It only takes a leisurely stroll down its fetching seven-kilometre beach to understand why Bournemouth is known as “The Jewel of England’s South Coast”. While its iconic beach and Victorian-era resort heritage remain the most enduring attractions in Bournemouth, visitors these days are just as likely to flock here for the shopping, the farm-to-table restaurants, energetic nightlife, and day trips along the stunning Dorset Coast.
If the summer weather allows, one of the finest things to do in Bournemouth is simply going for a swim at one of the four town beaches, or kick back in a deck chair with a novel. In spring and autumn, swap the sunbathing for a leisurely stroll down the promenade and pier. You can stop at one of the many terrace cafes for a coffee, a cocktail, or freshly caught fish and chips in the bracing ocean breeze. Fans of the Victorian era won’t want to miss a stroll around the historic town centre, home to many of the best-preserved examples of its famed Victorian architecture.
Bournemouth’s food scene has exploded in the past decade. Foodies will be thrilled by the array of tempting restaurants that specialise in seafood caught off the Dorset Coast. Famous culinary attractions in Bournemouth include its mix of local lobster, crab, mussels and oysters, depending on the season, while sole, plaice, mackerel and sea bass are favoured fish specialities. After dinner, enjoy cocktails at one of the eclectic pubs or lounge bars that line Exeter Road, Old Christchurch Road or Holdenhurst Road in Bournemouth, or head to the neighbouring beach village Boscombe. If you’re in the mood to dance as the evening goes on, you’ll find an impressive number of clubs and live music venues here too; Bournemouth lives up to its reputation as the beach town with the best nightlife in the country.