Places To Visit

Bournemouth & Beautiful South Coast of England

Whether you want an easy day on the seven miles of beaches, or wish explore the New Forest National Park , Bournemouth and the South Coast have so much to offer. Please see the vast selection of brochures at the Cavendish or ask during your stay.

PIER & BEACHES

  • Just a short stroll down the clifftop walk to the Pier
  • 7 miles of sandy beaches, the East through to Hengistbury Head and the West Beaches to Sandbanks then over the ferry to Shell Bay and Studland Beach
  • Safe swimming on our award winning beaches
  • Lower Pleasure Gardens with its floral displays throughout the year
  • Crazy Golf in the Gardens and at rear of Sandbanks beach
  • Bournemouth Balloon – tethered “hot air” Balloon for a thrilling panoramic view across the outer landscape.
  • Surfing, rowing, paddle boarding watersports and sailing
  • Pleasure Boats from the Pier to Swanage, Poole Harbour & Brownsea Island .

WALKING & CYCYLING

  • Clifftop paths and the promenades.
  • Pier through the Central, Upper and Lower Pleasure Gardens.
  • Pine studded Chines of Bournemouth and Poole.
  • South Coast Path Swanage to Sandbanks or further afield the stunning Durdle Door & Lulworth Cove.
  • Bikes available to hire from the West Cliff or on the seafront by the Pier.

OCEANARIUM

  • Situated by the Pier, with plenty of aquarium sea life to view including the newest addition the Penguins

FIREWORKS

  • Every Friday evening from the end of July through August on Bournemouth Pier
  • Every Saturday off Poole Quay with street entertainment

BOURNEMOUTH AIR FESTIVAL

  • Completely free & by the sea – this event is the biggest outdoor free event in the U.K.
  • 4 day/night program every August of awesome air displays including several by the Red Arrows.

BUS RIDES

  • City sightseeing – Take an open top bus in summer, along the clifftop roads from Boscombe to Poole & Sandbanks. Buses run regularly so you can hop on and off as you please.
  • Ride from Hengistbury Head near Christchurch to Sandbank or further to Swanage crossing on the Sandbanks chain ferry

SHOPS

  • Town centre is mostly pedestrianized
  • Street entertainment & pavement cafes
  • 3 large department stores and most major chain stores represented.
  • French street market is often featured
  • Christmas market in December with a themed Market
  • Castle Point nearby features many large stores including a mega Marks & Spencer, ideal on a wet day.

THEATRES & CINEMAS

  • Pavilion Theatre offers concerts, ballet, opera and plays
  • Lighthouse Theatre in nearby Poole for plays and concerts.  This is also the home of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
  • Bournemouth International Centre for live concerts and shows

RUSSELL-COTES MUSEUM

  • Carefully restored building from Victorian times
  • Free entry
  • Many oriental treasures and art exhibits

MUSEUMS & STATELY HOMES

  • Kingston Lacey House, Wimborne
  • Lulworth Castle , Dorset
  • Broadlands House, Romsey
  • Wilton House, Salisbury
  • Beaulieu Motor Museum , New Forest
  • POOLE QUAY, Harbour & Brownsea Island
  • CHRISTCHURCH, Harbour, Quayside & Priory
  • Tank Museum, Bovington

GOLF

  • Meyrick Park & Queens Park are the nearest public courses
  • Solent Meads at Hengistbury Head, par 3 for beginners
  • Championship courses at Parkstone, Broadstone and Ferndown nearby
  • The Open Golf Centre at Iford in Bournemouth has a driving range and easier golf course – good for a family day out.  Moors Valley is a good intermediate course, and the family can be amused too on the Adventure Trails, Mini Steam Loco Rides and Picnic areas.
  • Barton on Sea
  • Isle of Purbeck
  • Canford Magna

TENNIS

  • Tennis Courts, some undercover, in the Upper Pleasure Gardens
  • West Hants Tennis Club

BOWLS

  • Knyveton Gardens , Meyrick Park and Argyll Bowls are the closest outdoor greens
  • Kings Park in Bournemouth is the closest indoor rink

NEW FOREST

  • Take a day out to explore the wild country of the New Forest National Park
  • Superb for walking, cycling, wagon rides and horse-riding
  • Visit the villages of Burley, Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst
  • Beaulieu Motor Museum and Palace Stately Home is popular
  • Boat trip up the Beaulieu River to Bucklers Hard

DORSET VILLAGES & JURASSIC COASTLINE

  • Drive into Dorset and see the woolly side!
  • Corfe Castle and Corfe Village & take the scenic steam train to Swanage.
  • Walk from Worth Matravers along the cliff paths of the Jurassic Coast, or around the Durlston Country Park at Swanage
  • Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Kimmeridge
  • Maiden Castle (Roman settlement)
  • Thomas Hardy’s Cottage (famous literary writer).

DISCOVER DORSET

Local tour company Discover Dorset Tours, provides tours throughout the year.  You will be collected directly from the West Cliff and taken in a small group (16 people max.) by a local guide to explore some of England’s finest scenery. Leaving after breakfast you will have a full and fascinating day out before returning to the hotel later in the afternoon.

STONEHENGE, SALISBURY & THE NEW FOREST

A full day tour visiting Stonehenge, Salisbury and the New Forest. Experience England’s Neolithic and Medieval past, and learn about the New Forest and its inhabitants.

ISLE OF PURBECK & JURASSIC COAST WORLD HERITAGE SITE

A full day tour exploring Studland, Swanage, Corfe Castle, Kimmeridge, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. Experience tranquil rural Dorset villages and dramatic coastal walks just a stone’s throw from bustling Bournemouth.

For full details and to check current availability please visit: www.discoverdorset.co.uk