With spectacular beaches, fantastic views, historic gardens and a bustling town centre there’s no shortage of reasons to love Bournemouth… but if you do need more convincing, here’s a string of titles and awards, making us one of the UK’s most celebrated destinations.
Bournemouth named UK’s most Family Friendly Destination 2020
Our beloved beautiful Bournemouth beach has been named the UK’s most Family Friendly Destination for 2020. The national contest, run by HomeAway, saw votes from more than 3,000 members of the British public in their online competition in June.
Bournemouth received 30 per cent of the votes for the seaside category, beating off competition from Sennen Cove in Cornwall (27 per cent), Torquay in Devon (18 per cent) and Scarborough in North Yorkshire (12 per cent).
Clean, sandy beaches with a “friendly and vibrant” feel is how voters described our Dorset-based beach, home to several Blue Flag award-winning stretches.
Awards & Accreditations
The iconic Blue Flag is an international award presented to well-managed beaches with excellent water quality and environmental education programmes.
Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.
- Bournemouth’s Seaside Awards: Manor Steps, Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Fishermans Walk, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Boscombe
The Green Flag Awards scheme recognises and rewards well-managed park and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
- Green Flags (20): Alum Chine & Argyll Gardens, Boscombe Chine Gardens, Boscombe Overcliff Gardens & Nature Reserve, Fishermans Walk, Hengistbury Head, Kinson Common, Lower/Central/Upper Gardens, Moore Avenue, Muscliff Park, North Cemetery, Pelhams Park, Queens Park, Redhill Park & Common, Seafield Gardens, Slades Farm, Springbourne Gardens, Stour Valley, Tuckton Tea Gardens & Riverlands, Winton Recreation Ground, Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Purple Flag is an accreditation process similar to the Green Flag award for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches. It leads to Purple Flag status for town and city centres that meet or surpass the standards of excellence in managing the evening and night time economy. Bournemouth has been awarded Purple Flag status since 2010.
2019/2020 Awards:
2018 Awards:
- UK’s Best Beach (TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards)
- Best Seaside Town – silver (British Travel Awards)
- Glamping & Alternative Accommodation of the Year Gold – Bournemouth Beach Lodges (Dorset Tourism Awards)
2017 Awards:
- UK’s Best Seaside Town (British Travel Awards)
- Best UK Destination for Groups – finalist (Group Travel Awards)
- Coach Friendly Destination – finalist (British Coach Tourism Awards)
2016 Awards:
- Beach Hut Local Authority of the Year
- Quality Coast Award
- Best UK Destination for Groups – runner-up (Group Travel Awards)
- Tourism Information Service of the Year – silver (South West Tourism Awards)
- Coach Friendly Town (Confederation of Passenger Transport UK)
