Longthorns
Wareham
Dorset
Location
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH2 5AA
Bournemouth Central Gardens
The Central Gardens extend from the town centre to Coy Pond and were first developed in the 1870s.
About
The Central Gardens extend from the town centre to Coy Pond and were first developed in the 1870s. 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. A Pergola was added in 1990 to commemorate the centenary of the borough of Bournemouth. Trails are marked throughout the Bournemouth Gardens, with information boards and signs along the way. Bournemouth is justly proud of its gardens and floral heritage – these gardens form a quiet retreat from the busy life of the town.
If you want to enjoy a leisurely bike ride then The Bourne Valley Greenway cycle route runs right through this part of the gardens from the town centre all the way through to Branksome so you can hop on your bike or hire one in town. As well as being a wonderful place to cycle it is also a great place to walk and relax, you can take a well earned rest from shopping on one of the many benches dotted through this area or layout your picnic blanket and bask in the sun whilst you watch the world go by.
If it's family activitities you are searching for then rent one of the tennis courts for a few hours, or just enjoy being a spectator whilst you watch others play. Alternatively, grab a coffee in town and enjoy a peaceful walk stopping off at the fantastic play area for children complete with a sandpit, zipwire and swings, it will keep your little ones amused for hours whilst you relax in the beauty of these peaceful gardens.
Bournemouth Central Gardens
Avenue Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH2 5SL
Boscombe Beach
A vibrant beach known for its surf culture.
About
Transformed from a traditional 1950's style resort into an exciting, activity packed stretch of award-winning seafront, Boscombe's gently shelving Blue Flag beach provides a perfect family playground.
With climbing boulders, slacklining, table tennis and volleyball on hand plus equipment available to hire, challenge the family to a tournament with one of the many beach activities on offer. RNLI Lifeguards from May to September mean water-based adventure awaits. Explore the waves with friendly expert tuition from one of the local surf schools and pick up a new skill or hobby that will get you out on the water. Free to enter, the iconic Boscombe Pier offers fabulous views across Poole Bay with plenty of traditional fun and kiosks for a welcome snack. The pier is also a great location for fishing, just pick up a permit from Boscombe Beach Office.
Boscombe Beach is easy to reach, just walk along the promenade from Bournemouth Pier. Alternatively there is popular beachside car parking at the small visitors car park near Boscombe Pier.
For wheelchair users one beach accessible wheelchair is available from Boscombe Beach office. Available May to September on a first come, first served basis from 9:30am to 4:30pm, users need to pay a fully refundable £50 cash deposit. Please note there is no pre-booking service for the wheelchairs. Boscombe beach has Mobi-Mats to help wheelchair users move easily from the promenade onto the sand and closer to the sea in place between May and September and accessible beach huts for hire.
Fourteen fixed electric beach BBQs are available from early summer until October, between 10am to 10pm, on a first come, first served basis. Free to use, the environmentally friendly hot plate design is perfect for sharing on this family friendly beach. The communal BBQs will help beach visitors reduce litter and leave only footprints after a day on the sand. The clever timer system is designed to give 20 minutes cooking time with an auto switch off system. For more information and details of more electric BBQ locations check our user guide.
Away from the hustle and bustle, visitors can relax on the sands that stretch over 1km either side of Boscombe Pier and is the perfect place to find a new hobby, join a group sports session, hire equipment, courts and classrooms or just enjoy the stunning surroundings as you relax, rejuvinate and have some fun.
Boscombe Beach
Boscombe
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH5 1BN
Durley Chine Beach
A quieter beach perfect for relaxation.
About
Durley Chine Beach is one of Bournemouth's favourite Blue Flag award winning beaches, particularly loved by the locals for its wide, exceptionally clean, sandy and shingle beaches situated further to the West of Bournemouth, away from the hustle and bustle of Bournemouth Pier and the town centre. Access Durley Chine beach via a sloping car park or from Middle Chine.
The beach is popular with young families due to convenient facilities such as toilets with baby changing facilities, lost children centres, RNLI lifeguard stations, dog friendly zones, a pub, cafes and ice cream kiosks. Additional accessible toilets, cycle parking and refreshments are available from 10 February 2023 at the new Durley Environmental Hub.
Award winning Durley Chine Beach also has an abundance of colourful beach huts to rent all year round from the local beach office.
On a clear day enjoy excellent views out over the Solent of the Isle of Wight and Old Harry's Rocks.
Durley Chine Beach
A quieter beach perfect for relaxation.
About
Durley Chine Beach is one of Bournemouth's favourite Blue Flag award winning beaches, particularly loved by the locals for its wide, exceptionally clean, sandy and shingle beaches situated further to the West of Bournemouth, away from the hustle and bustle of Bournemouth Pier and the town centre. Access Durley Chine beach via a sloping car park or from Middle Chine.
The beach is popular with young families due to convenient facilities such as toilets with baby changing facilities, lost children centres, RNLI lifeguard stations, dog friendly zones, a pub, cafes and ice cream kiosks. Additional accessible toilets, cycle parking and refreshments are available from 10 February 2023 at the new Durley Environmental Hub.
Award winning Durley Chine Beach also has an abundance of colourful beach huts to rent all year round from the local beach office.
On a clear day enjoy excellent views out over the Solent of the Isle of Wight and Old Harry's Rocks.
Hengistbury Head Beach
Hengistbury Head is a relatively unspoilt beach to the east.
About
Hengistbury Head is a relatively unspoilt beach, consistently featuring in the annual TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice® awards for Beaches. It has a south-facing pebble beach, with imposing clay and ironstone cliffs, and soft, sandy beaches at Mudeford spit, which is lined with the famous colourful Mudeford beach huts. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on site, but off the beaches, please respect that this is a nature reserve with plenty of rare and easily-frightened wildlife, keeping your four-legged friends under close control (on a lead is just perfect).
A nice idea might be to spend the day at Hengistbury Head – ride the land train from the Hiker Café down to Mudeford and enjoy the beaches, take a pleasant stroll back (if you wish), stopping in at the Visitor Centre to pick up a few local, coastal or environmentally-friendly souvenirs (the money spent in the shop helps support the conservation work on site). There is plenty of parking, with toilets and cafés at both ends of the site.
Please be aware that barbecues are not permitted anywhere on Hengistbury Head, including its beaches. Please help to keep the reserve a special place for all, and make sure you #leaveonlyfootprints.
Hengistbury Head Beach
Southbourne
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH6 4EW
Mudeford Quay
About
Mudeford Quay is situated at the entrance of Christchurch Harbour and South of Mudeford village centre.
The Quay comprises of The Haven Inn public house, a number of ex-fishermans' cottages and a large car park, it is still used by local fishing boats as well as being a base for many water sports. A RNLI inshore lifeboat station is on the Quay. The Quay is also a popular place for families with the shop at the end of the Quay selling crabbing nets, buckets and bait.
Watersports equipment is available for hire from nearby vendors and the Mudeford Ferry operates every 15 minutes during the warmer months taking passengers across the small channel to Mudeford Sand Spit and Hengistbury Head.
The Haven House is a collection of Dutch Cottages which have existed since 1697 and are the oldest buildings in mudeford. Today the buildings consist of a pub, cafe, restaurant and accomodation.
The beaches at Avon and Friars Cliff are easily accessed from the Quay via Gundimore Promenade which extends eastwards from the Quay. Avon Beach is just a short walk away and provides more choices for eating and drinking, as well as a lovely sandy beach. If you continue walking past Avon Beach, you will reach Friars Cliff beach, Steamer Point Nature Reserve and the grounds of Highcliffe Castle.
Mudeford
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 3NQ
Contact
Visit website
Tel: 01929 462537RockReef Activity Centre & Pier Zip
About
RockReef Indoor Activity Attraction is located at the end of Bournemouth Pier. RockReef is an all-year, all-weather attraction based on adventure sports and includes 28 Clip ’n Climb fun, themed, indoor climbing walls providing varying degrees of exciting challenges suitable for all abilities and all ages from 4-94!
Other activities include a Vertical Slide drop, a HighLine high ropes aerial obstacle course and the Pier Cave which is a 65-linear metre indoor fun cave experience.
Please check the website for the latest up-to-date information and opening hours.
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