Places to Visit
Sightseeing
Some ideas of places to visit and things to do in the local area and around Dorset in general. Selection of good/bad weather options, particularly if you have kids!
Cannot recommend the beaches here highly enough. Spoiled for choice with miles of golden sand on the award winning blue flag beach. You can literally walk for miles. The Boscombe and Southbourne beaches are less touristy than Bournemouth beach itself if you’re looking for something quieter.
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Boscombe Beach
Cannot recommend the beaches here highly enough. Spoiled for choice with miles of golden sand on the award winning blue flag beach. You can literally walk for miles. The Boscombe and Southbourne beaches are less touristy than Bournemouth beach itself if you’re looking for something quieter.
Southbourne is the next small town along from Boscombe. Take a left at bottom of Chessel Avenue. It’s a short walk along the road or by beach. Really taken off the last few years with a lovely selection of independent shops, bars and restaurants. I have listed some on the restaurants guidebook! Southbourne beach is also lovely. There’s a cliff lift at Fishermans walk which takes you up to the top then you can walk through the gardens into the high street.
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Southbourne Beachfront
Southbourne is the next small town along from Boscombe. Take a left at bottom of Chessel Avenue. It’s a short walk along the road or by beach. Really taken off the last few years with a lovely selection of independent shops, bars and restaurants. I have listed some on the restaurants guidebook! Southbourne beach is also lovely. There’s a cliff lift at Fishermans walk which takes you up to the top then you can walk through the gardens into the high street.
Great combination of seaside, countryside, historic town and pretty harbour. Christchurch has award-winning beaches, coastal nature reserves and heritage attractions. Two rivers to boat upon and walk along, two historic Quays to discover and two Castles! The historic Priory Church and Castle ruins help give an olde world charm to the attractive, bustling town centre with its range of independent shops, high street stores and regular markets.
Some great restaurants here too!
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Christchurch
Great combination of seaside, countryside, historic town and pretty harbour. Christchurch has award-winning beaches, coastal nature reserves and heritage attractions. Two rivers to boat upon and walk along, two historic Quays to discover and two Castles! The historic Priory Church and Castle ruins help give an olde world charm to the attractive, bustling town centre with its range of independent shops, high street stores and regular markets.
Some great restaurants here too!
Mudeford Quay, at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, is a beautiful and popular destination and has spectacular views out to sea and of Christchurch town.
At the Quay you will find several places to eat and drink as well as areas to enjoy a picnic.
It is a great place to take a gentle stroll next to the waters edge and watch all the busy activities taking place.
For children and families, crabbing is very popular from the quayside. You can buy nets, buckets and bait from the shop at the end of the Quay if you don't have your own. There is also a children's play area.
The beaches at Avon and Friars Cliff are easily accessed from the Quay via Gundimore Promenade which extends eastwards from the Quay. Avon Beach is just a short walk away and provides more choices for eating and drinking, as well as a lovely sandy beach. If you continue walking past Avon Beach, you will reach Friars Cliff beach, Steamer Point Nature Reserve and the grounds of Highcliffe Castle - once home to Mr Harry Gordon Selfridge.
If you want to visit Mudeford Sandbank across the water, walkers and cyclists can take a ferry. Over on the Sandbank, enjoy the glorious golden sandy beach, see the exclusive beach huts (the most expensive in the UK), have something to eat at the beachside cafe or explore further into Hengistbury Head nature reserve.
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Mudeford
Mudeford Quay, at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, is a beautiful and popular destination and has spectacular views out to sea and of Christchurch town.
At the Quay you will find several places to eat and drink as well as areas to enjoy a picnic.
It is a great place to take a gentle stroll next to the waters edge and watch all the busy activities taking place.
For children and families, crabbing is very popular from the quayside. You can buy nets, buckets and bait from the shop at the end of the Quay if you don't have your own. There is also a children's play area.
The beaches at Avon and Friars Cliff are easily accessed from the Quay via Gundimore Promenade which extends eastwards from the Quay. Avon Beach is just a short walk away and provides more choices for eating and drinking, as well as a lovely sandy beach. If you continue walking past Avon Beach, you will reach Friars Cliff beach, Steamer Point Nature Reserve and the grounds of Highcliffe Castle - once home to Mr Harry Gordon Selfridge.
If you want to visit Mudeford Sandbank across the water, walkers and cyclists can take a ferry. Over on the Sandbank, enjoy the glorious golden sandy beach, see the exclusive beach huts (the most expensive in the UK), have something to eat at the beachside cafe or explore further into Hengistbury Head nature reserve.
If you enjoy walking, Hengistbury Head is the spit which joins Christchurch and Poole bay. Nature trails, beach, lots of wildlife and woodland. View the gorgeous beach huts on Mudeford Spit. Popular tourist attraction.
https://www.hengistbury-head.co.uk
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Hengistbury Head
If you enjoy walking, Hengistbury Head is the spit which joins Christchurch and Poole bay. Nature trails, beach, lots of wildlife and woodland. View the gorgeous beach huts on Mudeford Spit. Popular tourist attraction.
https://www.hengistbury-head.co.uk
No visit to the area is complete without making the short trip into Bournemouth town centre. Take a walk in the lower gardens, trip on the Bournemouth Eye or head out onto the pier! Plenty of shops, bars and restaurants too.
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Bournemouth Beach
No visit to the area is complete without making the short trip into Bournemouth town centre. Take a walk in the lower gardens, trip on the Bournemouth Eye or head out onto the pier! Plenty of shops, bars and restaurants too.
Nice walk through the town which brings you out at the pier. Streams, entertainers and mini golf also on offer. Lots of stalls for food. In winter you’ll find the Christmas lights display, Christmas markets and open air ice rink.
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Bournemouth Parks - Lower Gardens
Nice walk through the town which brings you out at the pier. Streams, entertainers and mini golf also on offer. Lots of stalls for food. In winter you’ll find the Christmas lights display, Christmas markets and open air ice rink.
No trip here can be without a visit down the Jurassic Coast. Famous Dorset coastline and def must see’s Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove and Corfe Castle. Pictures don’t do them justice, def go see for yourself!
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Jurassic Coast
No trip here can be without a visit down the Jurassic Coast. Famous Dorset coastline and def must see’s Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove and Corfe Castle. Pictures don’t do them justice, def go see for yourself!
Sandbanks is the millionaires row of the area, located in Poole. Famous for its high house prices and gorgeous beach. Stunning peninsula for a drive/walk around with harbour on one side and sea on the other. Nice cafes or try Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant. Or pop on the chain ferry and take a drive to Swanage and down the Jurassic Coast.
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Plazhi i Sandbanks
Banks RoadSandbanks is the millionaires row of the area, located in Poole. Famous for its high house prices and gorgeous beach. Stunning peninsula for a drive/walk around with harbour on one side and sea on the other. Nice cafes or try Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant. Or pop on the chain ferry and take a drive to Swanage and down the Jurassic Coast.
Things to do
Not for the faint hearted but such a great experience! Not as fast or scary as it looks! Zip line from high on the end of Bournemouth pier back to the sand!
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Bournemouth Pier
Pier ApproachNot for the faint hearted but such a great experience! Not as fast or scary as it looks! Zip line from high on the end of Bournemouth pier back to the sand!
Another activity place for kids and adults if weather not so good. Located at end of Bournemouth Pier. Loads of climbing walls, death slide, high wire and caves.
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RockReef
Another activity place for kids and adults if weather not so good. Located at end of Bournemouth Pier. Loads of climbing walls, death slide, high wire and caves.
Fab little sealife centre for kids and adults alike. Arrive for the feeding times and tours. Lots to see and located right on Bournemouth Pier. Another great wet day activity!
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Oqeanari
Pier ApproachFab little sealife centre for kids and adults alike. Arrive for the feeding times and tours. Lots to see and located right on Bournemouth Pier. Another great wet day activity!
Fab little cafe on this side of the river over to Christchurch. You can hire a boat and take a trip yourself down the river. There’s a small ‘ferry’ which crosses a little further up which will take you over the the Captains club hotel (see restaurants!) and onto Christchurch Quay. Perfect for exploring Christchurch area.
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Tuckton Tea Gardens
Belle Vue RoadFab little cafe on this side of the river over to Christchurch. You can hire a boat and take a trip yourself down the river. There’s a small ‘ferry’ which crosses a little further up which will take you over the the Captains club hotel (see restaurants!) and onto Christchurch Quay. Perfect for exploring Christchurch area.
Great kids splash park and playground in Christchurch. Water park open summer months only but play park open all year.
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The Quomps Splashpark
39A Wick LnGreat kids splash park and playground in Christchurch. Water park open summer months only but play park open all year.
Enjoy a pre Christmas break. Stay between 19th Nov -2nd Jan to be able to visit nearby Bournemouth Christmas Market & Christmas Tree Wonderland
🎄https://www.christmasinbournemouth.co.uk https://christmastreewonderland.co.uk
Christmas Tree Wonderland
Lower GardensEnjoy a pre Christmas break. Stay between 19th Nov -2nd Jan to be able to visit nearby Bournemouth Christmas Market & Christmas Tree Wonderland
🎄https://www.christmasinbournemouth.co.uk https://christmastreewonderland.co.uk
Great kids theme park, suitable for all ages. Rides, giant maze, soft play and Alice in Wonderland themed shows. Cafe on site too. Opposite Bournemouth Airport.
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Vendi i Mrekullive të Avanturës
Merritown LaneGreat kids theme park, suitable for all ages. Rides, giant maze, soft play and Alice in Wonderland themed shows. Cafe on site too. Opposite Bournemouth Airport.
Must visit if you have little ones who are obsessed with Peppa Pig. Fab day out. Part of Paultons Park which is a larger theme park in its own right. Great water parks too for sunny days.
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Paultons Park Shtëpia e Peppa Pig World
Must visit if you have little ones who are obsessed with Peppa Pig. Fab day out. Part of Paultons Park which is a larger theme park in its own right. Great water parks too for sunny days.
Fab day out which includes motor museum, Palace House and Gardens, great kids areas plus much more. Located in The New Forest.
https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/
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Beaulieu
Fab day out which includes motor museum, Palace House and Gardens, great kids areas plus much more. Located in The New Forest.
https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/
Gorgeous parks and gardens located in Canford Cliffs, Poole. Near to Sandbanks. Also has lovely restaurant.
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Compton Acres
164 Canford Cliffs RdGorgeous parks and gardens located in Canford Cliffs, Poole. Near to Sandbanks. Also has lovely restaurant.
Fab activities for kids. Skiing, snowboarding, ringos and sledges. Amazing play park too which you can pay to enter without any of the other bits. Great Alpine restaurant too.
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Qendra e aktiviteteve Alpine Snowtrax & Dyqani i Sporteve të Dëborës
Matchams LaneFab activities for kids. Skiing, snowboarding, ringos and sledges. Amazing play park too which you can pay to enter without any of the other bits. Great Alpine restaurant too.
Tower Park in Poole has lots of fun things to do. Try splashdown - ace indoor water park with loads of slides etc. Or soft play, bowling, cinema, arcades. Lots of restaurants, a sweet shop etc. Good place to spend a few hours!
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Parku i Kullës
Yarrow RoadTower Park in Poole has lots of fun things to do. Try splashdown - ace indoor water park with loads of slides etc. Or soft play, bowling, cinema, arcades. Lots of restaurants, a sweet shop etc. Good place to spend a few hours!
An indoor play centre with bowling, soft play, mini golf and arcades as well as American Diner. There is also laser tag next door!
Oasis Fun Bournemouth
Glen Fern RoadAn indoor play centre with bowling, soft play, mini golf and arcades as well as American Diner. There is also laser tag next door!
Similar to Moors Valley. Avon Heath Country Park is a mosaic of glorious heathland and woods and has been awarded a Green Flag.
Enjoy a walk or cycle along one of the trails and discover some of the abundant wildlife.
Take part in a treasure trail or grab something to eat or drink from the takeaway kiosk. Great play park too.
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Avon Heath Country Park
Brocks PineSimilar to Moors Valley. Avon Heath Country Park is a mosaic of glorious heathland and woods and has been awarded a Green Flag.
Enjoy a walk or cycle along one of the trails and discover some of the abundant wildlife.
Take part in a treasure trail or grab something to eat or drink from the takeaway kiosk. Great play park too.
Moors Valley is a Country Park with Play Trail, narrowgauge steam railway, Go Ape tree top adventure, golf course, country shop, restaurant and more. There’s some amazing walking and cycling trails as well as the gruffalo trail with sculptures. The park has lots of picnic areas and a fab play park.
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Parku Kombëtar dhe Pylli i Moors Valley
Horton RoadMoors Valley is a Country Park with Play Trail, narrowgauge steam railway, Go Ape tree top adventure, golf course, country shop, restaurant and more. There’s some amazing walking and cycling trails as well as the gruffalo trail with sculptures. The park has lots of picnic areas and a fab play park.
Such a great day out. Famous for the tv series monkey business which is filmed here. Amazing rescue centre with lots to see and do. Located further down the coast.
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Monkey World - Qendra e Shpëtimit të Majmunëve
LongthornsSuch a great day out. Famous for the tv series monkey business which is filmed here. Amazing rescue centre with lots to see and do. Located further down the coast.
Probably my kids’ favourite place when they were younger! So much so we had annual passes! They actually still love it now. Lots of animals, great soft play as well as fab in and outdoor play areas. Tractor rides, pig racing, baby animal feeding, cow milking! Plus farmer palmer himself is the nicest guy around! Located just outside Poole.
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Parku i Fermës së Farmer Palmer
Wareham RoadProbably my kids’ favourite place when they were younger! So much so we had annual passes! They actually still love it now. Lots of animals, great soft play as well as fab in and outdoor play areas. Tractor rides, pig racing, baby animal feeding, cow milking! Plus farmer palmer himself is the nicest guy around! Located just outside Poole.