Welcome to Bournemouth
If one thing has shaped Bournemouth, it's the beach. This glorious, 7-mile strip of soft sand first drew holidaymakers in the Victorian days. Today the resort attracts both elderly coach parties and youthful stag parties – on Saturday nights fancy-dress is everywhere; angels in L-plates meet men in mankinis. But Bournemouth is more than just a full-on party town. It also boasts some hip hideaways, great restaurants, tempting watersports, and in Boscombe, 2 miles east of the centre, a suburb with a cool urban-surfer vibe.
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Bournemouth activities
Blenheim Palace and Cotswolds Day Trip from Oxford
Departing central Oxford in the morning, you will start the day by visiting the magnificent Blenheim Palace located just a short journey north of Oxford. Entrance to the palace, park and the gardens is included in the tour. See one of the most impressive and biggest houses in all of England.Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It is the main home of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace was built between 1705 and 1722. Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It has been the home to the Churchill family for about 300 years and was the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during World War II.After plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings you will then continue into a national area of outstanding beauty - The Cotswolds. It is full of quaint small villages with houses and churches that date back around 500 years with most buildings made in local limestone (similar to Bath or some Oxford University Colleges).After another short journey that shows you some of the Cotswold villages and the natural landscape of fields and gentle rolling hills, you will stop at one of the prettiest of all the villages, Bourton-on-the-Water. After a quick tour you have time for lunch (own expense) and free time to enjoy any of the attractions, sights or events on offer.Departure will be late afternoon returning to Oxford by 5pm and returning to Bournemouth by 7pm.
Bournemouth to Warwick Castle and Stratford-Upon-Avon Day Trip
You will be picked up from a centrally located meeting point in Bournemouth and taken for this day tour to explore Warwick Castle and Stratford Upon Avon, one of England's most beautiful market towns, situated on the River Avon. This small quaint place is full of history, picturesque Tudor buildings, theaters, shops, many attractions and things to see and do.Included on the tour you are places where Shakespeare lived in Stratford, including his birthplace on Henley Street. It is open to the public with an exhibition center to learn more about this great man and see where he was born and lived in his early years. You will also be shown the King Edward VI School where Shakespeare went to study, the site of his retirement home and place of his death, New Place. You can also visit his final resting place in the Holy Trinity Church.The tour will return to the original meeting point in Bournemouth.
Windsor and Winchester from Bournemouth Full-Day Tour
On this tour we will visit Royal Windsor to see the favourite home of the Queen where she lives most weekends in the magnificient Windsor Castle (extra charge for entrance). Eton College is over the other side of the River Thames and is one of the best schools in the UK. We will take you on a 1 hour walking tour to see the sights of both places then free time for lunch or visiting the Castle. About 1pm we will depart to Winchester arriving about 2.15pm for a walking tour of 1 hour showing you Britains oldest public school (Winchester College), one of the largest and best Cathedrals Europe (free entry on Sunday or small charge on Saturday) and the former home of author Jane Austen (no entry allowed). We will finish the tour at the Great Hall (part of the Winchester Castle and free entry) which once ruled England and was the Capital and centre of political and royal power about a thousand years ago before it changed to London. You will have free time from 3.15pm until about 5.30pm departure time arriving home by early evening (approx 6.30 - 7pm).
Jurassic Coast: Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door half day trip
Pick up at 11:00 am from Bournemouth Station, Coach Stand K (underneath Asda, outside the Travel Interchange office) The coach and train station are next to each other if you are arriving on the day. Drive on a lovely scenic route through Bournemouth town centre, West Cliff, Sandbanks and Poole Quay. On arrival the driver will show you the return pick up point first, in Lulworth Cove Car park for a moment then you will be dropped off at Durdle Door. You will have 3 hours of free time between the two locations, the driver will tell you the meeting time in Lulworth Cove on the day. Get down onto the beach at Durdle Door for a paddle, a swim or to soak up the sun, before heading over Hambury Tout to Lulworth Cove. The walk takes about half an hour but provides absolutely breathtaking views in all directions and is often the highlight for visitors. Lulworth Cove is a stunning secluded cove tucked away behind the narrow limestone entrance. The cove has been formed by the erosion of the softer chalk behind leaving a shell shaped natural wonder. Be sure to seek out Stair Hole, a mini version or Durdle Door, with the famous Lulworth Crumple geological formation and visit the excellent visitors centre to see some of the fossils that give the Jurassic Coast it's name. Lulworth Cove sits in the village of West Lulworth and there are many tearooms, pubs and cafes to grab some refreshments. You will be dropped off at Bournemouth Station, Stand K at about 16:30 (depending on traffic).
Jurassic Coast Experience full day trip
Catch the early morning ferry from Sandbanks across to the Isle of Purbeck. View Old Harry Rocks, the starting point of the Jurassic Coast, England’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in breathtaking views across Poole Harbour and towards Brownsea Island.By mid morning you will arrive at Durlston Country Park. Visit the Jurassic Coast visitor center housed in the recently refurbished Durlston Castle. There’s time for a morning coffee stop overlooking the famous Great Globe and a chance to take the cliff top walk along to Tilly Whim Caves and the Anvil Point Lighthouse. Heading west, drive through some of the tiny lanes and villages that give Purbeck its unique character. Take lunch in the village of Corfe Castle, dominated by the ruins that give it its name. Entrance to the castle itself not included (Free to NT members).After lunch take a gentle drive along the coast taking in more stunning scenery as you head for an afternoon at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. Walk down to Man o’ War Rocks and view the magnificent rock arch of Durdle Door, hewn from the Portland limestone beds.Finally, head down to Lulworth Cove and see the famous Lulworth Crumple rock formation in Stair Hole. Lulworth Cove is in the village of West Lulworth where there are a number of tea rooms, pubs and cafes for refreshments. Finally we head back to Bournemouth returning by about 18:00, subject to traffic conditions.
Bournemouth City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
City Sightseeing Bournemouth will allow you to discover everything this beautiful coastal city has to offer, from it's sandy beaches and traditional villages to it's vibrant nightlife and bustling shopping districts.From Stop 1, East Cliff, the tour continues to the famous Bournemouth Pier which is one of the biggest tourist hotspots in the city! From our open-top bus, passengers will have the most amazing panoramic views of the coast, or, you can hop-off and explore the theatre, arcade and many restaurants and cafes that are found here! Hop back on as the tour carries on down to Bournemouth Square, another of the city's most important locations, which boasts many high-end retailers, shops, eateries and bars.If you'd like to discover the history of Bournemouth during your visit, hop-off at the Old Poole Town. Although many buildings have been re-modelled over the centuries, visitors will still get a real feel for Bournemouth's' medieval roots here from its older-style architecture, evident throughout the Old Town. There are also many museums in Old Town, including the Poole Museum, which boasts a range of galleries observing boats and trade over centuries. One of Bournemouth's most unique locations is The Triangle, for being the city's central point for the local LGBT community. Hop-off at Stop 23, to explore this quirky area that boasts arguably the city's most vibrant nightlife. The stops along the route are as follows:1. East Cliff 2. Bournemouth Pier - Behind Hot Rocks 3. Bournemouth Square - Gervis Place Stand X 4. West Cliff Savoy Hotel 5. Westbourne - Camden 6. Branksome Chine 7. Canford Cliffs - Loch Fyne 8. Sandbanks Beach - Shore Road 9. Sandbanks Beach - Pavilion 10. Sandbanks Peninsular - Ferry Approach 11. Sandbanks Beach - Opposite Pavilion 12. Sandbanks Beach - Opposite Shore Road 13. Lilliput Village - Lilliput Square 14. Whitecliff - Whitecliff Recreation Ground 15. Poole Park - Park Gates East 16. Poole Quay & Old Town - Portsmouth Hoy Pub 17. 13A. Poole Quay & Old Town - Old Orchard18. Poole Railway Station - ASDA Side 19. Poole College / Civic Centre - The College 20. Ashley Cross - Parkstone Railway Station 21. Penn Hill - Penn Hill Corner 22. Westbourne - County Gates 23. The Triangle 24. Bournemouth Square - Exeter Road Stand LL 25. Bournemouth Pier - Behind Hot RocksDuring our tour through Bournemouth, passengers can take full advantage of our free headphones and on-board audio commentary to discover many fun and historic facts about the city. Please note that the audio commentary is only available in English. City Sightseeing Bournemouth is seasonal and only operates between 30th March 2018 - 30th September 2018.