Things to do in Bournemouth

Alum Chine Tropical Garden

A Green Flag tropical garden begun in the 1920s, on the clifftop above Bournemouth's largest chine.

Westbourne

Green FlagTropical plantingPirate play areaSea views

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Boscombe Chine Gardens

Green Flag gardens running down the chine to the seafront, with mini golf and a cafe.

Boscombe

Green FlagMini golfCafeDuck feeding

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Beaches

Bournemouth Beach

Seven miles of sand under the East and West cliffs, with the pier, gardens and kiosks on the promenade.

Bournemouth

Blue FlagLifeguardsKiosksCliff lifts

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Bournemouth International Centre

The seafront arena and conference centre, and Bournemouth's largest venue for touring shows.

Bournemouth

ArenaConference centreTouring showsSeafront

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Bournemouth Little Theatre

Amateur theatre club on Jameson Road, staging its own productions in a members' theatre.

Winton

Amateur theatreOwn venueMembership

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Family attractions

Bournemouth Pier

The Victorian pier at Pier Approach, free to walk, with an amusement arcade at the entrance.

Closed now

Bournemouth

Free to walkAmusement arcadeSeafront

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Art galleries

Gallery 65

Contemporary art gallery with its own bespoke framing studio on Poole Road in Westbourne.

Closed now

Westbourne

On-site framing studioConservation-standard framingOnline shopGift cards

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Coastal walks

Hengistbury Head

Headland nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest with a visitor centre and land train.

Southbourne

Visitor centreLand trainSSSICoastal walks

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Kinson Common

A nature reserve of woodland, heath, marsh and meadow tucked in among the housing at Kinson.

Kinson

SSSI heathlandWoodlandMarshGuided walks

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Knyveton Gardens

Bowls, tennis, a nature trail and a sensory garden between Southcote Road and Frances Road.

Boscombe

Bowling clubTennis courtsSensory gardenNature trail

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Crazy golf

Lower Gardens Mini Golf

Council-run mini golf in the Lower Gardens, a few minutes from the pier and the square.

Bournemouth

Mini golfLower GardensCouncil run

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Meyrick Park

Wooded parkland north of the town centre, popular with dog walkers, runners and cyclists.

Bournemouth

Tennis courtsGolfBowlsRugby club

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Muscliff Park

Green Flag open space with a community centre, youth centre, petanque terrain and play park.

Muscliff

Green FlagCommunity centrePetanqueTennis court

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Animal attractions

Oceanarium

Bournemouth's aquarium beside the pier, with an outdoor terrace and a penguin viewing area.

Bournemouth

AquariumPenguinsOutdoor terraceSeafront

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Palace Court Theatre

Arts University Bournemouth's town-centre theatre on Hinton Road, used for student and public work.

Bournemouth

University theatreTown centreStudent productions

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Redhill Common

Seven hectares of heathland, grassland, scrub and woodland, and a Green Flag winner.

Winton

Green FlagHeathlandGuided walksWildlife

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Museums

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Victorian clifftop house, art gallery and museum on Bournemouth's East Cliff, a short walk from the pier.

Closed now

Springbourne

Historic house and galleriesCafé and afternoon teaGardenBehind-the-scenes house tours

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Shelley Theatre

Restored Victorian theatre in Shelley Park at Boscombe, run as an independent venue and cinema.

Boscombe

Victorian theatreIndependent venueCinema screenings

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Stour Valley Nature Reserve

Three miles of riverside footpath, meadow, hedgerow and woodland along the Stour.

Muscliff

Riverside footpathVisitor centreWildlife gardenMeadows

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Family attractions

TeamSport Bournemouth

Indoor karting off Yeomans Way, with racing simulators and a cricket batting experience.

Kinson

Indoor kartingRacing simulatorsCricket battingGroup bookings

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