About Bournemouth

On a hot summer's day, there is nothing better than relaxing on one of the many beaches along the coast.

The town beaches of Bournemouth, Boscombe, Southbourne, Alum Chine and Durley Chine are very convenient and offer facilities such as cafés, watersports, boat trips and deck chair hire.

You can also go further afield and spend some time on the beaches that are out of town. Watersports fans will love the Sandbanks Peninsula , as the conditions are perfect for windsurfing and jet skiing. Studland Beach , which is owned by the National Trust, is very famous for its beautiful clean white sand. There is also an information display explaining local wildlife at the visitors' centre. You can get there by taking a small ferry from Sandbanks; the beach is only a few minutes across the causeway. The rock formation called Durdle Door is one of the most photographed and famous parts of Dorset 's coastline and is very popular with both tourists and people who live in the area.

Even when the weather is not so great, you can still enjoy a leisurely stroll along the clifftops of the Purbeck Hills or along the promenade all the way to Poole and back. You can also enjoy a meal with a fantastic view of the sea at one of the restaurants along the seafront offering the delights of fresh seafood, Italian and of course traditional fish and chips!

In the town gardens, you can take a flight on the Bournemouth Eye tethered balloon, which on a clear day gives you views of the English Channel and surrounding area for up to 35 kilometres. As well as the traditional English pier, there is also an Oceanarium and a funfair. If you are more of a culture fan, the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum has a vast collection of artifacts and paintings and also has stunning sea views.

Land trains run from Alum Chine to Hengistbury Head. There is also an open top bus tour, which runs in the summer. Both are great ways of discovering the history of the town.

The shopper is also well catered for in Bournemouth . High street favourites exist alongside independent stores and cute boutiques. There is also a large shopping centre called Castlepoint, just outside the town that offers a wide range of retail experiences.

There are many restaurants, bars, bistros and cafés, several with fantastic views of the sea and surrounding countryside and the nightclubs and bars of Bournemouth are well known throughout the UK as the place to be at the weekend!