High Street

Bournemouth has a great variety of independent shops alongside big-name stores. In the heart of the town is the Square, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens with the River Bourne flowing through it. Just a stone’s throw from the gardens and the beach, you can combine beach cafes and restaurants and the peaceful gardens with a spot of retail therapy.

The town is a mix of Victorian and modern architecture, and the centre is pedestrianised, so it’s safe and easy to get around the shops.  At the top of the town there is The Triangle, an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, where you can pick up everything from dancewear to a fabulous fancy dress outfit.  If it’s designer labels and a touch of luxury you are after, then a short stroll away to Westover Road is where you’ll find clothes, art, and jewellery along a canopied walkway.

If it’s original and independent you want, then get yourself along to The Arcade, host to pop up sellers.  It’s a pretty Victorian covered row reminiscent of times gone by with brand name shops, but with the addition of regular stalls appearing throughout the year, including artisan gin and vodka sellers to hand made textiles and paintings by local artists.

There are numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants dotted throughout the town to rest and refresh when you have had enough of the busy shops.

Boscombe Open Air Market takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays in the pedestrian precinct. Visit our market page for details on a selection of markets around the resort.