About Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the Borough of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. The town has a population of over 160,000.

Bournemouth is a successful resort, as it is situated in the South of England. It is a regional centre of education and business. It is also the largest town on the English south coast between Southampton and Plymouth. Bournemouth is the home of long-standing institutions, such as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The Arts Institute and Bournemouth University, and hosts spectacular events, such as the Air Festival.

Best sites

Boscombe Pier– This setting is one of the most ideal in Bournemouth. It is next to the beach and Boscombe Cliff Gardens which offer panoramic views of the bay leading to Poole Harbour. Boscombe Pier adds to Bascombe's reputation as a leading seaside resort.

The Bournemouth International Centre is often the place for annual conferences held by the main national political parties. It is on the cliff-tops near the middle of Bournemouth, towering over the sea and the pier. The centre has hosted the Labour Party conference twice in the past five years. Plays and concerts are also held in the building.

The Russell-Cotes Museum is east of the Central Gardens near the Pavilion Theatre and next to the Royal Bath Hotel. The museum includes many 19th century paintings and other pieces of artwork acquired in Japan and Russia. The person whom the museum is named after, Sir Merton Russell Cotes was a well-known Victorian who was responsible for the promenade along the Bournemouth and Poole shoreline being built.

Bournemouth Reform Synagogue is a place of activity, as well as worship. It is available for social gatherings, educational events and for the support of spirituality. It seeks to respond to the needs of individuals, in terms of modernity and tradition, and its motto is that it encourages "a healthy community that prays, socialises, learns, plans and grows together.”

Best areas

On either side of the River Bourne, the main shopping streets are behind the seafront.

They are mainly populated by pedestrians and there is a wide variety of shops, ranging from stores, boutiques and jewellers to accessory shops. There are Victorian arcades, shopping malls and big-name stores, such as Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, BHS, Beales and Dingles. In the main town centre, there are Asda and Co-Op.

In the Westbourne district, there are interior design shops and designer clothes stores if you are in the mood for doing things in style.

In Boscombe, there is a major shopping precinct which includes a street market and many antiques shops. Near the centre is an all-new shopping complex called Castlepoint which also has a selection of DIY stores.

You can find more supermarkets in Upper Parkstone.

Best hotels

Applewood Hotel – Situated on Bournemouth's West Cliff, this is one of Bournemouth's cheapest hotels and is suitable for both holiday makers and business guests. It is only 5-10 mins. away by foot from the Bournemouth International Centre and the beaches.

Applewood hotel is run by a family and is only six miles away from Bournemouth Airport. Facilities include Freeview TV, free wireless internet, stylish ensuite rooms with high quality duvets and clean linen, a licensed bar and a free large car park. The hotel is also open 24 hours.

Grovefield Manor Hotel – This is unique in that it is a 'Boutique Manor' hotel that can be found at Branksome Park. It has been recently refurbished and is close to Westbourne. There is a plush sitting room which is ideal for social gatherings. It has a chandelier, a television and you can even drink tea or coffee there. There is a bar which is exclusive to everybody which even has an ambient-lite LCD TV.

It is possible to hire the hotel out for a party or wedding. There is a function room which can hold up to 60 guests. Hotel staff have access to local caterers who can help organize any event for anyone interested.

The rooms are individually designed, there are top quality breakfasts and single, double and family accommodation are available.

Captain's Club Hotel & Spa – This impressive establishment, located at Christchurch, is opposite the river. Both long and short term stays are accepted and there are luxury suites. Among them are deluxe double and twin rooms. The spa facilities include a sauna and 'hydro-therapy' pool. The hotel is a strictly non-smoking building, although there is a seating area outside for those wishing to smoke.

In each room, there is a DVD and CD player and even space for cots.

The hotel is only ten minutes' drive from Bournemouth town centre and Bournemouth Airport.

Balincourt Hotel – A short walk away from the town centre and the seafront, this is a beautiful Victorian place situated on Christchurch Road

Balincourt Hotel started out as the private pad of a wealthy Bournemouth resident, before becoming a guest house in the 1920s. There is a garden at the front of the hotel, lined by trees.

The bedrooms are individually and attractively decorated. Each room follows a particular colour scheme and all the tea sets, glasses and sweet dishes are hand-painted.

As a five-star hotel, Balincourt has won the highly regarded ETC Silver Award.

Night clubs

BarBluu – This Christchurch Road nightspot is a delight for socialites in Bournemouth. Cosy booth areas, big sofas and a spacious dance floor are the highlights. The capacity is 300 and coffee is served, too. BarBluu plays lots of disco and motown with The 5 O'Clock Club held every weekday night with 'happy hour' prices till 9pm. BarBluu is popular with young people, as well as those over 25.

Censo – A futuristic, sexy-looking club lounge on Hinton Road which has two floors and the best possible service that can be offered to everybody. This is home to the Bournemouth's DJ elite and there are even huge beds on which you can kick off your shoes and relax.

Spearmint Rhino – One of the most elegant adult night clubs in Bournemouth with female dancers as one of its selling points. You can find it on Yelverton Road and there is an exclusive Champagne Court, as well as a supreme Exotica Court. You can also taste a special selection of beers, spirits and snacks.

Available for stage and hen parties, birthday celebrations and functions.

The Green Room – One of Boscombe's main spots, on Ashley Road, The Green Room plays a variety of music, including jazz, salsa and all-out punk rock. The place is spilt into five sections. There is The Fantasy Palace, Empire Club, Sebis, The Vibe and Roomsix.

Walkabout – This hot spot has a distinct Aussie flavour! It is in the town centre on Old Christchurch Road and sells kangaroo burgers! It plays a mixture of pop, dance and R&B. They also do Snakebite, a lager topped up with cranberry juice which is very dark red and sweet as a nut.

A taxi is usually parked in front which means that most clubbers don't have to walk home at night or in the early hours of the morning.

Festivals

The Bournemouth Air Festival – A magnificent summer spectacle, this has a line-up of events that are likely to thrill audiences this year. It will be mainly made up of military displays and will feature the presence of the famous Red Arrows. There will also be the Eurofighter Typhoon, the most advanced combat craft flying in the world today. For parachute displays, watch the RAF Falcons who will perform wonderful displays in the air. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be a look back at World War II, with classic fighter planes doing their whirlybirds routine, assisted by a Royal Air Force bomber.

The Bournemouth Literary Festival – New and old fiction, as well as poetry, are the order of the day with this highly educational show which first began in September 2005. In the past, guests have been Bournemouth-based Christine Aziz, winner of the Richard & Judy prize for new writers Chinese writer Ma Jian, Jewish writer Howard Jacobson and African drummer Noah Messomo.

The festival also has a backdrop of music, dance and drama. Previous themes have included comedy, speed dating, romance and love.

Many different cultures are welcome to this event which is a growing example of how much Bournemouth has to offer in the way of expanding its literary heritage and use of language.