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Explore our beautiful parks and gardens

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Parks & Gardens

Bournemouth offers 2,000 acres of glorious gardens and parks just waiting to be explored all year round.

Areas to discover include the town centre’s gardens. Bournemouth’s Gardens are split into three areas of Victorian beauty - starting with the Lower Gardens, adjacent to the sea and leading to the Central Gardens in the town centre, and then the Upper Gardens.

The Upper, Central and Lower Gardens are maybe the most famous and retain much of their Victorian character and are Listed Grade II. You can take a beautiful walk from the seafront through these gardens for 1.5 miles and take in the many trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials from around the world, planted to provide interest throughout the year. The Lower Gardens are renowned for their floral bedding displays throughout the year, which are designed to bring together brilliant colours, subtle textures, height variations and scent.

The Lower Gardens play host to many events and attractions during the summer months including concerts at the Pine Walk Bandstand, the Aviary and the Pinewalk Art Exhibition. Pinewalk in the Lower Gardens was originally referred to as ‘Invalid’s Walk’ by the Victorians, when the aroma from the pine trees was considered beneficial for chest complaints.

Alum Chine boasts an award winning tropical garden which was laid out with paths, borders and dry stonewalls in the 1920s to create a terrace garden overlooking the bay. There are now many unusual exotic plants in the gardens for people to discover and they also offer a viewing point for fabulous views of the Bay.

Take the land train from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Chine Gardens featuring children’s water play area, mini golf and café. While you are in the area visit the Italianate Gardens just off Boscombe Cliff Road. Boscombe Gardens has been restored with a £2million project bringing the gardens back to the best of its Victorian past. The Italianate Gardens at Boscombe really are a secret hideaway and a beautiful setting next to the sea.

Just adjacent to these is the rock garden. Constructed in 1930, it is one of the largest Municipal rock gardens in the country. Based upon a series of terraces, planting pockets have been created to enable alpine and rock plants from around the world to be grown.

For wildlife lovers head inland and visit one of Bournemouth’s local nature reserves. Highlights include Stour Valley, Kinson Common and Turbury Common.

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Bournemouth Central Gardens

Bournemouth

The Central Gardens extend from the town centre to Coy Pond. They are now the home of the tennis courts, a children’s playground and a war memorial with beautiful rose borders, a Rhododendron Walk and heather beds.
Sherborne Castle & Gardens

Sherborne

Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and home to the Digby family since 1617, the Castle’s staterooms display glorious art, furniture and porcelain collections from the great periods of English history.

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
392 reviews
Alum Chine Tropical Gardens

Bournemouth

A chine is a steep dry river valley and Alum Chine is the largest of four Chines within Bournemouth.
Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre

Bournemouth

Spend the day at Hengistbury Head, to take in all that this stunning site has to offer. Enjoy panoramic views of Christchurch Harbour and Poole Bay, discover the rare plants and wildlife of this stunning nature reserve and learn about the important...

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
181 reviews
Bournemouth Upper Gardens

Bournemouth

The Upper Gardens hold many unusual tree species including a North American Giant Redwood (believed to be the largest in the country) and a group of mature Persian Ironwood trees.
Beaulieu National Motor Museum

Brockenhurst,

At the heart of the New Forest, Beaulieu is a multi-award winning family day out with something for everyone.

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
4905 reviews
Hengistbury Head

Southbourne, Bournemouth,

Hengistbury Head is a relatively unspoilt and south-facing pebble beach, with imposing clay and ironstone cliffs.
Kingfisher Barn

Bournemouth

Discover the riverside and encounter otters at this hidden gem in Muscliff , North Bournemouth.
Bournemouth Lower Gardens

Bournemouth

The Lower Gardens in Bournemouth are only a five minute walk from the main shopping centre, the beach and the pier.
Boscombe Cliff Gardens

Bournemouth

Originally opened in 1900, Boscombe Cliff Gardens merges into the Boscombe Overcliff Local Nature Reserve. The outward looking Cliff Gardens; leading through to the more sheltered Italianate Gardens both overlook beautiful cliffs grazed by a small...
Kingston Lacy

Wimborne

This magnificent house tells the story of a great Dorset family.

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1301 reviews
Boscombe Chine Gardens

Bournemouth

Boscombe Chine Gardens were developed originally from a ‘chine’ of heath and mire into a splendid Victorian garden, a central part of the then thriving Boscombe resort.
Longleat Stately Home and Safari Park

Warminster

Longleat, nestled within 900 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped grounds, is home to the UK’s original Safari Park, one of the best examples of Elizabethan architecture, with an abundance of exciting attractions including Jungle Kingdom and...

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
6832 reviews
The Blue Pool

Wareham

A unique Pool which varies in colour from green to turquoise is surrounded by 25 acres of pine trees, gorse and heather. A haven for families to enjoy and explore.

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
379 reviews
Athelhampton House and Gardens

Dorchester

Legendary site of King Athelstan's Palace. One of the finest 15thC manor houses, surrounded by glorious Grade I Listed garden with fountains, pools and waterfalls.

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
582 reviews
Stour Valley Nature Reserve

Bournemouth

This idyllic riverside Reserve forms part of the Stour Valley Way and provides a wall following a 2 mile stretch of the river Stour. It is perfect for walking, relaxing or exercising in the fresh air.

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