Bournemouth - UK. Bournemouth Bournemouth England

Known for its manicured sandy beaches, Bournemouth is the center of Europe's largest non-industrial strip, which stretches from Lymington to Poole Harbour. The resort has a certain atmosphere of being on vacation. True, neighboring Poole and Christchurch are more historically interesting. To the north of this coastal area is the pleasant old market town of Wimborne, with one of the most amazing churches in the area, and nearby is the ancient castle of Kingston Lacy, which contains a collection of works by masters of painting.

Trains from Waterloo stop one mile east of the city center, but the bus station opposite operates at short intervals into the city. The tourist office is located in the heart of the city on Westover Road (mid-July - mid-September Monday-Saturday 9.30-19.00, Sunday 10.30-17.00; mid-September - mid-July Monday-Saturday 9.30-17.30). You can exchange money and purchase National Express travel tickets at the tour desk.

There is no shortage of accommodation in the Bournemouth area - there are over 400 hotels in the city to suit all budgets. However, there is no tourist camp in the center - the nearest is north of Christchurch. The following accommodation options are available:

1). Bournemouth Backpackers Hotel– A small, friendly hotel, 3 miles from the railway and bus stations. An overnight bunk costs up to £16 in season and just £9 otherwise or for two nights or more. There are also double rooms. Location: 3 Frances Road;

2). Hotel Connaught– A well-equipped three-star hotel 5 minutes walk from the city center and the beach, with excellent leisure facilities and a restaurant. Discounts are available for longer stays. Location: West Hill Road, West Cliff;

3). Earlham Lodge Hotel– The hotel is located next to the beach, all rooms are luxury, some have four-poster beds. There is a parking space. Location: 91 Alumhurst Road, Alum Chine;

4). Grove Hotel– Conveniently located family owned hotel. Has its own plot. Location: 2 Grove Road, East Cliff;

5). Langtry Manor Hotel– Once the secret rendezvous of Edward VII and his lady Lilly Langtry, this comfortable, well-equipped hotel has Edwardian furnishings and periodically hosts banquets on Sunday evenings. Location: 26 Derby Road, East Cliff;

6). Royal Bath Hotel– The pompous hotel of the late Victorian era is one of the best, but at the same time the most expensive hotels in the city. It is located in the very center, with beautiful views of the sea. Guests are offered a well-equipped leisure complex, including a swimming pool and gymnasium. Location: Bath Road;

7). Tudor Grange– Tudor style house with attractive interior and gardens located on the east side of the town. Location: 31 Gervis Road, East Cliff.

Bournemouth attractions

The English town of Bournemouth dates back to 1811, when the Dorset landowner Louis Tregonwell built a summer house in the wild, deserted, heather-covered area that this coastal strip represented, where he planted the first pine trees that have now become a characteristic feature of the area . By the end of the century, Bournemouth's mild climate, sheltered location and famous sandy beach had attracted almost 60,000 residents. Today the resort has twice as many residents and has a genteel, sedate image, although nursing homes are balanced by a growing number of multilingual schools and a nightclub fueled by a transient youth population.

The modern, mild-climate town you see these days bears little resemblance to the Bournemouth of its Victorian glory, although the River Bourne still flows down through the park to the town center - a network of one-way streets around the Square - and then down to Bournemouth Pier. (Bournemouth Pier). Along with sunbathing on the pristine sandy beach - one of the cleanest beaches in the city - the city's signature feature is its unusually high proportion of green space, which continued into its heyday at the end of the 19th century. In addition to more than 3 million pine trees, one-sixth of the city (that's 2,000 acres) is dedicated to garden crops, and it can take a whole day to explore the public gardens.

However, Bournemouth's most impressive asset is the region's finest collections of Victorian craftsmanship, the excellent Russell-Coates Art Gallery and Museum, located on East Cliff Promenade (Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm; free entry). They house an eclectic collection of artwork and oriental souvenirs from around the world, acquired by the Russell-Coates family, owners of the hotel who made their fortune during Bournemouth's late-Victorian tourism boom.

Their former luxuriously decorated home, with its unusual stained glass and rich ceiling paintings, is filled to overflowing with colorful collections, among which the most interesting are Japanese artifacts. There are also some nice Pre-Raphaelite and other British art works downstairs. There are decorations everywhere, and there is also a garden on top of a cliff. In the town centre, you can visit the churchyard of St Peter's Church, east of the square, where the author of the horror Gothic tale Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, is buried, along with the heart that belonged to her husband, the romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, a former resident of Boscombe. The graves of Mary's parents, the radical thinker William Godwin and the feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, are also located here.

Food and drink in Bournemouth

While there are quick service eateries, Bournemouth has few places to eat, although you can still find seafood in its sister establishments. Likewise, the city has plenty of great drinking establishments, but you'll have to go off the beaten track and find a pub that has both real ale and the right atmosphere.

1). Bistro Beach Esplanade– The bistro is located right on the beach. Specializes in preparing fresh meat and seafood dishes. Places are often booked several days in advance. Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays. Prices are moderate. Location: Southbourne end;

2). Brass House Cafe– One of Bournemouth's most popular cafe bars. Meals are also available. The establishment may be noisy. Location: 8 Westover Road;

3). Restaurant CH2– An elegant, modern restaurant specializing in meat dishes and mussels, with a variety of sauces and a large assortment of fish dishes. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Prices are moderate. Location: 37 Exeter Road;

4). Chez Fred store– A well-known shop that sells deep-fried fish and chips and also offers wine rolls. Inexpensive. Location: 10 Seamoor Road, Westbourne;

5). Goat and Tricycle Pub“It's worth the arduous trek up the mountain to taste the real ale and home-cooked food in this quiet and unpretentious pub. Prices range from inexpensive to moderate. Location: 27 West Hill Road;

6). Restaurant Salathai– Authentic Thai dishes with sauces including red pepper chicken and stir-fried noodles. Closed on Sundays. Prices are moderate. Location: 1066 Christchurch Road, Boscombe;

7). West Beach Restaurant– A good restaurant specializing in seafood, which also delivers prepared meals to your home (in summer). Located in the center, on the Promenade near the pier. On Thursday evenings there is a jazz orchestra. Prices are moderate. Location: Pier Approach.

Nightlife and entertainment in Bournemouth

Foreign university students and young tourists contribute to the lively nightlife, although traditional entertainment, featuring comedians long past the height of their fame, continues to cast a dark shadow over the stage life. The main nightlife venues are located north of the pier - the Pavilion Theater with its own ballroom; the Winter Gardens, home to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; numerous cinemas and an ice skating rink. Pick up a copy of Live Wire's free monthly newsletter to find out what's happening around town.

Of the nightclubs, the largest and most famous is Elements, in the heart of the city, on Firvale Road (currently open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Mainstream club music and house dominate, along with R&B and revival nights. There is also a nearby pub club called Circo. Nearby on Fairvale Road, Slam Bar plays dance music on the ground floor and R&B and hip-hop in the basement. On Terrace Road, K-Bar, which is both a bar and restaurant, serves a late-night diet of R&B, garage, funk and house, with comedy on Sundays.

The Triangle Club, the largest gay club, is located at the top of Commercial Road from the square. Bumbles, on Poole Hill (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday), plays dance music and music from the 70s and 80s. In Boscombe, a well-attended venue, the Opera House, 570 Christchurch Road, is open on Fridays and Saturdays as a traditional club. On Thursdays it is a student night club, and on Sundays it is mainly a club for gay citizens.

On a quieter note, the Bournemouth International Festival takes place over two weeks in late June and early July. Performers of all musical genres take part in it. There is also a busking festival that takes place around the second weekend of May - check with the tourist office.

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Bournemouth is a city in England, in the county of Dorset. Popular among the British as a wonderful resort on the English Channel, neighboring the town of Poole to the west. The name translates as “the mouth of the Born” - after the name of the small river that flows into the strait at this point. The population of Bournemouth is 163.5 thousand people. The administrative center of the unitary unit of Bournemouth.

The history of the resort in Bournemouth began in 1810, when the Dorset landowner Tregonwell began to build a summer house here and was the first to appreciate the local beaches and picturesque ravines. After 30 years, there were already 26 settlements in these lands. In 1870 the railway came to Bournemouth, bringing thousands of Londoners here every summer. The city has become especially popular among retirees.

Bournemouth's many public buildings often host conferences and congresses. Bournemouth University was founded in 1992. Stretching 11km along the south Dorset coast, Bournemouth is one of the UK's largest holiday resorts. First of all, it is famous for its long promenade and wide sandy beaches.

Bournemouth is perfect not only for relaxation, but also for learning English. Clean sandy beaches, mild climate and warm sea - every year more and more attract students to study English here. Most of the city's income comes from education. The majority of Bournemouth's population are students from all over the world. We can say that Bournemouth is a small international city. Bournemouth can be described as this: it is a city where you never get bored. There are all conditions for recreation and entertainment: a lot of good restaurants, cafes and traditional English pubs, as well as discos, nightclubs, theaters and museums.

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What to see in Bournemouth

Regardless of whether you come to Bournemouth for the whole holiday, for a week, or you are just passing through for 1 day, we will help you choose the most interesting places. There is something to see here - for example, attractions; you will find information about each place with us: from opening hours to a detailed description with photographs. Below is a list of the best places in Bournemouth, based on ratings and reviews from users of our site. You, too, can take part in the formation of the ranking of places by leaving your review and rating. This will help our future users choose what interesting things to see in Bournemouth.

Top attractions in Bournemouth

When the question arose about where to learn English, I had no doubts - it should be learned only in England, the homeland of Shakespeare, so I immediately began monitoring websites and studying schools offering English language training. Bormnut turned out to be the most affordable in terms of price and living conditions, and having received a visa, I set off to conquer the English language in Foggy Albion.

Bournemouth is a small provincial town in the south of England, where all life breathes peace and tranquility.

The city is located in the county of Dorset, on the seashore, the English Channel, the population is about 165 thousand people, the majority of the population is elderly ladies and gentlemen.

Bournemouth is considered a resort town: compared to other English climates, the weather here is excellent (although, of course, it took me a long time to get used to the fact that in the morning in Bournemouth there is bright sun, heavy rain pours in the afternoon, and a chilly wind blows in the evening, but in comparison With the London climate, it is, of course, heavenly warmth here), and that is why many Englishmen come here from other cities to warm their bones in the sun and breathe in the fresh sea air.

In the city itself there are many parks, squares, the beach is wide and clean, the sea is relatively warm in summer, up to 23 degrees (many people bravely swim even at a temperature of 15 degrees), there is an embankment, the ancient buildings in Bournemouth are completely beautiful and majestic, there are many residential apartments, The town is clean and cozy.

Various entertainment events, concerts, and exhibitions are often held here. In August, for example, there was an Air-Festifal, with aircraft from the Royal Air Force and the Navy on display.

There are a lot of visiting young people in the city, because there are more than a dozen international schools for studying English. Here you can meet students from all over the world, starting from and ending in Dubai. There are few Russians among the students, which was a plus for me. However, Russian speech is often heard here, because there are Russians in Bournemouth itself, plus often many Russians come from London to relax for the weekend.

How to get there

There are many ways to get to Bournemouth. There are buses and trains from London, you can take a taxi, or rent a car.

By plane

It is not possible to get to Bournemouth by plane from Russian cities. The city has an airport, about a 10-minute drive from the city, but there are only international flights: you can fly to Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, etc. A full list of countries to which planes fly from Bournemouth is given on the official website of the airport.

So if you decide to get to Bournemouth by plane, then such a possibility is excluded here; alternatively, you can fly from Russia to London/Glasgow/another English city, and get there from there.

Getting to London from Moscow and St. Petersburg is very easy: there are direct flights from Aeroflot. In addition, English airlines offer comfortable flights for an affordable price (approximately 280 EUR). You can find out more about how to get to London.

By train

You can get from London to Bournemouth by train; the travel time compared to the bus is almost the same - 2 hours or 2.30. The cost will be more expensive, about 58.7 EUR, but if you book early, you can find tickets much cheaper.

It’s convenient that the bus station and the railway station are located on the same square, so when you get off the bus/train, you can take a taxi to the address you need or take the appropriate bus (almost all local bus routes run past the station). Just keep in mind that there are two railway stations in Bournemouth, one - which is located next to the bus station - is the central one, trains from London come here, and there is another one - in Pokesdown (this is in the east of Bournemouth).

The train ride promises to be comfortable, the trains run quietly, without the usual Russian noises, the carriages are comfortable and comfortable.

From the station you can get to the city center:

• by bus - price about 4 EUR; They're coming 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b to the Bournemouth Square stop - this is the center!
• by taxi - a little more expensive, approximately 7 EUR; Taxis stand near the entrance to the station, buses stop opposite.

By bus

Wonderful National Express buses run from London to Bournemouth; for example, I used them to get to Bournemouth. The journey takes about 3 hours; you can take the bus both at the airport itself and in the city, at the central bus station. The cost varies depending on where you start from, and is around 35 EUR. I was traveling from Heathrow, and my one-way ticket cost 39.2 EUR. Not cheap, let's say.

By the way, tickets can be purchased both at the box office and in special terminals, which is very convenient.

How to get from the bus station to the city center

Once you arrive in Bournemouth, there are two ways to get to the city center: either by regular bus or by taxi. Taxis are parked in a row opposite the bus station, near the entrance to the railway station, payment is made by meter. Buses 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b go to the Bournemouth Square stop, this is the very center of the city, ticket price is about 2.35 EUR, the ride takes 5-7 minutes.

By car

Wikipedia writes that if you want to attend some significant event, it is better to come to Bournemouth very early or even in the evening. Otherwise, you can sit in a traffic jam on the A31 highway for an indefinite amount of time. I absolutely agree, traffic jams on the highway are crazy, so if you choose a car, be careful.

If you get from London to Bournemouth by car, the journey will take about 2 hours (assuming there are no traffic jams), the distance between the cities is 150 km, the average cost of renting a car is 35 EUR.

You need to go something like this :)

By ferry

Near Bournemouth (8 km) in a town called Poole there is a port from where ferries run to other cities, so if you are traveling from the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, as well as the western channel ports and Cherbourg, you can choose a ferry transport and get to Bournemouth high-speed ferry, you can find out the cost of tickets, as well as the schedule. Depending on the route, the cost varies from 60 to 150 EUR.

The range of prices depending on the season is not too wide; for certain types of services, for example, training, it is cheaper to go in winter (schools reduce prices by 10-20 percent), but for other items (things, products, etc.) the cost remains almost unchanged

Bournemouth in winter

In winter, Bormnut on New Year's Eve is very beautiful, all glows and shimmers, decorated with garlands and animation, Christmas music plays in the square, and you can feel the approaching holidays in the air.

An ice skating rink is being built in the park near the embankment.

After the holidays, life mostly comes to a standstill; the only entertainment left is the skating rink, cinema, trips to other cities (for example, to)

The average temperature in Bormmouth in winter is about 0-5 degrees, quite acceptable for quick walks from the bus stop to home :)

Bournemouth - monthly weather

Clue:

Bournemouth - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

According to the map kindly provided to us by the English School, Bournemouth includes the following areas:

• The central part is called Bournmouth town center
• Other areas - Kinson, Poole, Christchurch, etc.

As you can see from the map, the main part of the hotels is concentrated in the center - Bournmouth town center. The remaining areas are, for the most part, residential areas. Of course, it also has its own infrastructure, but on weekends, as a rule, everything freezes and there is absolutely nothing to do here. What is not highlighted in circles is also residential areas :)

If you look at Bournemouth from above, you will notice that it is a city of low-rise buildings, most of the houses are small two-story houses in a typical English style. There are practically no external fences near houses, as in Russia, in England, but there are small courtyards, nice and cozy.

They also don’t have vegetable gardens; in the courtyard, as a rule, there is a garden, and lawn grass or some other unpretentious flower grows in the garden.

By the way, black raspberries grow in England; their taste is not very different from the red raspberries we are used to.

In the central part of the city there are high-rise buildings; if you wish, you can rent a room or apartment. If we briefly describe the apartment that is offered for rent, it looks something like this: a small entrance hall, from which there is a long corridor, on the sides there are rooms with an area of ​​approximately 10-15 sq.m., there is one spacious common kitchen, a separate bathroom and a separate toilet. You can rent one room or an apartment. Most visitors prefer to rent rooms, it is convenient and profitable.

The only thing you need to consider when renting an apartment is that renting an apartment in England is not so easy; as a rule, landlords ask for a bunch of documents confirming your solvency, as well as documents confirming the legality of your stay in the country.

When choosing a place to stay in Bournemouth, give preference to the central area. In terms of price, the districts are practically the same, but when it comes to choice, the center, of course, wins. All the main shops are concentrated in the center, the square hosts performances of various groups, etc., on the embankment (which is also nearby) there is always some kind of activity going on: either guys are frolicking on jet skis, or festivals of various kinds are held.

On my own behalf, I can add that I lived in the Winton area, it is a residential area, it is located 15 minutes by bus or half an hour walk from the city center. The area is a typical low-rise building; on weekends everyone stays at home or goes to the beach. Almost all the shops are closed, cafes operate through one, the area is practically dying out, there is no one on the streets. It can be boring, so choose the center.

All areas, except the center, are residential areas, of course, with their own infrastructure, but the main life is concentrated in Bournmouth town center, so I think there is no point in describing each area specifically. The city is small, provincial, all activities take place in the center!

Main attractions. What to see

Sea

Since the city is located on the English Channel, the main attraction of the city, of course, is the sea itself, and with it all the other entertainment.

The embankment in Bournemouth is long, it stretches almost along the entire coastline. Small buses run here from one end of the embankment to the other. Multi-colored beach houses are scattered around the perimeter - also considered to some extent one of the city's attractions. In such houses, local ladies and gentlemen store (no, not potatoes) sun loungers, towels, dishes, etc. - everything they need for a pleasant pastime.

Oceanarium

On the embankment near the central pier there is an oceanarium: it is small but cozy.

There are penguins :)

Parks

The next attraction of Bournemouth is the parks: the city has more than 2,000 acres of gardens and parks in which you can walk all year round.

This is the central part of Bournemouth.

Near the embankment.

There are museums in the city, I visited the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, more on that below.

Football

When talking about Bournemouth, you must definitely mention one of the symbols of this city - the football team. Personally, I was not able to attend the match of this team, but according to many, the game of this team is impressive; the games are held at a stadium called Dean Court. It is definitely recommended to watch the game! Tickets and match schedules can be found here.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are few museums in Bournemouth; I personally only came across the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum; when I was there, admission was free, but now admission costs about 7 EUR.

The museum operates on the following schedule: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, closed on Monday, and also closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (December 26).

The museum is quite authentic, having previously been the home of two Victorian collectors and travel enthusiasts, Sir Merton and Lady Annie Russell-Cotes. Inside there is a classic English atmosphere, beautiful interiors, luxurious sculptures, furniture, paintings, everything that is pre-English and royal.

What to see in 1 day

So, if you are lucky and have the opportunity to see the city in one day, then the route can be built around the central part of the city:

• take a bus or taxi to the city center, stop Bournemouth Square, from there you go towards the sea, through a beautiful park, in the park you can take some authentic photos, feed the squirrels and take something to eat with you to the beach.
• You can lie on the beach (weather permitting) and take a dip in the sea. If the weather is bad or not at all in season, visit the aquarium, look at the beautiful fish and admire the cute little penguins.
• There is a cinema near the embankment, you can go and watch some of the latest movies. If cinema doesn't suit you, you can drive to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum and wander around there.
• After a movie or a museum, in a good mood, you can walk along the central street and buy something for your soul. More details about shopping are written below: section “what to buy”;
• You can end a pleasant, idle day in an English pub; there are plenty of them in the central part of the city. Just don’t forget your passport, otherwise they might not let you in.

What to see in the area

If time permits, a trip out of town would be ideal; there are plenty of interesting places to visit outside of Bournemouth. You can take a separate tour or get there by bus yourself. It’s better to take a tour, it’s cheaper, and there’s no need to worry about the return trip. List of must see in the UK, located near Bournummouth:

1. Stonehenge– distance about 50 km. I think everyone knows what Stonehenge is, an incomprehensible large structure made of huge stones that arose incomprehensibly how and incomprehensibly from where.
2. Bath is a city located 80 km from Bournemouth, famous for its healing springs, known back in ancient Rome. The city has many beautiful architectural structures and an amazing atmosphere. There is a combined excursion that includes a visit to Stonehenge and the city, the cost is about 40 GBP, you can see Bath and Stonehenge in one day, very convenient.
3. Near Bormmouth there is another beautiful historical site, the Jurassic Coast. The Jurassic Coast is located 30 km from the city and is a steep coastline more than 150 km long. The place is unique and is under the auspices of UNESCO. There are also joint tours there, and there are also boat trips in this direction.
4. . To be in Bournemouth and not visit is simply a crime. There are countless amazing places in this city alone: ​​Big Ben, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, the Dali Universe Museum, the Dickens, Sherlock Holmes, Freud, British Museum, etc. Don't forget to drop by the King's Cross metro station, where the train station from where Harry Potter left for Hogwarts is located. You can get to London by regular bus, the journey takes about 2.5 hours.

Clubs and nightlife

There are plenty of bars and nightclubs to visit in Bormouth - there are more than a hundred of them in total. Almost at the entrance to every club or bar there is security who requires a passport or ID; without documents you will not be allowed in. In some places, the passport is scanned, so it is impossible to enter without identification documents. If you are under 18 years old, you will also not be able to enter pubs/bars/clubs.
The cost of entry to the club is about 5.75 EUR, if you have outerwear (a jacket or a jacket that you want to put in the wardrobe), prepare another 3.45 EUR.
The music in clubs is mostly pop - what is heard on the world pop charts. It varies in bars; Sometimes local DJs play some good stuff.

The main clubs and bars are concentrated in the central part of the city, the most famous are Halo (nice Englishmen opened a nightclub in a former church building), Cameo, Inferno, Sound Circus. As for bars and pubs, they are located throughout the city. The main core, of course, is concentrated in the center, but there are also good establishments on the periphery. Students from our school gathered on weekends in a nice place called "The brunswick pub", it is located in the Winton area (199 Malmesbury Park Road)

The hot spot is the So bar (free entry), as well as the loft-bar Canvas.

Most clubs are open until 5 am, bars close a little earlier - around 3 am. Due to the fact that there are a lot of young people, the clubs are open every day, and in the summer, during the high season, there are always enough people.

By the way, there are a lot of gay people in Bournemouth, so meeting a transsexual in a club is a common occurrence; the British love to dress in women’s clothing and walk around the streets and bars like that. So don’t be too scared if you meet a group of 10 tall adult men in women’s dresses and stockings; in England this is normal (although it may shock some). Moreover, you can meet painted men not only in the evening, but also during the day; I was somehow lucky and I met a transvestite in a store when I was buying milk and bread);

If you want to specifically look at trannies, then in Bournemouth you can visit Rubyz Shows, they have parties almost every evening (subject to prior reservation), the price of a ticket with dinner is 45.95 EUR, just a show is 25.3 EUR. The show takes place at the New Westcliff Hotel.

Safety. What to watch out for

Bormnut itself is a safe city, police officers cruise the streets, carefully keeping an eye on order on the streets; The population is quiet, peaceful, not quarrelsome.

My friends and I returned on foot from the club a couple of times at night; nothing threatened our safety. The most that can scare you is the foxes that periodically cross the road. And there is peace and quiet in the city.

Things to do

There is always something to do in Bournemouth if you wish. Since the city is located on the seashore, surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing are very popular here, so if you want to learn how to ride the wave, there are many schools in the city that teach these sports. Prices, as elsewhere in England, are not cheap; the estimated price for one individual lesson is about 58.7 EUR.

Of the free entertainment, this is, of course, a beach holiday. During the day, if the weather is good, you can go to the beach and swim; in the evening, musical groups perform concerts on the same embankment on weekends.

In addition, on the beach itself there is a lot of all kinds of entertainment for children and adults; on the central pier there is a bungee jump over the water; on the coastline there are other attractions - all kinds of trampolines, carousels, slides, etc.
There is an oceanarium on the embankment, which displays all kinds of marine life. It is not very big, but cozy.

In addition to the seafront, Bournemouth has many beautiful parks and gardens that are very pleasant to stroll through.

The city also has a network of cinemas where you can watch the latest films, some of the world premieres are released earlier than in Russia, there will be something to tell your friends about :) The cost of viewing is about 11.7 EUR, the price, as a rule, includes popcorn and cola.

In Bormmouth, they take a thorough approach to organizing entertainment for the local and visiting population, so various kinds of events take place here almost weekly, be it exhibitions or shows. On the city’s official website you can find out what is planned in the coming days and plan a cultural holiday in advance. You can look at the site.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

In the central part of the city there are several shops with souvenirs, offering both traditional English souvenirs in the form of double-decker buses, Teddy bears, London Towers and Tower Bridges, as well as local cute souvenirs - magnets, stones, beer openers - all with the symbols of Bournemouth.
Be sure to take some English tea with you for yourself and your friends; it’s not for nothing that England is famous for its tea; it is truly very tasty. In addition, some tasty treats you can take with you include cookies, chocolate, cheese and alcohol :)

How to get around the city

Buses

Bournemouth has an excellent bus service, and in the best English traditions there are double-decker buses, the so-called double deckers. There are also ordinary, one-story ones, but I, and most students, preferred to ride a two-story transport, and specifically on the second floor. The one-way fare is about 2.35 EUR; if you go there and back (return ticket), the ticket price is reduced by 30%. Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver at the entrance. If you purchase a return ticket, you must present it on the way back and it will be composted.

View from the second floor of the bus to the neighboring double-decker bus :)

You can buy a travel pass, it will be even cheaper. As a student, I purchased a travel pass at school: they give you a card indicating the number of trips, and when you enter the bus they “beep” it.
Of particular interest is the organization of the buses themselves: firstly, their height is level with the road, so carrying large things is not a problem. Secondly, immediately upon entering the bus there is a wide pocket for storing large cargo, where you can place your belongings. From this point of view, the bus is comfortable for large families with small children, or for people with disabilities in wheelchairs. In general, he is very jealous of the quality of life for people, and in many positions one can see concern for people and their comfort.

In addition, some bus stops have an electronic display that shows the arrival time of the next bus. As a rule, on weekdays, buses run frequently, every 10-15 minutes, and on weekends and evenings the interval between bus arrivals is 20 minutes or more. Be careful, you can sit for an hour if it’s late and the day falls on a weekend. At the stop, in addition to the electronic board, there is a schedule in paper form, you can take a photo of it and next time you can navigate the time in advance.

Bicycles

Many local residents love an environmentally friendly form of transport - bicycles; there are separate bicycle paths on the roads for them, and there are rental points. The cost, depending on the rental time, is about 5 pounds or more, a bicycle can be rented for an hour (and ride, for example, along the embankment to the neighboring town of Poole and back - 8 km), or rented for a day to travel around the entire city.

On foot

You can also get around the city on foot, the streets themselves are wide and clean, there are trees and paths for pedestrians and cyclists on both sides of the road. If you have an application installed on your phone, like Google Maps, then there are no problems with movement at all. Personally, when walking through unfamiliar places and trying to find the desired object, I only use my phone to save myself, rely on the online map and move according to the set route. Well, as a last resort, you can always ask for directions.

In Bormmouth, by the way, there are surprisingly many places for leisurely walks, these are gardens, parks, the embankment, and even the streets themselves with typically English houses - everything here is conducive to leisurely walking. Just dress warmly before your walk; in the evening it can get very cool in Bormmouth.

And in this city, as, probably, in all of England, a certain mysterious atmosphere is felt; it is not for nothing that mystical works like Sherlock Holmes or Harry Potter were born in English lands. It seems that the air itself breathes mystery and history here.

Taxi. What features exist

In addition to the bus service, taxis run around the city, the price is fixed according to the meter, boarding from 3.5 EUR, at night the payment is a little more expensive. Taxi drivers are very polite; you are encouraged to leave a tip when getting out of the car. Taxis in England are not necessarily yellow, the main thing is that they have a sticker and a checkerboard on top. In Bournemouth, if you're lucky, you can catch a classic English taxi - a black London cab, also one of the attractions of England. In fact, nothing special: a car is just a car.

Bournemouth: holidays with children

In my opinion, Bormnut is perfect for families with children; everything is provided here for a comfortable stay for mother and child. The transport infrastructure is developed, shops have separate toilets, and restaurants have a children's menu. The climate is acceptable, there is a sea, a beach, an aquarium, and a huge number of entertainment attractions on the embankment. There are many family-friendly places to visit, including farms, theme gardens, children's art centers, and more. In the city itself there are many beautiful parks where you can have a picnic (which is what most English families do), many bike rental points and rollerblade rentals, and stadiums. Overall, there's plenty to keep kids ages 2 and up busy.

Food. What to try

A classic English dish sold in all cafes and restaurants is fish & chips.

Fish and potatoes. Regular fried fish in greasy batter with regular greasy French fries - 1000 calories in one dish. The British simply adore this dish, and they also wash down this gastronomic outrage with a bottle of beer or ale. Let’s just say that the taste is not for everyone, because the food is really heavy, but it’s worth a try, for the purpose of, so to speak, contact with English culture.

In addition to the traditional chips and fish, you can also find dishes from other cuisines in Bournemouth. The city has Italian restaurants, sushi bars, pizzerias, McDonald's, KFS, Subway, etc., it will be difficult to die of hunger. If you get tired of fast food and restaurant food, then you can buy food and cook it yourself; in supermarkets there is a huge selection of tasty, and most importantly, high-quality food, and it already comes packaged, cut and stacked, all you have to do is take it out and put it in the microwave or oven .
Since I lived with a family and had to eat dinner on my own, I often bought ready-made sets and cooked for myself. The food in England is very tasty, everything is fresh and of high quality.

Shopping

In the central part of Bournemouth, next to the embankment, there is a whole street with shops. The stores are presented in different price categories, there are brands such as Zara, H&M, Marks&Spenser, Monsoon, etc., there are local shops with souvenirs, household supplies, mugs, spoons, ladles, etc.

I would also like to dwell on Primark: a chain of European stores that offers a huge selection of everything. There are women's collections, items for sale for all occasions; men's collections, with also a good selection, there are separate collections of home clothes, underwear, socks, stockings, tights, etc. are presented. There are separate clothes for sports, for walking, for sleeping, etc.

In addition, in the same store you can choose your own shoes; there are whole rows with shoes, boots, ankle boots, sneakers, sneakers, etc.

The store also offers all kinds of household utensils, frames, candles, figurines, other decorative items, the cutest bedspreads, towels, and rugs.

Just look at those eyes :)

In general, if you go to Primark, you can start with socks and end up with a full set of ammunition for the whole family: there is a very large selection, it’s amazing, and the price is quite affordable. It's a pity that the store is not represented in Russia.

Regarding things: in different price categories there are things of different quality, there are both very high quality and average. But I can note that there is no such overt Chinese consumer goods in England; after all, the things for the most part are of good quality and branded.

We should also dwell on the British love for postcards, they have entire shops with postcards, offering postcards for all occasions: for the birth of a child, for a wedding, for the birthday of an aunt, uncle, for a sister’s wedding, for the wedding of a sister’s uncle, and so on. The choice is huge, and everything is so cute and touching, in addition, there are separate sets like “Create a postcard yourself”, the British love this kind of hand-made.

For hand-mand lovers – a “Do It Yourself” kit

The stores also have a lot of household utensils, and they are very cute, and I was generally delighted with the decorative items.

In general, Bournemouth is such a nice provincial English town, very cozy and atmospheric, with its own culture and traditions; I stayed in it for a little over a month and this time was enough to understand the city and feel its spirit. It is optimal for a quiet stay and a comfortable holiday, and it is not for nothing that it is a favorite holiday destination for the British..

Anything to add?

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

Bournemouth is a famous beach resort on the English Channel in Dorset. For the first time this wide sandy coast was appreciated by the landowner Tregonwell and in 1810 he built himself a dacha here. Over time, the village became a very popular resort for wealthy elderly people. A hundred years ago, Bournemouth was the center of attraction for the cream of Victorian society (including members of the royal families), eager to experience the resort's relaxing atmosphere, breathe its healthy air and swim in its clear sea waters. In Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy affectionately describes Bournemouth as "a resort transferred to the English Channel from the Mediterranean coast." The local air, permeated with notes of fragrant pine, was considered healing, and many celebrities went here primarily to improve their health.

Bournemouth is still surrounded by greenery, and holidaymakers, as many years ago, can take walks along Pine Lane in Bournemouth Gardens.

Due to the increase in the number of students, surfers and people with a different sexual orientation in recent years, holidays in Bournemouth have become associated with a bohemian lifestyle, different from life in the resorts of the South Coast, popular only among pensioners.

Among other things, Bournemouth is famous for the fact that the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, spent his last days here.

How to get there

By train

Bournemouth has two railway stations: Central Station and Pokesdown Station (in the east of Bournemouth). Several train companies pass through these stations, connecting Bournemouth to most major cities.

By bus

National Express operates direct bus services to Bournemouth from London (2.5 hours, departures every hour), Bristol (once a day) and Oxford (journey 3 hours, departures twice a day). You can get there from Salisbury in just over an hour, and from Southampton in 1 hour. Frequent bus services are available between Bournemouth and Poole (the journey takes just 15 minutes).

On a ferryboat

The port of nearby Poole (8 km from Bournemouth) provides regular ferries to Weymouth, Southampton, Portsmouth, the Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey), and the French Saint-Malo and Cherbourg.

By plane

Bournemouth Airport is just 10-15 minutes by car or bus from the city center and serves both domestic and international flights. Every day planes arrive here from Glasgow, Dublin and Barcelona. Buses line A1 run from the airport to the city center (operating hours from 07:00 to 19:00).

Southampton Airport is located near Bournemouth. Get from there to the central railway. You can get to the city station by train (travel time is about 45 minutes), the departure station is located a few steps from the terminal.

The closest London airports to Bournemouth are Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted. National Express buses run from Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 1 and 2) to Bournemouth (travel time 2 hours 15 minutes). From Gatwick you can get there by bus in 3.5 hours, from Stansted in 4.5 hours, from Luton in 4 hours.

Search for flights to London (closest airport to Bournemouth)

Weather in Bournemouth

Hidden behind towering cliffs, Bournemouth's coastline has its own microclimate, with some of the warmest seawater in the UK and stunning views of the Isles of Wight and Parbeck.

Bournemouth Hotels

The first spa hotel in Bournemouth was built in 1885 - it was the Mont Dore Hotel (now the town hall building). In addition to luxurious rooms and tennis courts, the hotel offered healing water treatments that, it was claimed, could not be found anywhere else in England. Sea water and healing water from the Borne stream were pumped into the basement of Mont Dore, and from there they were supplied to the Turkish and salt baths. Since then, Bournemouth has grown into a thriving resort destination, with many major hotels offering their own spa treatments.

Transport

The city is compact enough to explore on foot. Bus services are well developed in the center, but there is a catch: Bournemouth is served by two operators, each of which only accepts their own tickets. The yellow bus route network covers the Christchurch area and the eastern part of Bournemouth, the blue bus route network covers neighboring Poole and the western part of the city.

Taxi rates around the city are quite low, but this usually only applies to short trips. It is better to call a taxi by phone than to wait in line at the parking lot.

Shopping in Bournemouth

The main shopping streets are located in the city center and along the embankments on both sides of the river (stream) Born. The shopping streets are mostly pedestrian zones and are lined with boutiques and shops. Bournemouth has modern shopping centers, passages with Victorian-style galleries, bars, clubs and cafes.

About 1.5 km west of the city centre, the Westbourne area is home to designer clothing boutiques and interior decorating shops. Boscombe East is also considered a major shopping area with many antique shops and a street market. To the north of the city center is the Castlepoint shopping complex, and to the southwest of it is the Castlemore Mall. There are large stores in the town center (eg Asda and Co-op), in Boscombe (Sainsbury's) and between Westbourne and Upper Parkston. The huge Tesco Extra store is based in Castle Lane East.

Bournemouth beaches

Bournemouth's beaches are the perfect place to relax and host the annual airshow, the largest event of its kind in the world. To facilitate access to the beach, special lifts are equipped in the cliff, and trains run along the embankment, which can take you from Bournemouth pier to Boscombe pier or to Alum Chin beach.

The local beaches, awarded the Blue Flag for clean water, are some of the best in the world. Bournemouth Beach was first awarded the Blue Flag in 1996, and since then the awards have only multiplied. In 2011, Alum Chin, Derley Chin, Fisherman's Walk and Southbourne Beach received the prestigious award.

One of the city's main attractions is the Bournemouth Eye, a giant hot air balloon with a basket that rises to a height of 120 m and offers stunning panoramic views.

Activities and attractions in Bournemouth

One of the city's main attractions is the Bournemouth Eye, a helium-filled balloon with a basket holding up to 30 people attached to it by steel cables. The “eye,” rising to a height of 120 m, offers a stunning panorama of the city and its surroundings.

The balloon accepts passengers on board from 10:00 to 20:00 from April to October and from 11:00 to 17:00 from November to March, ticket price is 12.50 GBP for an adult and 7.50 GBP for a child (timetable available check on the official website in English). Prices on the page are as of November 2018.

Children and adults alike will love visiting Bournemouth Aquarium and coming face-to-face with hundreds of amazing creatures - from colorful clownfish and turtles to sharks and piranhas. The Aquarium is located on the seafront adjacent to the pier, a short walk from Bournemouth International Centre. The underwater world is open to everyone every day from 10:00 to 18:00, a ticket for an adult costs 12.50 GBP, a child's ticket costs 8.50 GBP (the schedule and possible discounts can be found on the official website in English).

The area around Bournemouth is home to many unusual animals and plants. Brownsea Island, located in Poole Bay, is one of the few places in the south where squirrels and meadow ants, listed as rare and endangered species in the UK, still live.

Welcome to Bournemouth

Bournemouth Museums

The Russell-Coats Art Gallery and Museum is one of the few houses preserved in its original form. Sir Merton Russell-Coates, owner of the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth, built a house called East Cliff Hall in the north-eastern part of his hotel garden in 1901. In 1907, Sir Merton's wife Annie donated the house and its entire interior to the city, but over the next 10 years the Russell-Cotes family continued to live in the house, donating money for its expansion. East Cliff Hall officially opened in 1919, and three years later it was renamed the Russell-Coats Museum. The collection of the house museum includes exhibits that Sir Merton collected during his trips abroad, in particular works of art from Japan. One of the museum's rooms is dedicated to the memory of the famous actor of his time, Sir Henry Irving, a friend of Russell-Cotes. The museum is open to visitors every day, except Mondays, from 10:00 to 17:00, a ticket for an adult costs 7.50 GBP, for a child - 4 GBP (you can find out about exhibitions and the current schedule on the official website in English).

Bournemouth nightlife

In recent years, Bournemouth has gained widespread popularity among English youth as a nightlife destination. Most of its clubs, bars and restaurants are concentrated in the city centre, with trendy establishments such as Bliss, Chilli White, Lava & Ignite and Mary Shelley located on St Peter's Road. Another popular hangout spot is the V nightclub, converted from the former Church of St. Andrew the First-Called.

3 things to do in Bournemouth:

1. Pamper yourself with all sorts of spa treatments - otherwise why else go to Bournemouth?
2. Leave your mark on one of the streets of Bournemouth, where J. R. Tolkien, D. H. Lawrence and other cream of Victorian society walked.
3. Overcome your fear of heights and climb the Bournemouth Eye. Excellent panoramas of the city and its surroundings, as well as a hefty dose of adrenaline are guaranteed!

Events

Bournemouth International Centre, close to the seafront, is the world's premier venue for conferences, exhibitions, entertainment events, festivals, concerts, musicals and ballets. A detailed announcement can be found on the website