Jane's Midlife Journey

Avon Beach is one of three Blue Flag beaches in the Christchurch area. Unlike many of the beaches around Bournemouth, this one is accessible without having to negotiate your way down from the clifftop, with a car park at beach level. The beach is lined by a promenade which runs from Mudeford to the west as far as Friars Cliff to the east. Avon Beach is dominated by the Noisy Lobster, which has a restaurant, deli and range of other food outlets spreading along the prom. In the morning, the tantalising smell of bacon and freshly baked bread wafts across the sand.

How to get to Avon Beach

Avon Beach is 7 miles east of Bournemouth. It can be reached by following the A35 to Christchurch, then turning right onto Purewell Cross Road. By foot/bike, you can reach Avon Beach by following the coast and then either walking/cycling round Christchurch Harbour or taking the Mudeford Ferry from Hengistbury Head to Mudeford Quay.

By Bus

Bus number 1C stops at Avon Beach Approach, a 5 minute walk from the beach. In summer, the No 70 Breezer bus, which runs along the coast, is another option.

Access

Access is easy as there is a car park right next to the beach. Avon Beach is also accessible via a paved promenade from Mudeford Quay and Friars Cliff Beach. You can walk further along the beach to Highcliffe, but the final section isn’t paved.

Parking

Avon Beach Car Park has level access straight onto the prom/beach. However, with only 83 spaces, your chances of getting a spot here during the summer are remote. Car parking costs are seasonal, costing from £2.30 to £2.50 for an hour. Further details can be found here.

There is another car park just behind this; Avon Run Road Car Park. From here, there are steps leading down to the beach. If you can’t manage steps, you can access the beach via a path, but it’s a 5 minute detour. The parking fees here are cheaper, costing £2.30 for an hour. (In winter, parking costs just £1 for the whole day). Further details can be found here. There is also some free roadside parking along Avon Run Road during the winter months.

Beach

The beach is mainly sand, although not quite the glorious golden sand found further towards Bournemouth. There can be patches of shingle. The west end of the beach is designated for water sports.

Saltwater Sauna

The recently installed Saltwater Sauna consists of two units where you can relax whilst enjoying the view through the panoramic window, before a quick dip in the sea to cool down. And repeat…

Food and Drink

Covering all your culinary needs is The Noisy Lobster; a family run beach front restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining. It specialises in seafood, although the menu also includes a vegetarian option (pasta) and a vegan option (salad).

Apart from the restaurant, the Noisy Lobster complex also boasts:

• The Lobster Hatch, which sells a range of takeaway food, specialising in Fish & Chips. It also sells cold drinks (soft and alcoholic).
• The Coffee Cabin, whic sells sandwiches, baked goods and hot drink
• An Ice Cream Parlour boasting 21 flavours of ice cream plus options for dogs too.
• A Shop selling local produce, souvenirs and beach goods.
• The shop also houses a Delicatessen, which sells a range of produce, but specialises in seafood. If you’re feeling decadent, you can order a hamper for an up market picnic.
• And a Bakery selling cakes, pastries and bread. The sourdough is particularly good.

Toilets

There are public toilets next to The Noisy Lobster.

Other Facilities

• Showers
• Beach Huts (beach huts can be rented from the Noisy Lobster).
• Deck Chairs

Not actually a facility, but Avon Beach also has an area where a large of number of painted pebbles have been placed.

Lifeguards

The Avon Beach Lifeguard tower is manned from 10 am until 6 pm between 19th July and 7th September. It’s not quite the iconic beach lifeguard tower; it looks more like someone dumped an old shed in the middle of the beach.

Avon Beach for Children

Easy access, sheltered water and a life guarded beach make Avon Beach a great choice for children. Once you have scrambled over the pebbles which line the shore, the sea is shallow and flat, ideal for safe paddling and swimming for younger children. There is a playground a little further along the prom just before Mudeford Quay.

The Noisy Lobster has a Kids’ Menu (£8.50 in the restaurant or £7.50 from the takeaway hatch). And an ice cream kiosk, of course.

Dogs

Dogs are not permitted on the beach between May and September. There is a dog friendly area between Avon Beach and Friars Cliff Beach.

• Updated July 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.

For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth with young children, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth with Babies and Toddlers here.