Bournemouth East Accommodation

The popular Russel-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in East Cliff
Cliff side walks down East Cliff Promenade to Bournemouth

East Bournemouth Tourist Information

East of Bournemouth Pier is East Cliff. East Cliff's most popular attractions are the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum and the East Cliff Railway that saves the walk up the hill from the beach. Don't miss the seaside themed decoration on the railings alongside the path by the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery.

There's a good choice of hotel and B&B accommodation in East Cliff in the streets parallel to the beach.

Featured Dorset Accommodation

Britannia Bournemouth Hotel - East Overcliff

Luxury Bournemouth hotel located close to East Cliff. Large conference & banqueting suite, family friendly, relaxed restaurant, leisure facilities

£39 to £145 Rates from

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

On top of the hill in East Cliff is the imposing Victorian villa that houses the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum. It's a mix of Italianate villa and Scottish Baronial pile set in landscaped grounds that include a Japanese garden.

The villa was created and decorated by Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes who were keen art collectors. The villa itself is open to visitors where you can see some of the vastly luxurious decoration including hand-painted stained glass and covings featuring Japanese inspired swallows and peacocks. In the main hall you'll find the sun design mosaic fountain that reflects the stunning zodiac sign stained glass in the skylight above.

There is a mix of permanent and regularly changing exhibitions in the art gallery. Check the website, link right, for details of current exhibition themes. There is also a cafe and shop on the site and you can book on guided tours.

Entrance to the house, museum and the majority of the exhibitions is free, but donations are welcomed for the upkeep. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Russell-Cotes Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AA. Tel: 01202 451858 or 01202 451800 (24-hour answer-phone). Email: r-c.enquiries@bournemouth.gov.uk. Group visits can be arranged in advance by contacting the Gallery on the phone numbers above.

East Cliff Railway Bournemouth's Cliff Lifts

East Cliff railway is the oldest of Bournemouth's three cliff railways. It was opened in 1908 by Sir George & Lady Meyrick and is still going strong 100 years later.

The cliff railway brings you up 170 feet up the cliffs from the beach to East Cliff hotels and the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery in East Overcliff.

To celebrate its centenary new gondola style cabins were installed. Designed by staff and students from Bournemouth Art Institute the gondolas have bigger windows to make the best of the views across the seafront and coast.

Bournemouth's Cliff Lifts run between Easter and the end of October each year. They are usually in operation from 9am-5.30pm. During July and August they open until 6.15pm in the evening.