Bournemouth

The Bournemouth guide is compiled by Matthew Hancock


Airport Information

Bournemouth

  • The A1 shuttle bus runs to Bournemouth's main square, stopping at hotels en route, hourly from 7.30am-6.30pm. The journey takes 15-25 minutes. Tickets: £4 (Tel. +44 (0)1202 557 007. www.bournemouth-airport-shuttle.co.uk).

  • Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +44 (0)1202 293 357. Open from 7am-midnight seven days a week.

  • Approved taxis meet arriving flights. The fare to central Bournemouth is about £14.

  • The nearest train stations are Christchurch (six kilometres) and Bournemouth (10 kilometres). From Bournemouth there are half-hourly connections to London Waterloo, cross-country links to the Midlands and north of England, as well as regular local services to Poole, Weymouth and Southampton (www.nationalrail.co.uk).

Bon Appetit

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↓ Up to €15
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    (650 Christchurch Road, Boscombe. Tel. 01202 395 596)
    Great breakfasts, smoothies, cakes, salads and mezze at this funky café, with outdoor tables on a pedestrian street. Most dishes are less than a fiver.
↓ Up to €30
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    (58 Westover Road. Tel. 01202 556 399)
    Lively branch of this reliable chain serving Italian staples, such as pizza, pasta and risotto-the rotisserie chicken with fries is particularly good.
↓ Up to €50
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    (16 High Street, Poole. Tel. 01202 674 970)
    Owned by a chef/fisherman, this restaurant specialises in locally caught seafood. The menu changes daily according to what is available, but expect such delights as sole or plaice from Poole Bay and lobster and scallops from the Purbeck Coast.
↓ Exclusive
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    (12 Church Street, Christchurch. Tel. 01202 483 454)
    On a cobbled street, this intimate restaurant has several dining rooms, one with wooden booths for added privacy. The high-standard cooking features unusual combinations such as seared scallops with pork belly, as well as more classic dishes.

After Dark

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↓ Low Key
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    (The Cumberland Hotel, East Overcliffe Drive . Tel. 01202 556 529)
    Enjoy a cocktail in this beautiful Art Deco hotel bar-with high ceilings and fantastic light fittings-overlooking an outdoor pool and the sea.
↓ Live Music
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    (8A Parr Street, Ashley Cross, Lower Parkstone, Poole. Tel. 01202 748 945)
    Live music, tribute bands and comedy. This month you can catch punk legends Anti-Nowhere League (13 March) and ex-Strangler Hugh Cornwall (20).
↓ Late & Lively
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    (134-138 Old Christchurch Road . Tel. 01202 780 260)
    Resident DJs, fancy-dress nights, pole-dancing, ice fights and half-yard cocktails, this is the place to party till late seven nights a week.

On the Ground

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Shop
  • Check out the seaside-themed pottery, jewellery and knick-knacks-many made by local artists from driftwood or recycled items-at Coastal Creatives (103 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne. www.coastalcreatives.co.uk).
This month
  • March sees Russ Noble (6-7) and Al Murray (7-9) flying the flag for comedy, while music gigs include Lemar (21) and Simply Red (30)-all at the Bournemouth International Centre and Pavilion (www.bic.co.uk).
Insider Tip
  • For a free day out, Moors Valley Country Park has a great forest trail plus two playgrounds and a tree-top walk. You will, however, have to pay for parking, the high-rope course, steam railway, golf and bike hire (Horton Road, Ashley Heath. www.moors-valley.co.uk).
Key Area
  • Poole Park is a great place for kids: they can try windsurfing, kayaking, rowing, sailing or rising a pedalo at this waterside park. There's also a mini-train, ice-rink and children's playground-or you can simply stroll around the harbour and feed the ducks.

Tips

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Day Tripping
  • Compton Acres
    Just 20 minutes by bus (route 50) from Bournemouth, Compton Acres is a series of landscaped gardens stretching down a hill with views over Poole Harbour. Check out the fabulous Japanese garden, with its ornate tea room, and the more formal Italian landscape (www.comptonacres.co.uk).
No way!
  • After World War II, until Heathrow opened in 1946, Bournemouth airport was the main terminus for international flights into the UK.

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