Jane's Midlife Journey

For some people, going to their ‘local’ means a trip to the nearest pub. This is my local. Two miles east of Bournemouth, in-between the suburbs of Boscombe and Southbourne is Manor Steps Beach. This Blue Flag Beach doesn’t have as many facilities as some of its neighbours. But this, and the fact that it is in between suburbs, means that it can be somewhat quieter than the beaches further along the coast.

How to get to Manor Steps Beach

Manor Steps Beach can be reached from Bournemouth by road (the A35) or by foot/bike along the promenade.

By Bus

In the winter, there isn’t a convenient bus to Manor Steps Beach. Buses No 1a/b/c, m2 and 22 stop at Portman Road. From here, it is around a 15 minute walk to the beach. In the summer, the No 70 Breezer Bus runs along the coast between Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and stops at Shelley Park close to the top of Manor Steps Zigzag.

In addition, the Land Train, which runs along the Promenade between Easter and October, stops at Manor Steps Beach.

Parking

There is free roadside parking on the cliff top above Manor Steps Zigzag.

Access

The beach can be accessed from the cliff top via Manor Steps Zigzag. There is a step free option, but it is a rather steep. Flat access is only possible via the Prom.

Although the Prom is pedestrian, if you are staying at the beach lodges or have a beach hut, it is possible to drive along it at certain times of the day – between 9 am and 10 am from Monday to Friday, plus a 30 minute slot in the afternoon. You will need to drive below 10 MPH and keep hazard lights on. Details can be found here.

Beach

The beach at Manor Steps is a glorious wide expanse of sand rolling gently to the sea nestled at the bottom of a wooded cliff, where you can often spot goats. There are groynes every 200 metres or so along the beach.

Food and Drink

The Prom Kiosk sells snacks, drinks and ice cream. There is some outdoor seating.

Toilets

The public toilets are behind and above the kiosk. They are accessed by going up and then down and then up some stairs, which is a little confusing as there are also other stairs providing access to the beach lodges. Also not great if you have small children or mobility issues. There are baby changing facilities. The toilets are locked at night. Approximate opening times can be found here.

Other Facilities

• Drinking water
• Shower
• Beach huts
• Beach office

Bournemouth Beach Lodges

If you want to holiday really close to the beach, it is possible to stay at Bournemouth Beach Lodges. These 24 beach hut style dwellings just a few metres from the beach sleep up to six people. A 4 night stay will cost between £480 to £1000 depending on the season.

Lifeguards

There is an RNLI Lifeguard Station on Manor Steps Beach, which is manned from 10 am until 6 pm between 19th July and 7th September 2025.

Manor Steps Beach for Children

Although there’s no specific provision for children, Manors Steps Beach is one of Bournemouth’s quieter beaches, so may be more suitable for families than some of the beaches closer to the centre of town. In addition, there are lifeguards on patrol during the summer. And the kiosk sells ice cream. Sand, sea and ice cream – a childhood triple whammy! Or you could just eat sand…

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on Manor Steps Beach between May and September. The nearest dog friendly beach is in Southbourne to the east of Fisherman’s Walk. Dog friendly beach lodges are available for a £40 supplement.

• Updated: March 2025

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth here.