Bournemouth & the Beautiful South Coast...

Bournemouth on the South Coast is one of England's most popular seaside resorts, an ideal town for a perfect holiday with its year round mild climate plus the abundance of facilities. With so many places to visit, young or old there is something here for everyone to enjoy, whatever the season.

PIER & BEACHES

• Just a short stroll down the clifftop walk to the Pier
• 7 miles of sandy beaches, the East through to Hengistbury Head and the West Beaches to Sandbanks then over the Ferry to Shell Bay and Studland Beach
• Safe swimming on our award winning beaches
• Lower Pleasure Gardens with its floral displays throughout the year
• Crazy Golf in the Gardens and at rear of Sandbanks beach
• Bournemouth Balloon - tethered "hot air" Balloon for a thrilling panoramic view across the outer landscape Surfing, rowing, watersports and sailing
• Pleasure Boats from the Pier to Swanage, Poole Harbour & Brownsea Island .
• "Kidsafe" programme in summer with children's entertainment

WALKING - locally

• Walking tour of Bournemouth , with a guide to advise the places of historical interest.
• A bracing walk whatever the weather along the clifftop paths and the promenades From the Pier through the Central, Upper and Lower Pleasure Gardens
• Through the pine studded Chines of Bournemouth and Poole .

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES

• Moors Valley near Ringwood, miniature steam railway, adventure playground and forest walks (and golf course for Dad)
• Heavy Horse Centre near Verwood
• Farmer Palmers children's farm and play park near Wareham
• Alice in Wonderland Adventure Park near Bournemouth Airport
• Paulton's Park Theme Park near Romsey
• Monkey World near Wareham
• Poole Park , on the edge of Poole Harbour , with many children's attractions
• Hengistbury Head (ancient Iron Age Settlement) has a Noddy Train to Mudeford Beach , lovely for walking and beach activities, with wonderful views of the area.

OCEANARIUM

• Situated by the Pier, with plenty of aquarium sealife to admire

FIREWORKS

• Every Friday evening from the end of July through August on Bournemouth Pier
• Every Saturday off Poole Quay with street entertainment

BUS RIDES

• Take an Open Top Bus in summer, along the clifftop roads
• Ride from Hengistbury Head near Christchurch to Sandbank or further to Swanage
• Driver's commentary means you don't miss anything of interest

SHOPS

• Town centre is mostly pedestrianised
• Street entertainment & pavement cafes
• 3 large department stores and most major chain stores represented.
• French street market is often featured
• Christmas market in December with a themed Market  
• Castle Point nearby features many large stores including a mega Marks & Spencer, ideal on a wet day.

THEATRES & CINEMAS

• Pavilion Theatre often offers concerts, ballet, opera and plays
• Pier Theatre has a summer variety show
• Lighthouse Theatre in nearby Poole for plays and concerts.  This is also the home of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
• Bournemouth International Centre for live concerts and shows

RUSSELL-COTES MUSEUM

• Carefully restored building from Victorian times
• Free entry
• Many oriental treasures and art exhibits

MUSEUMS & STATELY HOMES

• Kingston Lacey House, Wimborne.
• Lulworth Castle , Dorset .
• Broadlands House, Romsey.
• Wilton House, Salisbury .
• Beaulieu Motor Museum , New Forest
• POOLE QUAY, Harbour & Brownsea Island
• CHRISTCHURCH, Harbour, Quayside & Priory

GOLF

• Meyrick Park & Queens Park are the nearest public courses
• Solent Meads at Hengistbury Head, par 3 for beginners
• Championship courses at Parkstone, Broadstone and Ferndown nearby
• The Open Golf Centre at Iford in Bournemouth has a driving range and easier golf course - good for a family day out.
  Moors Valley is a good intermediate course, and the family can be amused too on the Adventure Trails, Mini Steam Loco Rides and Picnic areas.
• Barton on Sea
• Isle of Purbeck
• Canford Magna

TENNIS

• Tennis Courts, some undercover, in the Upper Pleasure Gardens
• West Hants tennis Club

BOWLS

• Knyveton Gardens , Meyrick Park and Argyll Bowls are the closest outdoor greens
• Kings Park in Bournemouth is the closest indoor rink

NEW FOREST

• Take a day out to explore the wild country of the New Forest .
• Superb for walking, cycling, wagon rides and horse-riding
• Visit the villages of Burley, Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst
• Spoil yourself with a Cream Tea
• Beaulieu Motor Museum and Palace Stately Home is popular
• Boat trip up the Beaulieu River to Bucklers Hard
  Watch the wild animals at the Reptile & Hawn Conservancy centre near Ringwood and the Deer Watch near Burley
  Exbury Gardens is especially wonderful for Azalias & Rhododendrons, and you can view it by mini steam train.

DORSET VILLAGES & JURASSIC COASTLINE

• Drive into Dorset and see the woolly side!  
• Corfe Castle and Corfe Village & take the scenic steam train to Swanage.
• Walk from Worth Matravers along the cliff paths of the Jurassic Coast, or around the Durlston Country Park at Swanage
• Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Kimmeridge
• Dorchester is the ancient County Town, which offers many interesting attractions including Tutankahmun and Prehistoric Museums
• Maiden Castle (Roman settlement)
• Thomas Hardy's Cottage (famous literary writer).

Discover Dorset

Local tour company Discover Dorset Tours, provides two Day Tours throughout the year. Picking up and dropping off directly from the Topaz hotel, you will be taken in a small group (16 people max.) by a local guide to explore some of England's finest scenery. Leaving after breakfast you will have a full and fascinating day out before returning to the hotel later in the afternoon.

Stonehenge, Salisbury & the New Forest

A full day tour visiting Stonehenge, Salisbury and the New Forest. Experience England's Neolithic and medieval past, and learn about the New Forest and its inhabitants.

Isle of Purbeck & Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site

A full day tour exploring Studland, Swanage, Corfe Castle, Kimmeridge, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. Experience tranquil rural Dorset villages and dramatic coastal walks just a stone's throw from bustling Bournemouth.

For full details and to check current availability please visit: Discover Dorset