Traditions and culture in Bournemouth

Bournemouth's beginnings as a holiday destination were during the Victorian era, when royalty and other members of high society enjoyed its pleasant landscape and grandiose accommodation.

The Mont Dore Hotel was the first spa hotel to be built in 1885 and it offered water from the Bourne - in the shape of Turkish and salt baths - which were believed to have healing qualities.

Modern Bournemouth still doffs its cap to that age, with a number of major hotels providing spa treatments, while beauty boutiques for both sexes are littered around the town centre.

Its seven miles of sandy beaches are popular with visitors and the town is now a peculiar mix of its old Victorian references, emerging corporate scene and considerable offerings for mass tourism.

Things to do in Bournemouth

Anyone taking a holiday in Bournemouth will not find themselves short of things to fill their days, with sunbathing, shopping and water sports all proving popular.

For the more outgoing visitor, the town has a buzzing nightlife, with bars and clubs aplenty - often filled with revellers and stag parties - while a number of variety shows are also on offer.

Among the main attractions are the Bournemouth International Centre, which has a number of concerts and exhibitions, tethered balloon flights from the Bournemouth Eye and the Bournemouth Oceanarium.

As the town has long been accustomed to welcoming visitors, it caters for them with a substantial amount of accommodation, so finding a cheap hotel shouldn't be a problem.

With Corfe Castle just an hour-and-a-half bus ride away through the expensive property hub of Sandbanks and the picturesque New Forest even closer, travellers are unlikely to find themselves at a loss on a holiday to Bournemouth.

Weather in Bournemouth

As with most places on the south coast of England, the climate in Bournemouth is fairly temperate, with average temperatures of 8C in January and 19C in July and August.

However, blistering, sunny days in the summer are not uncommon and the mercury has been known to push close to 30C.

Destination checklist for Bournemouth

Bournemouth has a population of 163,444.

The town is on UTC time.

The currency used in Bournemouth is the pound.

The official language spoken is English.

The town's international dialling code is +44.