, first opened in 1880 amusements, a theatre, cafés and a zip line to the beach.
The Lower Gardens promenade in Bournemouth on a summer day

03 Bournemouth Lower Gardens

Victorian gardens

Landscaped Victorian gardens running from the town centre to the pier, with mini-golf, an aviary and summer bandstand music.
Hengistbury Head headland near Bournemouth

04 Hengistbury Head

Nature reserve

A headland nature reserve with coastal trails, Iron Age history, views to the Isle of Wight and the land train to Mudeford Sandbank.
Inside the Oceanarium aquarium in Bournemouth

05 Oceanarium Bournemouth

Aquarium

Seafront aquarium with habitats spanning Poole Bay, the Amazon, Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef.
The ornate decorated ceiling inside the Russell-Cotes museum

06 Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Art gallery & museum

A Victorian clifftop villa above the pier housing art and treasures from world tours one of England's most distinctive small museums.

The Coast

Bournemouth’s beaches, west to east

One continuous stretch of sand, each beach with its own character. Tap through for facilities, access and the full guide.

What are you looking for today?

Alum Chine Beach and Poole Bay on a sunny day

01 Alum Chine Beach

West Cliff

The quietest of the five, reached through a wooded chine, with tropical gardens and a pirate-ship play park nearby.

Full guide →
Durley Chine seafront and promenade

02 Durley Chine Beach

West Cliff

Sandy beach with an award-winning eco beach hub, café, showers and accessible facilities.

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Aerial view of Bournemouth Beach and pier

03 Bournemouth Beach

Town Centre

The classic resort beach beside the pier golden sand, deckchairs, amusements and a seasonal zip line.

Full guide →
Boscombe Beach and promenade at sunset

04 Boscombe Beach

Boscombe

Bournemouth's watersports hub, with its own Victorian pier, surf schools and paddleboard hire.

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The flower-covered clifftop above Southbourne beach

05 Southbourne Beach

Southbourne

Relaxed, local-favourite sands with dog-friendly stretches and views to Hengistbury Head.

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Neighbourhoods

Bournemouth, area by area

Beyond the seafront, each district has its own high street, character and reasons to visit.

Christchurch Priory in the medieval town of Christchurch
town

Christchurch

A riverside medieval town with a priory, a quay and easy access to Hengistbury Head.
Sandbanks and Poole Harbour
town

Poole

A natural harbour, the golden sands of Sandbanks and a historic quay, just west of Bournemouth.
Boscombe Pier and seafront
village

Boscombe

Bournemouth's creative quarter surf, street art, a restored pier and independent cafés.
The clifftop above Southbourne beach
village

Southbourne

A village-feel clifftop suburb with a relaxed high street and dog-friendly sands.
Westbourne's Victorian shopping arcade
village

Westbourne

An elegant Victorian arcade quarter of delis, brunch spots and independent shops.

What's On

A town that changes with the seasons

Bournemouth runs a full calendar of festivals, sport and live events. These are the headline moments of the year.

Bournemouth Pier at dusk
24 Jul 2026 – 28 Aug 2026

Bournemouth Friday Fireworks

Free fireworks over the pier every Friday night through high summer.
An aerobatic display drawing a heart over the bay at the Bournemouth Air Festival
27 Aug 2026 – 30 Aug 2026

Bournemouth Air Festival

Four days of free air displays over Poole Bay, plus night-air shows and seafront entertainment.
The Lower Gardens in Bournemouth town centre
2 Oct 2026 – 11 Oct 2026

Arts by the Sea Festival

Bournemouth's autumn arts festival outdoor performance, light installations and family workshops across the town.

See the full what’s on calendar →

Eat, Drink, Stay

Where to eat and where to sleep

Restaurants & cafés

From seafood on the seafront to independent kitchens in Westbourne, Boscombe and the Triangle. Browse the food & drink guide →

Pubs, bars & afternoon tea

Traditional pubs, cocktail bars and classic afternoon teas in the town’s grand hotels, plus the best beachside coffee stops.

Accommodation

Seafront hotels, B&Bs, self-catering apartments, holiday parks and glamping. Find your stay →

Book your stay with Flexiestays → Browse all stays

Plan Your Visit

Getting here is the easy part

By train

Direct services from London Waterloo take around 2 hours. Bournemouth station is a 20-minute walk or short bus ride from the beach.

By car

Roughly 2–2.5 hours from London via the M3, M27 and A338. Seafront and town-centre car parks fill early on summer weekends arrive before 10am.

By air & coach

Bournemouth Airport connects the town with European destinations, and National Express coaches run direct from London and major UK cities.

Common Questions

Bournemouth, answered

What is Bournemouth known for?

Seven miles of sandy beaches, its Victorian pier and gardens, one of the mildest climates in the UK, a lively food and nightlife scene, and major events year-round. It sits on the Dorset coast, next to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

How do I get to Bournemouth from London?

Direct trains from London Waterloo take around 2 hours. By car it is roughly 2–2.5 hours via the M3 and M27. National Express coaches run direct, and Bournemouth Airport serves European routes.

Which is the best beach in Bournemouth?

Bournemouth Beach by the pier is the most popular and best equipped. Locals favour Alum Chine and Southbourne for quieter days, while Boscombe is the pick for surf and watersports. All the beaches sit on the same seven-mile stretch of sand.

Is Bournemouth beach sandy or pebbly?

Sandy the entire seven-mile stretch from Alum Chine to Southbourne, making it one of the longest continuous sandy beaches in the UK.

When is the best time to visit Bournemouth?

June to September for the warmest weather and fullest events calendar; May and late September for milder crowds. Thanks to the town’s microclimate, the beaches and coastal walks are worth visiting all year.

Planning your visit?

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