Why go
- Town in Dorset, England.
- 1 curated must-see attraction on record, including Jurassic Coast.
- Served by Bournemouth Airport (BOH).
History
Bournemouth is a coastal resort town and civil parish in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest town in Dorset.
Must-see attractions
Outdoor
38 more attractions in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Where to stay
35a Cavendish Rd, Bournemouth BH1 1QZ, United Kingdom · littlerobingate.co.uk
The Rosscourt, 6 St John's Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1EL, United Kingdom · therosscourtbedandbreakfast.co.uk
112 Bennett Rd, Bournemouth BH8 8RL, United Kingdom · cosybee.net
20 Glen Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1HR, United Kingdom · kingsleyhotel.co.uk
23 Argyll Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1EB, United Kingdom · deuslodge.com
26 Pinewood Rd, Branksome Park, Poole BH13 6JS, United Kingdom · innintheparkpoole.co.uk
18 Pinewood Rd, Westbourne, Poole BH13 6JS, United Kingdom · grovefieldmanor.co.uk
41 Wimborne Rd, Bournemouth BH2 6NB, United Kingdom · butcombe.com
22 Bath Rd, Bournemouth BH1 2NS, United Kingdom · ihg.com
Exeter Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5AJ, United Kingdom · parkcentralhotel.co.uk
2 Ringwood Rd, Ferndown BH22 9AN, United Kingdom · thebridgehousehotel.co.uk
Derby Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3QB, United Kingdom · langtrymanor.co.uk
Westover Rd, Bournemouth BH1 2BZ, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
Salisbury Rd, Winkton, Christchurch BH23 7AS, United Kingdom · fishermanshauntdorset.co.uk
Richmond Hill, Bournemouth BH2 6EN, United Kingdom · alfahotels.co.uk
24a Christchurch Rd, St. Swithun's Roundabout, Bournemouth BH1 3NE, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
27 E Overcliff Dr, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 3AF, United Kingdom · cumberlandbournemouth.co.uk
8 Poole Rd, Westbourne, Bournemouth BH2 5QU, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
32 E Overcliff Dr, Bournemouth BH1 3AQ, United Kingdom · ocean-beach.oceana-collection.com
20 Knole Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 4DQ, United Kingdom · karin-travels.com
47 Christchurch Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 3PA, United Kingdom · charterhotel.co.uk
6 Suffolk Rd S, Bournemouth BH2 6AZ, United Kingdom · lagunaholidays.com
4 Glen Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1HR, United Kingdom · boscombe-spa-hotel.co.uk
29 Bath Rd, Bournemouth BH1 2NP, United Kingdom · burleycourthotel.co.uk
105 St Michael's Rd, W Cliff Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5DU, United Kingdom · marriott.com
34 Gervis Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3DH, United Kingdom · orchidhotel.co.uk
Derby Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3QE, United Kingdom · radissonhotels.com
Knyveton Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3QQ, United Kingdom · britanniahotels.com
58 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3PF, United Kingdom · balincourt.co.uk
21 Westby Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1HA, United Kingdom · thewestbyguesthouse.co.uk
Derby Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3QB, United Kingdom · derby-manor.co.uk
Central Dr, Bournemouth BH2 6LH, United Kingdom · theclubatmeyrickpark.com
52 Wimborne Rd, Talbot Woods, Bournemouth BH3 7AE, United Kingdom
14-16 Burnaby Rd, Westbourne, Bournemouth BH4 8JF, United Kingdom · rivierabournemouth.co.uk
Restaurants & places to go
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00;Sa 09:00-22:00;Su 09:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating Wikipedia: en:Custom House, Poole · The Quay, BH15 1HJ · customhousepoole.co.uk
Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Ice Cream, Regional, Cafe · Opening hours: 10:20-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · Poole Harbour, Poole, BH13 7EE · nationaltrust.org.uk
French, Restaurant · French restaurant · 15-17 Market Street, Poole, BH15 1NB · guildhalltavern.co.uk
Ice Cream · ice cream · The Quay · dorsetgifts.com
Bakery, Cafe · Speciality Coffee House bakeries & desserts healthy Breakfast Opening hours: 07:00-19:00 Features: outdoor seating · 26 Richmond Hill · liveoncafe.co.uk
British, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-23:00 Features: vegan options · 71 High Street, Christchurch, BH23 1AS · thelounges.co.uk
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su,PH 06:00-23:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 554-556 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 4BH · mcdonalds.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · 207 Lower Blandford Road, Poole, BH18 8DN · papajohns.co.uk
Frozen Yogurt, Dessert, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-17:00 Features: takeaway · 11 Falkland Square, Poole, BH15 1ER · shakeaway.com
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · Poole, BH12 4NY · locations.tacobell.co.uk
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30 · 14 Richmond Hill, BH2 6EJ · zizzi.co.uk
Sandwich, Bakery, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 06:30-19:00; Su 08:00-18:00 Features: takeaway · 617-619 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 4AP · greggs.com
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo,Tu 09:00-22:30; We-Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating · 1 Alder Road, Poole, BH12 4AY · harvester.co.uk
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr,Sa 11:00-03:00 Features: takeaway · 59-61 Commercial Road, BH2 5RH · kfc.co.uk
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00 Features: vegan options · 31-32 Westover Road, BH1 2BZ · wagamama.com
Fried Food, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-15:00 · 193 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU · bayleafcafepoole.co.uk
Chinese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · 195 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU · chinafusion.co.uk
International, Mediterranean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00 · 22 High Street, BH15 1BP · hinarkitchen.com
English, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 17:30-21:30 · 32 Station Road, Poole, BH14 8UD · isabelsrestaurant.co.uk
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-14:00,16:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:30-14:00,16:30-21:30; Su 16:30-21:00 · 73A Leigh Road, BH21 2AA · longjohnsfishandchips.co.uk
Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-21:00 Features: outdoor seating · 9 The Quay, Poole, BH15 1HJ · therockfish.co.uk
Thai, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 17:30-21:30; Fr,Sa 17:30-22:00 · 18 High Street, BH15 1BP · sakunakhruathai.co.uk
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 18:00-00:00 Features: takeaway · 189 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU · sammisindianrestaurant.co.uk
Caribbean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Th-Su 10:00-23:30, Fr,Sa 10:00-24:00
Steak, Restaurant · Steak restaurant · 553 Wallisdown Road, BH12 5AD · millerandcarter.co.uk
Cake, Sandwich, Ice Cream, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00; Sa-Su 09:00-16:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options,… · activedorset.org
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-16:00; Su 09:00-16:00 · 168-172 Station Road, West Moors, BH22 0JB · thefloristcafe.com
Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 07:00-23:00 · 667 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6AA
Kebab, Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 15:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 15:00-01:00; Su 16:00-22:00 · 191 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU
Pie And Mash, Fast Food · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 11:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · 4 High Street, Poole, BH15 1AD
Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Restaurant · Features: takeaway, vegetarian options, halal, step-free access, air conditioning · 232 Old Christchurch Road, BH1 1PE · beirutlounge.co.uk
Sushi, Restaurant · Features: delivery · 291 Wallisdown Road, BH12 5BT · morethansushi.co.uk
Steak House, Restaurant · Steak House restaurant · 61 Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BZ · funkigriller.co.uk
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · 7-8, Poole, BH14 9NB · jenkinssons.com
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Features: takeaway
Donut, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Greek, Restaurant · Greek restaurant · Exeter Crescent
Korean, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:30,17:00-21:00 · 344b Holdenhurst Road
Brazilian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 10:00-15:00 · 606 Wimborne Road, BH9 2EN
Turkish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00 · 17 High Street
Noodle, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 17:30-21:30; Fr-Su 17:00-21:30; Tu-Th off · Christchurch Road
Breakfast, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-16:00; Sa 08:00-15:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options, step-free access · 4 Christchurch Road,…
Hungarian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 17:00-21:00; Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa 13:00-22:00 · 332 Holdenhurst Road, BH8 8BE
Malaysian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We,Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa,Su 12:00-15:00,17:00-22:00 · 168-170 Holdenhurst Road
Japanese, Restaurant · Japanese restaurant · 353 Ashley Road, Poole, BH14 0AR · tomokoramen.co.uk
357 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Bournemouth Airport (BOH) 3.1 mi to the centre
Bournemouth, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 3 airlines (Ryanair, Transavia France, Aer Lingus) · direct flights to 17 destinations incl. Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Arrecife, Carcassonne… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves London (89 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 17 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 16 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Carcassonne, Chania, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gerona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Malaga, Malta, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 2 routes: Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- Aer Lingus EI (AT4) · 1 route: Dublin*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Bowerswaine Farm Airfield 11 mi to the centre
Wimborne, Dorset, ENG, GB
Batchley Farm Airstrip 13 mi to the centre
Hordle (Hampshire), ENG, GB
Getting there by ferry
Tuckton Tea Gardens
Ferry terminal · 4.3 mi from the centre · Vintage Ferry Service
Wick Ferry
Ferry terminal · 4.5 mi from the centre
Christchurch Quay
Ferry terminal · 4.8 mi from the centre · Vintage Ferry Service
Brownsea Island Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 5 mi from the centre
Greenslade Pleasure Cruises
Ferry terminal · 5 mi from the centre
Brownsea Island Ferries
Ferry terminal · 5 mi from the centre
Wick Ferry
Ferry route
Sandbanks Ferry
Ferry route · Bournemonth - Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company
Poole Quay - Brownsea Island
Ferry route · Greenslade Pleasure Boats
Christchurch & Tuckton Ferry
Ferry route
Mudeford Ferry
Ferry route
Poole (UK) - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (F)
Ferry route · Brittany Ferries
Poole (UK) – Guernsey (GBG)
Ferry route · Condor Ferries
Poole (UK) - Jersey (GBJ)
Ferry route · Condor Ferries (Condor Vitesse)
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bournemouth Airport (BOH); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BOH has direct flights to 17 destinations on 3 airlines (incl. Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Arrecife, Carcassonne…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Tuckton Tea Gardens, 4.3 mi); routes include Wick Ferry, Sandbanks Ferry, Poole Quay - Brownsea Island.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Bournemouth-Poole, United Kingdom. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach