Beyond The Beach

During the glorious long days of summer, when the sunshine gets warmer, the skies bluer, and the restaurants and bars busier, it’s fun to think about the gems that lie beyond the seafront across the conurbation of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. Of course, the miles of beautiful, sandy, award-winning beaches are unmissable when visiting the region at any time of the year, but there are many other extraordinary things to do and places to visit. Castles and quays, harbours and museums, parks, gardens, and nature reserves are all available to visit across the region, alongside a plethora of interesting shopping, drinking, and eating venues and a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, on and off the water.

Attractions

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf is located a stone’s throw from Bournemouth’s seafront and is ideal entertainment for those who don’t want to wander too far from the enticing sand and waves. Its neighbours at Pier Approach, The Big Wheel, The Oceanarium and, of course, the iconic Bournemouth Pier are also located very close to the extraordinary Victorian  Grade II Listed Gardens, which stretch inland through the town centre and onwards, offering a riot of floral colour, rare tropical plants, a fascinating tree trail, and one of the biggest rockeries in the country. Picturesque pathways lead to ornamental bridges, a water tower folly, and eventually to the tranquil bird- and bee-friendly Coy Pond. The Gardens are perfect for a leisurely stroll, sunbathing, picnics, or simply relaxing with an ice cream purchased from one of the kiosks dotted throughout the Lower Gardens.

Bournemouth has a richly diverse cultural scene, including the extraordinary Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, which is housed in a quirky late Victorian Italianate villa positioned on the East Cliff with stunning panoramic sea views. The modern-day Russell-Cotes hosts regular visiting exhibitions, borrows notable works of art from national and international galleries, has a well-stocked gift shop and a light and airy café, and there are regular guided tours throughout the year.

Food and Drink

The Urban Garden restaurant boasts fantastic views over the lush green gardens, while serving delicious food with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Other fantastic places to eat and drink include independent coffee shop South Coast Coffee, stylish plant-based restaurant Twelve Eatery, fine dining elegance at Neo Restaurant, and national favourites such as The Stable, The Real Greek, and The Coconut Tree.

Coastal Villages

Great eating and shopping experiences can also be found in the Bournemouth neighbourhoods of Westbourne, Southbourne, and Boscombe, all of which are near, but set back from the various glorious beaches.

Westbourne is a thriving cosmopolitan district with a beautiful late Victorian arcade at its centre. There is a fantastic mix of bistros, restaurants, and wine bars, including Renoufs, one of the best fish n’ chips shops in Dorset, Chez Fred, independent fashion boutiques, book, gift, and furniture shops, beauty salons, and cafes.

Southbourne has a similarly bustling high street featuring independent cheese shops, vintners, cycling cafes, vegan restaurants, and green grocers. With a host of outstanding eateries to choose from, such as Tiien Thai, Southbourne boasts its very own Michelin Star restaurant - Restaurant Roots.

Meanwhile the more urban district of Boscombe, with its distinctive air of Victorian grandeur, is a suburb on the up, with its twice-weekly market, record shops, tarot reading, art suppliers and delis, stores, and cafes offering food and ingredients from around the world.

Nature and the great outdoors

To the east of Bournemouth is the stunning Hengistbury Head, a nature reserve that includes fascinating heathland, woodland, and freshwater wetland.  It is the home of rare birds and insects and is of great interest to environmentalists, ornithologists, archaeologists, and geologists, as well as the many outdoor countryside loving tourists, residents, ramblers, and cyclists.

The whole region is perfect for cycling, walking, dog walking, running, hiking, and every type of water sport. There are many trails and routes through the glorious gardens, around bustling harbours, along winding rivers, and across areas of stunning natural beauty such as Hengistbury Head and Stour Valley.

Beyond Bournemouth

Further afield in the east, west, and north of Dorset, the varied delights of Swanage, Lyme Regis, Dorchester, Corfe Castle, Monkey World, Wimborne Model Town, Paultons Park, Farmer Palmers Farm Park, and Sherborne Castle can be enjoyed by everybody.

There is so much to do Beyond the Beach!