Bournemouth’s seven long miles of golden sands are bigger and better than ever before, offering something for everyone.
Maintained to the highest international standards for beach cleanliness and environmental management, Bournemouth's beaches are some of the best in the world. Get your bucket and spade at the ready!
We want you to enjoy your time at the beach in safely, so if you're heading to our coast, please follow the @RNLI's beach safety messages:
- Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags
- Check the weather and tide times before you go
- If you get caught in a rip current, don’t swim against it – instead, relax and float until you are free from the rip, then swim to safety
- If you find yourself in danger in the water, relax and float.
RNLI Beach Safety: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety
Blue Flag and Seaside Awards
We’ve retained the international Blue Flag award status since it was first introduced in 1996 and as of 2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have now secured 12 Blue Flag awards for Alum Chine beach, Durley Chine beach, Fisherman’s Walk beach, Southbourne beach, Branksome Chine, Canford Cliffs, Shore Road, Sandbanks, Friars Cliff, Avon Beach, Highcliffe and Manor Steps.
We have also secured a total of 14 Seaside Awards for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Fantastic awards like this recognise the highest standards for water quality, environmental management, safety and services and environmental education.
Did you know?
Combined with Poole’s 4 Blue Flags, the bay holds more Blue Flags than any other beach destination in the UK!
From the town centre head down to Pier Approach through our beautiful Lower Gardens and enjoy the seafront attractions, cafés and restaurants, not forgetting the fantastic views of the bay from our historic pier. At Pier Approach, discover life beneath the waves at the Oceanarium, have a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants or pop into the Tourist Information Centre situated in front of the water play area. Take a walk along Bournemouth Pier for fantastic views of the bay, children’s rides and boat trips to a number of destinations along the coast.
Bournemouth is listed as the no. 1 UK beach by stylish website ACHICA Living.
A family favourite, Blue Flag award-winning Durley Chine beach is great for kids. It also boasts a traditional pub on the promenade and a café, so you don’t have to go far for some good grub! There are plenty of beach huts to hire and ice creams to eat. Home to the new Durley Environmental Hub, which has been designed and constructed to be as sustainable as possible using locally sourced, renewable and recycled materials. Visitors are now welcome to look around the site and enjoy hot drinks and snacks from the building’s kiosk.
A short stroll from Durley Chine towards Poole brings you to Alum Chine. Home to beautiful tropical gardens, Alum Chine beach boasts both Green and Blue Flag awards. Alum Chine is a great family friendly area with a pirate-themed children’s playground and water play area. Beach huts are available to hire all year round from the local beach head to our beach hut hire page for availability and prices.
Take the land train or walk along the stretch of promenade from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Beach. Boscombe seafront has been transformed from a sleepy 1950s style beach into the exciting 21st century through Boscombe Spa Village redevelopment scheme, with plenty to do and see. This area is now home to various beach activities. Stretching over 1km either side of Boscombe Pier, there is everything from sports courts and water sports to bouldering and slack lining. Find a new hobby; join a group sports session; hire equipment, courts and classrooms; or just enjoy the stunning surroundings.
Breathe in the fresh sea air with a twenty minute stroll along the promenade from Boscombe, that brings you to the Blue Flag award-winning beach at Fisherman’s Walk. Snacks and ice creams are on hand and more refreshments can be found at the café on the cliff top, along with a crazy golf course, which is easily accessible by the cliff lift.
To stay safe at the beach, always swim at a lifeguarded beach between the red and yellow flags and never swim alone. For exact locations and patrol times of the lifeguarded beaches across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole visit the RNLI website.
