Filed under: beach, day trip, garden, top-feature
Cruising the Beach in Bournemouth
Recently I talked about the historic aspects of Brighton, one of England’s famous beach times. Today I’d like to talk about another hot spot that is well known locally, but tourists don’t always think about it: Bournemouth (map).
With seven miles of beaches, an easy-to-walk city with gardens and squares, and plenty of festivals and events for families. It’s a fun place to spend a day or hang out for a couple of days during your London visit – it is very different than the city.
Here are a couple of personal favorites you can check out while you’re there.
Beach and Sports
The beach is really what defines Bournemouth as a destination – with warm waters and seven miles to stretch out on, it’s a gorgeous spot when the sun is out. There are similar old fashioned piers to those in Brighton, but also some beach huts and plenty of deckchairs for rental. From the pier, you might want to check out Dorset Cruises – they sail to Brownsea Island along the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural UNESCO world heritage site.
If you’re thinking about a quick dip in the ocean, be sure to check the flags – red/yellow flags means it is safe to go in the water and there’s a lifeguard. A solid red flag means do not enter. The beaches in Bournemouth are well staffed, so don’t be afraid to ask a lifeguard if you’re not sure where it is safe, especially for younger children.
Durley Chine is a fun stop for families – the kids have plenty of activities to do, but this being England, there’s also a proper pub right there on the promenade, so you don’t have to go far for the next pint. If you’d like to surf, there’s a school at Southbourne, a quieter spot further along down the coast. Alternatively, at the end of the Boscombe promenade, there’s a canoe rental, and a few ornamental gardens.
Bournemouth has two land trains run by the city that can get you around the various parts of the shore. The Central line runs from the Bournemouth East Pier over to the Boscombe Pier. The West Line runs from the Alum Chine to the Bournemouth West Pier. Fares are less than £2 for adults, but you can get a family ticket for two adults and 3 children for £5, or a day ticket for £4.50/person.
Parks and Gardens
If you aren’t interested in hanging out on the beach, then definitely go for a stroll in the famous Bournemouth gardens. The city has a couple of thousand acres of green space. Some hot spots:
- Boscombe Chine Gardens: This beautiful Victorian garden has a cute “flower train”, mini-golf area, a water area, and some tennis courts. The name “chine” is an old Saxon world for a steep-sided river valley that leads out to the sea. Chines are popular sights on the islands surrounding Great Britain; this is one of few found here on the mainland.
- The Lower, Central, and Upper Gardens: Listed on the English Heritage Register, these gardens are some of the most pristine in all of the country. Apart from having a picnic or just enjoying some time relaxing on a bench, you can stop in one of the cafes, the small art shop, or even go on a balloon ride! The Lower garden is where much of the action takes place, but the central and upper parks are more for cycling and a place to reflect quietly. The gardens are free and guided walks are available in the summer – to stroll from one end to the other is nearly a mile and a half.
- The Bournemouth Rockery: This beautiful rock garden was first opened in the 1930s and is made mostly of Welsh limestone. Originally it was just a garden to help attract locals to come down to the shore for a stroll, but today the gardens are being used to house exotic plants under the threat of extinction; one that you’ll be bound to spot is the Bird of Paradise, but olive trees, date palms, and agave plants are also here.
Getting There
Bournemouth is very easy to access via train. From London Waterloo station it’s just over an hour and a half to the main Bournemouth station via South West Trains. If you happen to be coming from another part of England, such as York or Reading, Virgin Trains also runs service down into Bournemouth.
Travel by coach bus is another option and a compelling one. National Express has routes via the Victoria Coach Station in London, but you should also check out Greyhound – their Bournemouth service has Wifi and restrooms on board, so it makes for a very comfortable trip.
Of course, you can drive as well – the worst part is getting out of London, which can often be pretty congested.
Photo Credits: Daisy1984, Shining.darkness
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