Bournemouth Attractions
The modern seaside resort of Bournemouth (pop. 160,000) has joined with Poole (pop. 120,000) into a long ribbon settlement. Its mild climate makes it a popular resort throughout the year as well as a popular retirement town for the well-to-do. Its many language schools also ensure, however, that young people from all around the world populate this renowned resort. The town's elegant villas, luxury hotels and rows of whitewashed houses are, as in many other South Coast seaside resorts, the product of the Victorian fashion for bathing. Visitors will discover a wealth of shopping and sports facilities here, as well as an extensive range of leisure facilities including the Pavilion Theatre and the first-class Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. They will also marvel at the magnificent greenery of the town's many parks, which culminate in the marvelously-situated Compton Acres Gardens at Canford Cliffs to the extreme south of the resort. Steps and two elevators descend to the fine sandy beach complete with pier and promenade, which is closed to traffic in summer.
Popular activities in Bournemouth include windsurfing, fishing, tennis, hiking, biking, horseback riding and other water sports.
Popular activities in Bournemouth include windsurfing, fishing, tennis, hiking, biking, horseback riding and other water sports.
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Poole Harbor
A lively quarter of the city, Poole Harbor offers great opportunities for water sports as well as ferry services. The Harbor features an agglomeration of shops, pubs and workshops.
Boscombe Manor
Boscombe Manor on Beechwood Avenue near Boscombe Pier has been renamed the Shelley Rooms and is dedicated to the romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822). Shelley and his wife Mary are buried in St Peter's churchyard.
Bournemouth International Festival
This annual festival brings musicians, dancers and actors to the town of Bournemouth for one week each year. Young and mature performers take part in over 300 competition classes and daily public concerts in the Winter Gardens. The repertoire of the festival is quite varied and has been expanding since the festival became international in scope in 1986.
Bournemouth International Festival
Suite 2
Digby Chambers
Post Office Road
Bournemouth BH1 1BA
England
Suite 2
Digby Chambers
Post Office Road
Bournemouth BH1 1BA
England
Chines
Bournemouth's cliffs are cut at several points by deep valleys called chines; the most impressive of these are Boscombe Chine and Durley Chine.
Compton Acres Gardens
Visitors will marvel at the magnificent greenery in the marvelously-situated Compton Acres Gardens at Canford Cliffs to the extreme south of the resort. The gardens have a wide variety of rare plants, shrubs, trees, Japanese, Italian and Roman gardens, rock and water gardens, a heather dell and a woodland walk.
All values are in local currency
Compton Acres Gardens
164 Canford Cliffs Road
Bournemouth BH13 7ES
England
164 Canford Cliffs Road
Bournemouth BH13 7ES
England
Hours
March 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
November 1 to February 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| Family | 17.00 |
| Adult | 6.95 |
| Senior | 6.45 |
| Child 16 & under | 3.95 |
| Child 4 & under | FREE |
Parking
Free
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Cranborne Manor
This ancient site, Cranborne Manor, has been home to King John's hunting lodge, the still standing house of 1st Earl of Salisbury and, more recently, a garden as rebuilt by Lady Salisbury.
Hours
April 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Parking
Free
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Musicmakers Festival
Bands, choirs, and orchestras come together for two weeks in late June and early July to perform in this festival.
Venues include the Winter Gardens Theatre.
Venues include the Winter Gardens Theatre.
Poole - Waterfront Museum
The Waterfront Museum in Poole has changing exhibition programs and permanent displays relating to the history of Poole.
Waterfront Museum
4 High Street
Poole BH15 1BW
England
4 High Street
Poole BH15 1BW
England
Hours
March 21 to November 2
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Poole Pottery
Poole Pottery has been a leading pottery maker for over 125 years. On a tour of the factory and museum you will see craftsmen at work and stunning displays of master works both past and present. There is also a "Have a Go" area where visitors can create their own piece of pottery.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Rothsay Museum
It is worth visiting Rothsay Museum which has English furniture, china and porcelain, and rooms devoted to shipping.
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum on East Cliff houses an interesting art collection which includes paintings by R. Wilson, Morland and artists of the Victorian period, as well as valuable objets d'art from Japan and Burma.
The gallery is housed in an extravagant version of an Italian coastal villa surrounded by gardens.
The gallery is housed in an extravagant version of an Italian coastal villa surrounded by gardens.
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
East Cliff
Bournemouth BH1 3AA
England
East Cliff
Bournemouth BH1 3AA
England
Hours
January 1 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Discounts on
Sunday, Saturday
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Teddy Bear Museum
The Bournemouth Bears (teddy bear museum) is an attraction which will delight both young and old visitors. It is open seven days a week.
Hours
April 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
October 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
Attractions in Other Popular Destinations
