Bournemouth Centre Tourist Information

Bournemouth Tourist Guide

The Bournemouth Coast is the main centre for East Dorset and the largest seaside resort on the Dorset coast. It has everything you might want from independent boutiques, gorgeous award winning gardens and fantastic sandy beaches - excellent for families and surfers alike.

There is plenty of choice of holiday accommodation in Bournemouth Centre from holiday apartments to grand Victorian hotels and from international hotel chains to privately run B&Bs.

The Square is the centre of the town slightly uphill from the beach which you can reach by taking a stroll through the Lower Gardens. There is a vast array of shops and shopping centres in the town centre - so plenty to keep you occupied on a rainy day.

On the way up to the town from the beach you'll pass Bournemouth's Tourist Information Centre, The Visitor Information Bureau, on Westover Road. Tel: 0845 051 1701. Email: info@bournemouth.gov.uk.

Bournemouth Beach Pier & Gardens

Bournemouth's main attraction is its beach. At seven miles long and in the sunniest place in the UK it attracts thousands every year. Stretching from Boscombe in the east all the way through to Poole in the west there's plenty of space for family friendly games, surfing and watersports, dog-friendly beaches and barbecues zones. All along the seafront are a whole host of bars, cafes, restaurants, amusements and attractions so you won't have to wander far to find something to keep you entertained.

Although Bournemouth is shedding its traditional seaside image, the historic piers at Bournemouth and Boscombe are still firm favourite visitor attractions. You can walk all along the prom from Boscombe to Poole and there are cliff lifts to carry you up if you're feeling weary. Leading up the cliffs from Bournemouth beach are several of Bournemouth's famous gardens and chines.

Family Entertainment in Bournemouth

Bournemouth is well used to keeping the crowds entertained. The beach itself with its kiosks, bouncy castles and games is great when its sunny, but when you want something for those rainy days or just something for a change there's a wide range of tourist attractions for all ages, children and adults alike.

There's a great choice of indoor and outdoor attractions from a balloon ride high above the town to a bit of culture in the form of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery, Museum and Gardens.

Shopping in Bournemouth

Shopping in Bournemouth is being rejuvenated with a wide range of shops recently opening their doors.

The tree lined Westover Road is where you'll find the designer labels and independent boutiques. Westbourne is known for its selection of independent boutiques, patisseries and restaurants. There is also a Victorian Arcade where the original designer added gargoyles to the decoration.

On the outskirts of Bournemouth, three miles from the town centre, is the Castlepoint shopping centre with the usual array of high street names and stacks of free parking.

To the east of Bournemouth's centre is Boscombe where you'll find a good choice of antique and bric-a-brac shops amongst the pedestrian streets in Boscombe's Victorian centre.

Bournemouth Nightlife & Gay Scene

Bournemouth is the Dorset centre for restaurants, nightclubs and bars with a lively nightlife stocked by a mix of locals, visitors during the summer, students, hen and stag parties and a thriving gay scene. You'll find a good choice of bars and clubs to suit all tastes and age groups. The Bournemouth tourism website has a search facility for pubs and clubs to help you hone down where to go.

Most of the gay friendly pubs and clubs are around The Triangle in the centre of town including Bent Club and the Xchange. Particular venues include Circus gay night in the Opera House in Boscombe, The Branksome on Commercial Road in Bournemouth that hosts events throughout the week and The Bakers Arms gay friendly pub nearby.

An annually printed Bournemouth Gay Guide is a helpful source of information on the local gay scene and gay friendly shops and accommodation. It is available from GayBournemouth.net, link right.

Bournemouth International Centre

Bournemouth is renowned as a great location for conferences. Not only is there the purpose built Bournemouth International Centre with its variety of halls and meeting rooms but many of Bournemouth's grand hotels offer conferencing facilities also often complimented with leisure facilities and high quality accommodation.

For entertainment the Bournemouth International Centre and Pavilion Theatre accommodate a whole host of acts throughout the year including pop and classical concerts, West End musicals, opera, ballet and pantomime. For comedy, pop and tribute acts, the Landmarc is the venue for entertainment and dining combined in one night.