Nestled in the shelter of Poole Bay, Bournemouth is a large south-coast town which overlooks the Isle of Wight and the English Channel. It is located just 40 kilometres south-west of Southampton in the county of Dorset in southern England, approximately 170 kilometres from London. It is a very popular summer tourist destination due to its easy access, long sandy beaches and its renovated 19th century piers. Bournemouth is home to an estimated 160,000 residents and adjoins the coastal towns of Poole and Christchurch, which together makes it a centre of just under 400,000 people. The town stands just to the east of the ‘Jurassic Coast’, a stretch of unspoilt coastline which contains a geological record of the Jurassic Period and is today Britain’s only declared natural U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site.
Famous for its 11 kilometres of sandy beaches, many of which have been awarded the ‘Blue Flag’, Bournemouth is surrounded by towering cliffs and unspoilt countryside and is an ideal base from which to explore this delightful area. The city offers an excellent assortment of accommodation, top attractions, buzzing nightlife, a broad array of water sport facilities and holiday entertainment making it one of Britain’s premier summer locations. Bournemouth also holds several ‘Green Flags’ which have been awarded for the quality of its large picturesque landscaped parks and pleasure gardens which add a splash of colour and a certain tranquillity to the city. These include the 800 hectare Victorian Gardens that form a linear park approximately 3 kilometres long that runs through the centre of town and cover the Lower Gardens, which are located near the sea and are known for their floral bedding displays, and lead to the Central Gardens of the town centre and onwards to the Upper gardens. Bournemouth offers all the amenities expected of a large town, good shopping, over 250 cafes and restaurants and numerous clubs, pubs and bars. There are also several interesting attractions such as the Oceanarium, the Camera Obscura which is located in Bournemouth Square, the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth Balloon, the Aviation Museum, Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, and the Adventure Wonderland, a popular children’s theme park.
Home to Europe’s first artificial reef, Bournemouth is set to become the surfer’s choice of destination and will continue to attract hordes of beach and sun lovers as it was destined to do once it was connected by the railway services of the late 19th century!!
Other attractions nearby which are worthy of mention are:-
The Jurassic Coast, which is Britain’s first natural U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site, is located between Exmouth and Swanage, just west of Bournemouth. Covering approximately 150 kilometres, this stunning coastline contains rocks recording 185 million years of Earth’s history, displaying a unique insight into the Earth Sciences spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
The New Forest which lies 20 kilometres north-east of Bournemouth is a historic area of heathland and forest which dates back to the Stone Age when it was cleared for cultivation. This area was left to revert back to its original heathland and today is well known as a recreation area and home to the famous New Forest ponies. It contains a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and over 200 Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
Swanage Railway which operates steam and diesel trains over approximately 10 kilometres of track between Swanage and Norden in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.
Corfe Castle is one of Britain’s picturesque southern rural villages and is known for the hilltop ruins of the 11th century Norman castle. The castle stands on a hill protecting a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the Isle of Purbeck.
Kingston Lacy is an elegant 17th century mansion located near Wimborne Minster. It is operated by the National Trust and contains important collections of fine art and antiquities. The building is surrounded by extensive gardens including a Victorian fernery, a cedar walk, a lime avenue and a sunken garden which was made in 1906.
The National Trust Studland Beach Nature Reserve which is famous for its beaches and a popular bird watching location.
Did you know that Bournemouth is considered Britain’s best beach!! This is perhaps confirmed by visitor statistics which show that over 7 million tourists are attracted here every year!!
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