2010 marks Bournemouth’s bicentenary celebration. It began with a New Year’s Day launch in the Lower Gardens and will continue throughout the year with a variety of events planned that reflect the amazing diversity of this exciting city. This once-in-a-lifetime celebration provides an opportunity for local communities to showcase their unique activities and for entire families to participate. The 200th anniversary reflects a storied past, a vibrant present and an exciting future for this fantastic part of the UK.
Additional events are added to the calendar almost every day. Currently, throughout the year, there are Chinese lantern celebrations, “smuggler” events supported by local schools, various sporting events, a “Mary Shelley weekend”, dances, musical concerts and historical, literary, gastronomical and cultural festivals. floral. Bournemouth’s bicentenary celebration will fill 2010 with excitement and excitement to inspire you, beyond what is always available in this beautiful holiday destination.
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum is situated in a uniquely colorful and eccentric historic Victorian villa that provides its own fascination. Inside there are art galleries filled with important collections of paintings, sculptures, commissioned collections of contemporary crafts from around the world and. The site encompasses a museum, licensed café, Russell-Cotes store, and a children’s art gallery and learning area. This is a great place to explore, learn, and socialize. Visit their website to find out what happens during your vacation time there.
If you feel like taking a walk along the shoreline, take part in the “Dock to Dock Walk”. You can start at Bournemouth Pier or Boscombe Pier and finish at the other end. The scenic drive takes you along the ride. You can enjoy a treat of tea and cakes, or coffee at any of the city’s cafes, hotels or restaurants at either end of your journey.
Bournemouth Gardens form three distinct areas of Victorian beauty. By the sea, the Lower Gardens host a variety of attractions and events during the summer months, including an outdoor art exhibition, concerts at the Pine Walk Bandstand and is home to its own aviary. The Pine Walk was known in Victorian times as the “Invalids’ Walk”. The scent of pine trees was thought to be beneficial for lung disorders. Near Pine Walk is one of the largest municipal rock gardens in England. Built in 1930, it is based on a series of terraces, creating planting pockets that allow the growth of rock and alpine plants, brought from all corners of the world.
Alum Chine encompasses award-winning tropical gardens established in the 1920s with paths, borders and dry stone walls, creating a terraced garden overlooking the bay. Take advantage of the mild climate that exists only in this part of the coast, offering a fabulous viewpoint to take photos of both the garden and the Bay.
The Lower Gardens, famous for their displays of floral bedding, were designed to flaunt bright colors, subtle textures, varying heights, and to thrill your olfactory senses. These lead to the Central Gardens located in the center of the city, which continue to the Upper Gardens. They allow you to walk through beautifully sculpted plant sections from the boardwalk for 1.5 miles. The walk takes you through a variety of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. The gardens have been planted to hold flower displays throughout the year.
You can choose to take the overland train from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Chine Gardens. These feature a miniature golf course, cafeteria and children’s water play area, along with a lovely garden. While you’re here, another place to visit is Italianate Gardens, a secret hideaway, beautifully located near the sea, on Boscombe Cliff Road. A £2 million project has recently restored Boscombe Gardens to the peak of its Victorian past.
Bournemouth’s Meyrick Park is spread over two hundred green acres. The Park sponsors a variety of sporting activities. It includes an 18-hole golf course and outdoor bowling greens that host international bowling tournaments. The wide variety of local parks and sports facilities in the area provide recreational action for the whole family.
Your family can explore the secrets of the ocean by viewing some of the world’s amazing aquatic creatures. The Oceanarium at Pier Approach Bournemouth allows you to come face to face with marine life from around the world. It provides a fully interactive experience with touch screen games, plasma screen documentaries, food discussions and demonstrations, an underwater tunnel tour and fascinating discovery exhibits.
The ultimate water park in the South, “Splashdown” has a choice of eight fantastic rides, even during the winter. Each one has twists and turns that generate excitement for the rider and lots of laughs. As the weather warms up, the outside comes to life. The Mississippi Drifter flows in the open, toward the Grand Canyon. As summer begins, more attractions open, including The Screamer, The Tennessee Twister, and Louisiana Leap (strictly for children 12 and under).
The Bournemouth International Center opened in 1984 to host conferences, shows, exhibitions and as an entertainment venue. The original Center housed Windsor and Tregonwell Halls (auditoriums) and a multi-story car park. It attracted international artists and large conventions, and the local City Council recognized the need to expand. The circular 1800 sq. Purbeck Hall underground was added in 1990. By the year 2000, the BIC was firmly established as one of the UK’s most popular venues. A massive redevelopment took place in 2003 providing 4 auditoriums. The larger size of Windsor Hall made the BIC overall the largest venue on the South Shore.
Bournemouth’s golden sandy beaches stretch for seven miles along the sparkling sea. The city has everything you want for your vacation: a variety of attractions, shops, restaurants, unique accommodations, a lively nightlife, theater and shows, special events, endlessly beautiful scenery, award-winning historic gardens, and water sports, including the first reef. artificial surf in Europe. .
The artificial surf reef draws crowds of water sports enthusiasts. Kitesurfing and kiteboarding provide thrills driven by the wind as the rider is pushed through the water. Cruise voyages take you past Old Harry Rocks, Brownsea Island, and Sandbanks. After eating on the BBQ cruise or picnicking on the island, admiring the seabirds, peacocks and pheasants (and maybe red squirrels) you can enjoy an evening fireworks display.
The best way to see the sights and enjoy adventures in and around Bournemouth on holiday is to stay in self-contained accommodation. Just about anything you can imagine is available in the Bournemouth area. The city invented the modern beach hut 100 years ago. They feature some of the oldest (and newest) beach cabanas in the country, and are still very popular with visitors. They are fantastic for relaxing, especially when gathering with friends or family, and offer wonderful sights and sounds of the coast. Ramps from the offices to the beach are available for wheelchair access.
You can find self-catering accommodation in a variety of styles. Over 180 charming holiday homes in and around Bournemouth offer romantic hideaways. You can choose between locations on the coast or in the countryside. Many of the cabins have traditional thatched roofs and/or fireplaces. Some also have swimming pools or jacuzzis. Find the perfect vacation home for your family along with special offers and late availability through area rental agencies. These agencies can provide you with beautiful photographs and location maps of your cabin. Some will sleep between 2 and 12 people and have gardens with outdoor furniture. The cottages are of historical interest in themselves, children and pets are welcome as parking is available and linens are provided.
Perhaps your family would prefer to stay in a beautiful Edwardian house (formerly a gentry) located in the center of Bournemouth. As a special feature, it has a beautifully landscaped garden. It is centrally located, but maintains a quiet environment. The upper apartments with kitchens located on the main floor can accommodate 2-4 people. The spacious apartments are elegantly decorated, fully equipped and with high-quality furniture. All apartments have central heat and carpet fully loaded. You are provided with in-house services by personal and caring management who live on site.
Another self-catering apartment setting is a large Victorian villa set on ½ acre of secluded, lightly wooded land. Six spacious one and two-bedroom apartments (with a capacity of 5 people) are suitable for families or two couples to share. Children are welcome and parking is available. The luxurious Victorian interior is set with quality furnishings in each apartment, but each has its own unique feeling of warmth and comfort.
In Southbourne Bournemouth, near the cliffs, there are self-catering holiday apartments located on a tree-lined avenue. It has a magnificent view from the Isle of Wight to the Purbec Hills and Swanage. Paths lead to the blue flag beach. The flats are open all year with short breaks available from October to April. Each apartment has good quality sofa beds, remote controlled color TV, full kitchen and microwave, under-counter fridge with freezer or fridge-freezer. The price includes hot water and central heating in good weather. A small garden is accessible to customers and parking is free. All apartments are non-smoking and pets are not allowed. Bournemouth town centre, its restaurants, shops, cinema, theatre, night clubs and the Bournemouth International Center are within 3 miles. The old Christchurch Priory with its beautiful river and harbor is nearby. You can bowl, golf, tennis and swim with easy access.
Self-catering apartments, suites, cabins or houses save you money that you can spend on seeing additional sites during your vacation. They provide all the comforts of home, where you can prepare your own meals and not be forced to eat out unless you want to. To stay long enough to see and do all the things available in Bournemouth, self-catering accommodation is the ideal place to stay.