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.
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 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.
Address: The Shelley Rooms, Shelley Park, Boscombe BH51NE, England
Hours:
January 1 to December 31: 2pm-5pm; Closed: Mon
Parking: Free
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
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.
Address: Bournemouth International Festival, Suite 2 Digby Chambers Post Office Road, Bournemouth BH1 1BA, England
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.
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.
Address: Cranborne Manor, 4 High Street, Cranborne BH21 5PS, England
Hours:
April 1 to September 30: 9am-5pm; Sun:10am-5pm; Closed: Mon
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.
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.
Address: Poole Pottery Limited, Poole BH15 IRF, England
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.
Address: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AA, England
Hours:
January 1 to December 31: 10am-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (December 25), Good Friday - Christian
Discount: Sunday, Saturday
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
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