History & Culture

Smuggling History

Before it was an established holiday destination, Bournemouth was a real smuggler’s haunt. Our long, sweeping coastline was the perfect arrival point for contraband, and the many chines presented perfect locations to hide and store exploits. Today, the chines are beautifully gardened and provide idyllic walking paths to escape the heat of the beach. From Hengistbury Head to Alum Chine, you can explore the land beyond the beach and imagine what it would have been like for smugglers in their prime.

Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf course at Pier Approach provides a modern twist to this iconic part of Bournemouth history with a dose of adventure golf that is suitable for all ages.

Spa Town

Bournemouth became recognised as a spa town shortly after it was founded in the early 1800s. The revitalising sea air was often prescribed to those who’d spent too long in polluted London. Resort status for the town inspired an immense network of hotels and residencies, many of which function in the same way today. Perhaps most famous of the cliff-top buildings is the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, which houses a marvellous collection of artwork and sculpture curated by influential society members of the day; Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes. The Museum’s many exhibition spaces now house internationally acclaimed masters as well as works by local artists and is open to the public.

Literature

Dorset’s own Thomas Hardy affectionately described Bournemouth as ‘a Mediterranean lounging place on the English Channel’, and he wasn’t the only literary hero to enjoy Bournemouth. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ author JRR Tolkien moved down here in his later years to retire, taking up residence in the Miramar Hotel. Romanticist writers Percy and Mary Shelley’s influence can be found in the hospital-turned-theatre that their son built in Boscombe and the Mary Shelley pub, which sits in the Town Centre, a short distance away from her grave in St Peter’s Church.

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Venues

Aside from rest and relaxation, Bournemouth is well known for its great live shows and entertainment. It often attracts international events and acts to its large venues, such as the BIC, Pavilion Theatre, and the O2 Academy in Boscombe. The Odeon Cinema and BH2 Leisure Complex show the latest blockbusters on their state of the art screens, and our smaller venue theatres such as The Regent Centre in Christchurch, and the Lighthouse Centre for Arts in Poole, also show arthouse films, host classical musicians, and showcase contemporary performance, so you can feed your inner culture vulture.

Digital Culture

One exciting event that takes place every year at the BIC is the BFX festival. The festival is recognised as one of the world’s premier animation, film, and games festivals and showcases the latest practices and knowledge found in today’s digital economy. The event is designed and curated by Bournemouth University to inspire new talent and educate the next generation of practitioners. The event goes hand in hand with Bournemouth’s increasing digital industry and the work that comes out of the universities. Bournemouth sees more tech groups and digital media agencies populating the town and surrounding areas every day.

Explore

While you’re here in Bournemouth, you also have the chance to explore the rest of Dorset. Discover millions of years of history on the nearby Jurassic Coast and the secrets of Britain’s military past in the castles at Sherborne and Corfe. It’s also just a short drive to some of the region’s most spectacular geological assets. There are country parks and nature reserves nearby with educational centres and discovery trails that are great for romantic walks and days out with the family. The neighbouring counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire hold historical treasures, including the ancient hunting grounds of the New Forest and Salisbury’s soaring and majestic cathedral.

To read more about how the resort town of Bournemouth was formed, please visit our History of Bournemouth page.

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