Bournemouth Tourist Attractions
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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.
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.
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.
Poole Harbor
Poole has a unique natural harbor with regular passenger and freight sailings, good water sports opportunities and a ferry service to Cherbourg in France. Poole Quay is lined with traditional fishermen's pubs and redeveloped warehouses, now housing shops, pubs and small workshops, such as Poole Pottery.
Brownsea Island
Brownsea Island is a National Trust property located in Poole Harbour. It is the location of the first boy scouts camp where Lord Baden Powell perfected his camping techniques. The island also has a nature reserve with a heronry and waterfowl sanctuary.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Knowlton Church and Earthworks
Knowlton Church and Earthworks is the ruins of a Norman church surrounded by Neolithic earthworks. This site symbolises the transition from pagan to Christian worship.
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.
Waterfront Museum
The Waterfront Museum in Poole has changing exhibition programs and permanent displays relating to the history of Poole.
Rothsay Museum
It is worth visiting Rothsay Museum which has English furniture, china and porcelain, and rooms devoted to shipping.
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.
