Things To Do In Bournemouth

Jamjar_2

We are off to Bournemouth for 2 weeks in July- self catering cottage with our two kids aged 5 & 8.
We are travelling from Scotland and its our first visit to the south coast.
We would like to take them to lots of interesting places but don't want to get ripped off on lots of entry fees etc.

We will have a car so we are able to get around easily.

Also any family friendly fun eating places to recommend to me?

Any ideas?

Many thanks

frizz_head

The beaches in Bournemouth are fantastic - here's hoping for some fab weather in July - the best beach by far is Sandbanks, which is just past Poole.

The town of Bournemouth itself has great shops and restaurants and in the Winterbourne (?) gardens you can play crazy golf. There are a couple of cinemas, including an IMAX, and just next door to the Pier is the Oceanarium.

About 30 mins drive outside Bournemouth is the New Forest, or if you could always catch the Ferry to the Isle of Wight - great place to spend a day.

Hopefully some Bournemouth residents will be able to give you specifics.

Have a great time.
Frizz

Woby_Tide

Go on the Sandbanks chain ferry to the Purbecks and go to Swanage/Wareham, there's steam train rides, Monkeyworld, Farmer Palmers out that way for the kids too
If you have Tesco vouchers you can use them at the old Alice In Wonderland Park, now called Adventure Wonderland, is only about £8 or 9 for an Adult normally so that's £2 in Tesco vouchers now, is an outdoor theme park for younger kids i.e. under 10's, also has a big indoor soft play area included, it's just opposite Bournemouth airport so can go plane spotting or the aviation museum too.
Go kite flying at Hengistbury Head, then walk all the way round to the beach huts that sell for £80k and think of the madness
Go to Christchurch to wander round teh quay and priory, plenty of ducks to feed, places to play games and playgrounds along with a kids outdoor pool
New Forest as mentioned above to see the wild ponies, if you can't bring bikes you can hire them for the day to take a picnic out and have a look round
Poole has redevloped Tower Park where there is a big indoor water place with flumes and what not, also has a bowling alley and a cinema along with the normal range of eating places
Brownsea Island in Poole harbour, go across on the ferry to see the red squirrels and have a look round
Moors Valley just near Ringwood has miature steam trains to ride on with stations etc. also great long walk through the forest with 'themed' wooden play areas every few hundred yards that you follow in a trail. Only need to pay for parking.

BlueVinney

As Woby_Tide says there are lots of things to do in the area even if many are not as sophisicated as in more populated areas.

The trip to Swanage is good, you can either drive via Wareham (Saxon market town) or go over the ferry and past Sandbanks beaches. If you go via Wareham (or a round trip) stop at Corfe Castle village. Parking can be bad but if you want to ride on the Swanage (steam) Railway there is a railway Park-and-Ride (currently free parking) about 1/2 mile before reaching Corfe from the Wareham direction. With a Swanage ticket you can stop at Corfe and then catch a later train to Swanage (they run every 40 minutes). Wilts and Dorset buses cover the area the 150 runs from Bournemouth to Swanage via the ferry and 142/143 from Swanage to Poole via Corfe Castle and Wareham then catch one of the many routes on to Bournemouth.

Swanage is a traditional, victorian holiday resort with a sweeping beach of golden sand which faces east, so is protected from the usual westerly wind. Parking can be difficult to find at any time in summer but particularly on Tuesday, that's market day and uses one of the main car parks. There is a lovely country park, Durlston, on the cliffs about a mile to the south. There is (or least one is planned) a shuttle bus which runs from the railway station. Alternatively follow the brown road signs from near the harbour up the hill. Free to enter but a parking charge. Fantastic views over the sea and to the Isle of Wight and a good cafe, a tad expensive but good local food.

Picture postcard villages abound in Dorset. Worth Matravers is just outside Swanage but they are all over the place on the back roads. Most roads seem like back roads, don't expect to get anywhere quickly, particularly in peak holiday season. (Dorset doesn't have any motorways and not much dual carriageway).

Lots more suggestions if you want to explore further afield in Dorset but I guess the kids will want to hit the beach big time. Have lived in Dorset for the last 4 years and the weather has generally been very well behaved, certainly much warmer than when we lived in Edinburgh.

Post again or PM if you want any more info.

Hope you have a great holiday

Jamjar_2

Thank you for all the great replies, looks like there is lots to see and do.
Regards
Jamjar Family

Clowance

If you get a National Trust family card, you can go to Kingston Lacy (posh house near Wimborne), free landing on Brownsea Island in Poole harbour, Montacute near Yeovil (40 miles but lovely Elizabethan house). Have taken my kids to all and at the very least they love running round the grounds.
Brownsea is great for a walk anyway, even if you dont belong to the NT and pay the landing fee, plus the boat trip from Poole quay.
Wimborne Minster is lovely, opposite Wimborne miniature town. Poole quay is great for having a coffee and watching the people.
Parking is expensive down here but if you park on the overcliff drive by the suspension bridge you can cross the bridge, go down the steps and walk about 8 minutes down Alum chine (wooded glen) to the beach, where there is the BEST kids playground in the area, plus a paddling pool in the summer and of course the beach, restaurants, end of the line for the land train to Bournemouth etc. Bit far if you are taking inflateables, chairs etc, but can drop the family at the bottom of Alum chine by the expensive car park and the driver can park and walk down to meet them. Buy a street map or print one out to see the roads I mean.
Upton country park has some nice walks by the harbour, no playground though. Holes Bay road in Poole alongside harbour has traffic free cycle track alongside it (separated from the dual carriageway).
Kimmeridge Bay near Swanage has fossils all over the place, dont need a hammer as its hard clay. Just drop a rock and mostly there will be a small fossil. Keep away from cliff, bits drop off of it constantly.
Have a great time and hope the weather is good for you.

Weymouth_Man

Take a trip up in the Air Balloon, you can't miss it in the gardens down by the pier.
OR go to Weymouth, if i'm walking about you won't miss me, I always have my hat on. :eek:

hudo1968

Just to let you know the Imax has now closed down but there is still loads to do for families. The Aquarium is just nearby and also the council do Firework displays every Friday night in summer. The New Forest is fantastic not sure when the New Forest show is but you should be able to get loads of info from the Bournemouth visitors website.

Alum Chime is also great beach area.

enjoy!

monkeyspanner

How about crabbing off the piers either in Poole or Swanage. £1 line and 20p for bait there's at least a couple of hours old fashioned amusement. Brilliant fish and chip shop in Swanage on the sea front. Durdle door natural stone arch is worth a visit but its a bit of a hike from the cliff top. Longleat Safari Park is about a hour away but its quite expensive unless you use your Tesco vouchers. Steam railway in Swanage goes to Corfe Castle.

small

Long Down Activity Farm is GREAT. It is about 40 mins from Bournemouth. My son goes every week. Feeding the swans and ducks at Christchurch Quay is good fun and very cheap.

superjaggybunnet

Get the kids to play 'Count the pensioner'.

That should keep them busy for a fortnight and let you go and do something on your own. lol