Bournemouth Area Guide

UK Area Guides

Bournemouth, Dorset

Exceptional4.7

Living in

Bournemouth is a seaside resort town located in the county of Dorset, in the South West region of England. Located around 105 miles South-West of London, Bournemouth is a popular coastal tourist destination on the South Coast of England, offering approximately 5 miles of beach which stretches from Christchurch in the East to the border of Poole in the West. As one of the largest towns on the south coast of England, Bournemouth has grown rapidly and along with Poole and Christchurch, has a combined population of over 500,000. A good selection of accommodations are available in Bournemouth, with classic Victorian terraces, semis and apartments, most of which are ideal for the masses of students who study across the town. 

Ratings

Exceptional4.7

Community

As well as its stunning coastal destination, Bournemouth has some wonderful attractions on offer for its tourists and residents. Some of the most popular spots to visit are New Forest Northern Commons, Stourhead, Stonehenge and Brownsea Island. The town also boasts a number of entertainment and adventure options, including Bournemouth Pier, Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum and Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre. Shopaholics can also take a trip to Bournemouth Shopping Arcade, Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre and The Avenue, all of which provide big-name high-street clothing and lifestyle stores.

Safety

Bournemouth has many lovely areas, however, just like other popular towns, there are some spots that have a high crime rate and deemed unsafe. Bournemouth is named amongst the top 10 most unsafe of Dorsets cities, towns and villages, with a 36% higher crime rate than the rest of the South West and 17% higher crime rate than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.

Parking

Plenty of car parks are offered across Bournemouth, residents can access secure parking where a variety of parking is done via a pre-booking system for an hourly, daily or monthly fee. Some central parking consists of NCP Car Park Bournemouth The Square, Avenue Road Car Park, and Central Car Park, all of which are within 15 minutes of the town centre.

Nightlife

Bournemouth town centre has a great variety of nightlife available to its residents, with a mix of restaurants, bars, clubs, and pubs! Most of the popular venues can be found on either Old Christchurch Rd or Exeter Rd, which consist of Bar So, DNA Bar, Smokin' Aces - Cocktail Bar & Whiskey Lounge, and The Old Fire Station. Locals can also head to the neighbouring areas of Poole, Southbourne, Christchurch or Southampton for even further nightlife options.

Family Friendly

Families are able to find many great education options across the town, with an impressive 10 schools and colleges that all hold an ‘outstanding’ rating given by Ofsted. Parents have some wonderful choices, such as Linwood School, Winton Academy, Glenmoor Academy and Queen's Park Academy. Higher education also includes Bournemouth Universities, Arts University Bournemouth, and Bournemouth University Business School.

Pet Friendly

As well as miles of golden sands, Bournemouth has some great scenic spaces for pet owners and explorers to discover. Bournemouth Parks, Queen's Park, Meyrick Park and Redhill Park are just a few of the many lovely green areas for dog walkers to enjoy. With accommodation also varied within Bournemouth, pet owners are likely to find a suitable homely property for themselves along with their furry friends.

Transport

With the substantial road and rail links that are provided in Bournemouth, the town has become a popular destination for commuters as they have access to the A338 Spur Road which is the main link road between Bournemouth and Ringwood, whilst the A31 from there runs to the M27 for Southampton, and the A35 to Poole which continues to Dorchester with the A354 connecting the county town to Weymouth. For train links, residents can head to Bournemouth station where they can board the South Western Railway or CrossCountry services, to a variety of locations such as Weymouth- 1 hour, Winchester- 1hr 30, London Waterloo- under 2 hours, and Manchester Picadilly- 5 hours. Bournemouth Airport is the nearest place to travel by air and is reachable by bus or car via the A338 in just 10 minutes from the town centre.