UltimateCity Guide Brighton
Our favourites
The turreted villa of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum above its flowering cliff-top garden

Beyond Brighton · west along the coast, beyond the New Forest

Bournemouth: Our Favourites

Bournemouth, west along the coast beyond the New Forest: sandy beaches and two piers, the Lower Gardens and the chines, the Russell-Cotes on the East Cliff, Westbourne and Boscombe, and seafront hotels from 1838 to Art Deco.

The back story

  1. Town guide

    Bournemouth: the back story

    Bournemouth·In depth

    From empty heath to Victorian resort: Tregonwell’s house of 1812, the first hotel of 1838, an iron pier of 1880 and the railway of 1870.

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  2. Town guide

    The East Cliff and the Russell-Cotes

    East Cliff, Bournemouth·In depth

    A clifftop villa of Victorian collectors, the town’s first hotel of 1838, an Edwardian villa hotel and an Art Deco landmark.

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  3. Town guide

    The chines and the gardens

    Bournemouth·In depth

    The Lower, Central and Upper Gardens along the Bourne, Alum Chine’s tropical garden, Boscombe Chine and a gallery of murals under a flyover.

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  4. Town guide

    Westbourne, Boscombe and Southbourne

    Bournemouth·In depth

    Bournemouth’s villages: Westbourne’s Victorian arcade and its 19-seat cinema, Boscombe’s Royal Arcade and pier, and Southbourne’s cafés and Hengistbury Head.

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Where to stay

  1. Bournemouth’s first hotel, 1838

    The Royal Bath Hotel

    Bath Road, Bournemouth·Seafront hotel

    Bournemouth’s first hotel, opened in 1838, overlooking the bay near the pier.

    Bath Road, Bournemouth BH1 2EWExplore View on map

  2. Eco-luxury

    The Green House

    Grove Road, Bournemouth·Boutique hotel

    An eco-luxury boutique hotel near the East Cliff, with two-AA-Rosette dining.

    4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AXExplore View on map

  3. An Edwardian villa

    Hotel Miramar

    East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth·Seafront hotel

    A country-house hotel by the sea, in an Edwardian villa of 43 rooms on the East Cliff.

    East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth BH1 3ALExplore View on map

  4. Art Deco

    The Cumberland Hotel

    East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth·Seafront hotel

    An Art Deco seafront landmark on the East Cliff, with a grand café and a day spa.

    East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth BH1 3AFExplore View on map

  5. Spa and outdoor pool

    THE NICI

    West Hill Road, Bournemouth·Resort hotel

    A resort-style hotel on the West Cliff, with a spa, a 30-metre outdoor pool and cabanas.

    West Hill Road, Bournemouth BH2 5EJExplore View on map

  6. Tregonwell’s house of 1812

    Royal Exeter Hotel

    Exeter Road, Bournemouth·Hotel

    The town’s founding house, built by Lewis Tregonwell in 1812, now a hotel of 47 rooms.

    Exeter Road, Bournemouth BH2 5AGExplore View on map

Where to eat

  1. Flavour first

    Restaurant Roots

    Southbourne, Bournemouth·Tasting menu

    A small, relaxed tasting-menu restaurant in Southbourne, a few streets from the beach.

    141 Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth BH6 3ENExplore View on map

  2. Since 1989

    Chez Fred

    Westbourne, Bournemouth·Fish and chips

    Westbourne’s celebrated fish and chip restaurant and takeaway, run by the Capel family since 1989.

    8–10 Seamoor Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth BH4 9ANExplore View on map

  3. On the Undercliff

    Urban Reef

    Boscombe seafront·Seafront restaurant

    Seafront dining and cocktails on the Undercliff at Boscombe, with sunset views.

    Undercliff Drive, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1BNExplore View on map

  4. At the end of the pier

    Key West

    Bournemouth Pier·Restaurant and bar

    A family-friendly restaurant and day bar at the end of Bournemouth Pier, open all year.

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  5. Mezze

    Levant

    Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth·Lebanese restaurant

    Traditional Lebanese cooking on Old Christchurch Road, from hot and cold mezze to grills.

    152 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH1 1NLExplore View on map

  6. By the Lower Gardens

    The Stable

    Westover Road, Bournemouth·Pizza and cider

    Pizza, beer and cider on the corner of the Lower Gardens.

    7–10 Westover Road, Bournemouth BH1 2BUExplore View on map

Cafés and tea rooms

  1. Roasts its own

    South Coast Coffee

    Richmond Hill, Bournemouth·Coffee house

    Locally roasted craft coffee on Richmond Hill, from a team that grew out of Boscanova.

    24 Richmond Hill, Bournemouth BH2 6EJExplore View on map

  2. Speciality coffee

    Café Boscanova

    Boscombe, Bournemouth·Café

    A Boscombe café serving ethically sourced speciality coffee, traded directly with farmers.

    650 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 4BPExplore View on map

  3. Next to the aviary

    Picnic Park Deli

    Lower Gardens, Bournemouth·Garden café

    An all-day café and kiosk in the Lower Gardens, beside the aviary.

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Bars

  1. Prohibition style

    Sonny’s Speakeasy

    Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth·Cocktail bar

    An intimate, prohibition-inspired speakeasy with cocktails, cellar wines and live music.

    224–226 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH1 1PEExplore View on map

  2. Premium cocktails

    BOMO House

    Dean Park Crescent, Bournemouth·Cocktail bar and restaurant

    A premium cocktail bar and restaurant on Dean Park Crescent.

    2 Dean Park Crescent, Bournemouth BH1 1HLExplore View on map

Pubs

  1. Real ales

    The Goat and Tricycle

    West Hill Road, Bournemouth·Pub

    A traditional real ale pub on the West Cliff, with a long row of hand pumps.

    27–29 West Hill Road, Bournemouth BH2 5PFExplore View on map

  2. Craft beers and ales

    The Four Horsemen

    Commercial Road, Bournemouth·Craft beer pub

    A craft beer pub on Commercial Road with a wide range of beers and food.

    77–79 Commercial Road, Bournemouth BH2 5RTExplore View on map

  3. Live music

    The Brass Haus

    Westover Road, Bournemouth·Bier keller and music bar

    A German-style bier keller with live music, in a building that has been a dance hall and a cinema.

    8–9 Westover Road, Bournemouth BH1 2BYExplore View on map

What to see and do

  1. Iron pier of 1880

    Bournemouth Pier

    Pier Approach, Bournemouth·Pier

    The town’s pier: a wooden jetty in 1855, a wooden pier in 1861, and the iron pier of 1880.

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  2. On the sands

    Boscombe Pier

    Boscombe seafront·Pier

    Boscombe’s pier over the sands east of the town centre, by Boscombe Chine.

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  3. SSSI

    Hengistbury Head

    Southbourne, Bournemouth·Nature reserve

    A headland of clay and ironstone cliffs, heath and beaches between Bournemouth and Christchurch Harbour.

    Broadway, Southbourne, Bournemouth BH6 4EWExplore View on map

  4. Grade I listed

    St Peter’s Church

    Hinton Road, Bournemouth·Church

    Bournemouth’s Grade I listed civic church, with its tall Gothic spire in the town centre.

    Hinton Road, Bournemouth BH1 2EEExplore View on map

  5. By the pier

    Bournemouth Oceanarium

    Pier Approach, Bournemouth·Aquarium

    The town’s aquarium, beside the pier.

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Arts & Culture

Parks and gardens

  1. Grade II listed

    The Lower Gardens

    Town centre, Bournemouth·Gardens

    Grade II listed gardens running from the town centre down to the pier and the beach.

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  2. Since the 1860s

    The Upper Gardens

    Bournemouth·Gardens

    A peaceful garden along the Bourne, laid out for the Durrant family in the 1860s.

    Explore View on map

  3. The largest chine

    Alum Chine Tropical Gardens

    Westbourne, Bournemouth·Gardens

    Bournemouth’s largest chine, with a tropical garden on the cliff face and shaded paths to the sea.

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  4. Victorian

    Boscombe Chine Gardens

    Boscombe, Bournemouth·Gardens

    A Victorian garden made from a chine of heath and mire, running down to Boscombe beach.

    Explore View on map

  5. With a bandstand

    Fisherman’s Walk

    Southbourne, Bournemouth·Park

    A park with a bandstand that runs from Southbourne’s high street down to the beach.

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Walks

  1. Listed buildings

    Bournemouth Cultural Trail

    Town centre, Bournemouth·Self-guided walk

    A trail through the listed buildings that tell the story of Bournemouth’s growth.

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  2. Sculpture and murals

    Bournemouth Public Art Trail

    Town centre, Bournemouth·Self-guided walk

    A walk round the town centre’s sculpture, mosaic and mural art.

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Shopping

  1. Covered shops

    The Arcade

    Gervis Place, Bournemouth·Victorian arcade

    A grand Victorian covered arcade of shops between Old Christchurch Road and Westover Road.

    Gervis Place, Bournemouth BH1 2AFExplore View on map

  2. 1884–85, Grade II

    Westbourne Arcade

    Westbourne, Bournemouth·Victorian arcade

    A Grade II listed Gothic arcade of 1884–85, with gift shops, cafés and a 19-seat cinema.

    Poole Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth BH4 9AYExplore View on map

  3. Independents

    The Royal Arcade, Boscombe

    Christchurch Road, Boscombe·Victorian arcade

    Boscombe’s arcade of independent shops, boutiques and bazaars.

    566 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 4BTExplore View on map

Property

  1. A village with an arcade

    Westbourne

    Bournemouth·Neighbourhood

    A village of shops, cafés and restaurants around its Victorian arcade, close to Alum Chine.

    Explore View on map

  2. Clifftop living

    The East Cliff

    Bournemouth·Neighbourhood

    Clifftop apartments and Victorian villas above the beach, near the Russell-Cotes and the town centre.

    Explore View on map

  3. Arcade, chine and pier

    Boscombe

    Bournemouth·Neighbourhood

    The old resort east of the centre, with its arcade, chine gardens, pier and seafront restaurants.

    Explore View on map

  4. Near Hengistbury Head

    Southbourne

    Bournemouth·Neighbourhood

    A relaxed seaside suburb of cafés and restaurants, with Fisherman’s Walk and Hengistbury Head close by.

    Explore View on map

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