Bournemouth
Welcome to Bournemouth, the beach-side town and cultural hub with a vibrant energy.
Why we love Bournemouth
From music and art festivals right on the beach, to surfing lessons and leisurely coastal walks with spectacular views from the clifftops, Bournemouth offers fun in spades. Explore two picture-perfect Victorian piers, each with their own unique character. Get competitive with arcade games, relax in beach-side cafes, soak up the culture in art galleries, or feast in seafood restaurants cooking up freshly caught treats. Whether relaxing to the sounds of the sea from a beach hut or rocking out to live music at the O2 Academy, you’ll find your rhythm in Bournemouth.
Bournemouth Beaches
With seven miles of award-winning sands offering water sports, family fun and epic coastal views, Bournemouth’s beaches beckon. Boasting several Blue Flag beaches, including Southbourne, Durley Chine and Fisherman’s Walk Beach, grab your bucket and spade and hit the sand. From Bournemouth to Christchurch and Poole you’ll find bars and restaurants, quieter areas and beach huts galore.
South Coast Makers Market
An independent craft market showcasing locally made goods and championing sustainability. From handmade jewellery to unique art pieces, everything here is created with love. Monthly pop-up markets offer craft beer, local gins and vegan street food to enjoy while you shop. Each market also supports important causes in the local community, including Plastic Free Bournemouth and Dorset Wildlife Trust.
Bournemouth Air Festival
Touching down in spectacular style is Britain’s largest air festival, offering four days and nights of air shows, live music and street entertainers. Usually taking place at the end of August to the start of September, this free to attend event attracts visitors from all over. Look out for the fireworks displays on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bournemouth Pier
Reaching proudly into the sea since 1856, Bournemouth Pier offers the full British seaside experience. Packed with things to do, this historic pier will entertain all ages with its adrenaline-fuelled activities, shopping, restaurants and events.
Things to do in Bournemouth
Bournemouth’s parks and gardens
Bournemouth's beach huts
Cycling in Bournemouth
Bournemouth Air Festival
Arts by the Sea Festival
Bournemouth Friday Fireworks
Bournemouth Beaches
Bournemouth Pier
Boscombe Beach
Bournemouth International Triathlon
Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts
South Coast Makers Market
Bournemouth’s parks and gardens
Bournemouth's beach huts
Cycling in Bournemouth
Bournemouth Air Festival
Arts by the Sea Festival
Bournemouth Friday Fireworks
Bournemouth Beaches
Bournemouth Pier
Boscombe Beach
Bournemouth International Triathlon
Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts
South Coast Makers Market
Featured things to do
Bournemouth in bloom
Wander through leafy walkways, marvel at colourful flower beds or relax on picnic perfect grass to the sounds of water flowing. With over 1,000 hectares of gardens and parks, Bournemouth blooms spectacularly in spring.
Unwind in Bournemouth’s parks and gardens
Shade from the sun
An icon of the British seaside, Bournemouth’s colourful beach huts are the coolest way to enjoy the summer sun. Choose from 250 huts along seven miles of golden sand.
Choose your Bournemouth beach hut
Find your creative side
Celebrating people, arts and culture, Arts by the Sea features creative activities, installations, live music, dance and DJs. Environmentally conscious, the festival aims for sustainability.
Get inspired at Arts by the Sea
Discover a creative hub
Listen to a performance by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, watch a play or see an independent film at this creative hub which is Britain’s biggest regional arts centre.
See what’s on at LighthousePlaces to stay in Bournemouth
Town centre and Bournemouth Pier
The majority of accommodation options are found in the bustling town centre and near Bournemouth Pier, including everything from international hotel chains to traditional bed and breakfasts and self-catering options.
Boscombe
Boasting its own Victorian pier, Boscombe is dotted with Art Deco houses with incredible views. Book a beach lodge on the seafront or a local hotel.
Southbourne
With brewpubs, local cafes and restaurants, nature trails and cliff-top hikes, Southbourne offers a laid back local beach vibe with holiday cottages, bed and breakfasts and independent hotels.
Explore nearby
Getting to Bournemouth
Located on England’s south coast, Bournemouth Airport welcomes short-haul flights from Europe. For international arrivals, London Gatwick is the closest major airport. Trains from London Gatwick Airport to Bournemouth with South Western Rail take around two hours 30 minutes. Direct trains from London Waterloo to Bournemouth can take as little as one hour 45 minutes.
National Express offers a budget-friendly London to Bournemouth coach service which takes around two hours 15 minutes. And if you’re travelling to or from London Heathrow Airport, there is a direct coach route between Heathrow Terminal 5 and Bournemouth.
Getting around Bournemouth
By bus
Public buses are a low cost way to navigate Bournemouth and the surrounding towns. There are also hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses taking you to the heart of the action.
By bike
Whether on a mountain bike, e-bike or regular push bike, there are plenty of dedicated cycle routes along the sea front and in and around Bournemouth.
On foot
From lush gardens to sparkling beaches, town centre pedestrian streets and the surrounding Dorset countryside, Bournemouth is made to walk and hike.
Want to know more?
Head to Bournemouth’s local website for insider tips and more recommendations on things to do in Bournemouth.