Bournemouth holiday

Bournemouth overview

Bournemouth is one of the UK's premiere seaside resorts, boasting seven miles of golden beaches. In Victorian times, the town was the prime destination for upper class coastal holidays. Thomas Hardy said of Bournemouth in Tess of the D'Urbervilles: "It is a Mediterranean lounging place on the English Channel."

Although in modern times it has been overshadowed by nearby Brighton, in the past, the town's unique cosmopolitan culture has gained prominence in recent years and the destination has carved out a reputation for itself as a vibrant holiday spot.

Tourists benefit from a wide range of shops and restaurants while there is now a large selection of holiday accommodation to choose from.

Furthermore, just a stone's throw from central Bournemouth is tranquil countryside, with beautiful award-winning gardens and top watersports facilities, including Europe's first artificial surf reef in Boscombe.

Bournemouth location

Motorists travelling in a south-westerly direction to Bournemouth can take the M27 and then the A31 through the New Forest to the seaside destination. At Ringwood look take the A338 Bournemouth exit. If approaching from the west of Bournemouth, take the A35, which links up with the A3049.

Visitors arriving by train can use SouthWest Trains' services from London Waterloo, Poole and Weymouth. There are semi-fast services continuing to Weymouth and a slow service, which terminates in Poole. CrossCountry trains operate from Manchester via Birmingham New Street, terminating at Bournemouth. There are also trains arriving Nottingham and Newcastle.

Furthermore, MegaBus operates a service to the seaside town from London via Winchester, while National Express runs a direct bus service from London, which takes around two-and-a-half hours.

Bournemouth Airport also a number of domestic and international flights for those arriving from further afield.

Why Visit Bournemouth?

Bournemouth has a fantastic range of entertainment options to offer visitors. Those seeking a culturally-rich experience should explore the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, which has an eclectic mix of artifacts from around the world. Meanwhile, the pier to pier walk from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Pier showcases the coastline and gives holidaymakers the chance to sample countless cafes and tourist shops.

There are also beach huts for hire during the summer. Huts are an important part of Bournemouth's heritage, as this type of accommodation originated in the town in 1908 and the inaugural hut can still be rented today.

Furthermore, fans of outdoor activity can go surfing in the ocean and enjoy Europe's first artificial surf reef.