Bournemouth University
About Bournemouth, Guide and Top Tourist Attractions
(Bournemouth, Dorset, England)
Bournemouth is located on the south coast of England, about 169 km / 105 miles from London. It is primarily a seaside resort, overlooking the Poole Bay from the south and enjoying 11 km / 7 miles of prime coastline. Its geographical features make it a popular tourist destination, with its many secluded beaches and magnificent harbour views.
Unlike most British cities, Bournemouth is not a product of centuries of gradual growth. It was purposely developed as a resort town in the 19th century, after Captain Lewis Tregonwell bought eight and a half acres of land at the mouth of the River Bourne (hence its name) to build a vacation home. Before that, no structures stood within 5 km / 3 miles of the river, save for a decoy hut for wildfowlers.
Tregonwell's home set the tone for the development of Bournemouth. Other wealthy people built vacation and retreat homes in the area, planting pine trees to seclude them from labourers and servants. Bournemouth became known as the 'pine city by the sea,' and over the years it developed its own industry and civic facilities. By 1890, it was officially recognised by the Queen as a Borough, granting it the right to elect a mayor and develop the land. Bournemouth expanded quickly, occupying nearby resorts Wesbourne, Boscombe and Southborne-on-sea. Its expansion came to an abrupt halt when, in 1974, local government reorganisation made it part of Dorset, shifting all authority to the Dorset City Council. Finally, in 1997, it recovered much of its power when it became a unitary authority.
Today, Bournemouth is home to many major businesses in the UK, including the Barclays Bank IT Centre and the European headquarters of JP Morgan Chase, a major financial holding company. It has a very young and diverse community, with a large student population and thus a strong, reliable workforce. Bournemouth now strives to preserve its natural heritage, particularly its beaches and piers, as tourism continues to play a large part in its economy.
What to do in Bournemouth
Bournemouth today is largely identified with its town centre, a modern, youthful hub brimming with venues for shopping, entertainment, and nightlife. Bournemouth Central Gardens, just behind the River Bourne, leads right into the town's major shopping alleys. Mainstream shops like Beales and Marks & Spencer line the town centre's streets, along with boutiques, jewellery stores, and Victorian arcades.
The town has a buzzing nightlife, with bars, clubs, and cafes staying open well past midnight. Club Elements on Fir Vale Road is Bournemouth's largest club and draws in young customers from all over the South of England.
Of course, no visit to Bournemouth is complete without a visit to the beach. Bournemouth has some of the UK's finest beaches, and worth noting is the 11-km / 7-mile beach that runs along the southern coast. It is secluded from the rest of the town by a 50-ft bluff, providing a calm, peaceful spot for those who want to get away from the bustle of the city and spend a few hours reading, relaxing, or enjoying the view.
Tourist Attractions
Bournemouth has long been known as the home of many unusual animal and plant species. Animal lovers will love Brownsea Island along the Poole harbour, where they can see the now-endangered red squirrels. The last colonies of the ant species Formica pratensis were found in the area before they became extinct.
One popular attraction is the Bournemouth Eye, a giant helium balloon that carries you up to 500 feet in the air. From up there, you can see a 32-km / 20-mile panoramic view of the town, including the English Channel and the surrounding countryside.
The harbours and coastlines are a staple sight for tourists. The Poole Harbour is especially magnificent in the sunset, with the sky splitting into gradients of pink, yellow, and purple. The Durdle Door, a large limestone arch jutting out from the isle of Purbeck, is a world-famous geological wonder.
