THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN BOURNEMOUTH

Set slightly away from the bustling tourist area, the West Cliff Inn is still close to all that Bournemouth has to offer, without being as busy as the more commercial parts of the town.

We have outlined a few ideas of where to go while you are staying with us. For more detailed information and directions, please contact reception team who will be happy to help you.

BEACHES – Seven miles of award-winning beaches; Sports activities – kite surfing, path for cycling/ rollerblading, surfing lessons; Amusement parlours, bars, restaurants; Beach huts hire

BOURNEMOUTH PIER – Best views of the bay and coastline; Pier theatre, funfair for children

DORSET CRUISES – office at the Pier – boat trips around the bay, to Swanage, Brownsea Island, along the Jurassic Coast; speedboat rides

OCEANARIUM – Just off the Bournemouth pier; Great family experience – Underwater adventure with dive cage, feeding of the animals with explanation; Gift shop, cafe

BOURNEMOUTH EYE – the highest attraction, a spherical balloon taking you up to 500 feet above the ground for amazing views of Bournemouth and the coastline; placed in Lower Gardens

GARDENS – Perfect place for relaxing

Lower Gardens in the centre of Bournemouth – Bournemouth Eye; Mini Golf course; Rockery with exotic plants

Compton Acres – A wonderful historic garden, 10 acres of seven distinct gardens (Japanese, Italian, Rock & Water Garden …)

CULTURE

BIC + The Pavilion – concerts, theatre performances, dance shows, musicals, stand-up comedian shows, conferences, seasonal ice skating

Opera House (Boscombe) – music shows, concerts, exhibitions

Odeon Cinema, ABC Cinema (Westover Road)

Russell Cotes Museum – art gallery and museum set in one of the last Victorian villas in town

SPORTS

Littledown sports centre (Castlepoint), Splashdown (Poole), surf reef (Boscombe), surf lessons, cycling, rollerblading paths, golf courses (Queens Park, Meyrick Park), mini golf (Central Gardens)

SHOPPING

Bournemouth town centre: Old Christchurch Road, Commercial Road

Castlepoint shopping centre, Dolphin shopping centre Poole, Christchurch Road Boscombe

NIGHTLIFE, EATING OUT

Old Christchurch Road, Westover Road, Holdenhurst Road, seafront

SHORT TRIPS OUTSIDE BOURNEMOUTH

Poole –  world’s second largest natural harbour, bustling quay, water sports paradise; Shopping centre; Tower Park– Cinema, amusements, Splashdown water park, bowling; BH12 4NY, 6 miles

Christchurch – picturesque town with stone cobbled streets, popular sailing centre, 11th century Priory church – the longest parish church in England, Christchurch Castle – Norman castle remains, ferries to Mudeford Bay with sandy beaches; BH23 1BW‎ (Castle), 6 miles

Hengistbury Head – scenic sandstone headland between Bournemouth and Christchurch Harbour, overlooking the Mudeford Bay

Durdle Door – natural limestone arch – treasure of the Jurassic Coast, a must-see!; BH20 5PU, 24 mi

Lulworth Cove – near Durdle Door, one of the finest coves in the country

Old Harry Rocks – England’s only UNESCO Natural Heritage Site, near Studland Bay; access via Sandbanks Ferry, or via Swanage – for hikers, views from the Bankes Arms pub – BH19 3AU, 8 miles

Corfe Castle – thousand-year-old castle ruins rising above the Isle of Purbeck; Swanage steam railway, Castle model village and gardens; BH20 5EZ, 19 miles

New Forest – National Park, the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pastures, heath land and forest; walking, cycling horse riding trails; llama trekking, zorbing, ballooning; museums

Beaulieu – a picturesque village at the edge of New Forest; Palace House and gardens, Beaulieu Abbey, National Motor Museum; SO42 7ZN, 25 miles

Salisbury – one of England’s finest gothic cathedrals, home to Britain’s tallest spire and the best preserved original Magna Carta; SP1 2EJ, 28 miles

Stonehenge – world-known magical ancient site; SP4 7DE, 38 miles

Isle of Wight – a magical island, once the favourite of Queen Victoria; see the Needles, coloured sands of Alum Bay, picturesque lanes of Cowes; ferry from Lymington Port – SO41 3SE, 19 miles

Marwell Zoo – 100 acre park with many of the most fascinating and unique animals of the planet; SO21 1JH, near Winchester, 40 miles

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre for monkeys saved from smugglers or abuse and neglect, both touching and fun experience for all family; BH20 6HH, 19 miles

Abbotsbury swannery – walk through hundreds of nesting swans, baby swan hatching (end May to end June), mass feeding (daily 12pm and 4 pm); DT3 4JG, near Weymouth, 35 miles

Go Ape! – High wire tree top adventure at Moors Valley Country Park, with zip slides, rope bridges, Tarzan swings, giant rope nets; BH24 2ET, 13 miles

Adventure Wonderland – Family Theme park, over 28 rides and attractions, BH23 6BA, 7.5 miles