Jane's Midlife Journey

The iconic Bournemouth Pier is the focal point of Bournemouth. This cherished landmark is sandwiched between the sea and the town with golden sand stretching as far as the eye can see on either side. A walk along the pier offers breath-taking panoramic views of the coastline – on a good day, you can see across to the Purbecks, Old Harry and the Isle of Wight. Head to the pier on a summer’s day and there’s always something going on.

How to get to Bournemouth Pier

The entry to the Pier is via a large plaza, called Pier Approach. From here, it is a short walk through Bournemouth Gardens to the town centre.

By Bus

Several buses stop at Bournemouth Pier year round (1,5,6,11,12,13,21 and 22). In addition, the 70 Breezer Bus, which travels along the coast, and the City Sightseeing Bus stop here in summer. Other buses to Bournemouth stop at Bournemouth Square, a few minutes walk away. Parking in Bournemouth is expensive and can be elusive in summer. With fares capped at £3, travelling by bus makes perfect sense.

Parking

There are a couple of car parks close to the pier. The closest is Bath Road South. Parking charges are seasonal, ranging from £2.60 for an hour in winter to £3.60 an hour between mid March and October. Further details can be found here.

Opening Times

The pier is open daily from 9 am until 11 pm between June and September, closing at 7 pm between October and May.

Price

Entry to the pier is free for 2025.

History

The pier was built in 1880. It was actually the third pier to be built in Bournemouth, after the first two met with disaster (the first was eaten by worms and the second blew away in a storm). Like most British piers, it was partially destroyed in 1940 in a bid to make the country less susceptible to German invasion. It reopened in 1946.

For many years, there was a theatre on the pier, but in 2014 the building was repurposed as ‘RockReef’ with various activities such as a climbing wall and giant slide. In addition, a zipwire was installed on a tower on the end of the pier. So if you are that way inclined, you can zip wire from the pier back to the beach.

Attractions

The pier boasts an array of attractions and activities to suit every visitor’s taste.

RockReef

For adrenaline junkies, the RockReef Adventure Activity Centre is a must-visit. It consists of four different activities:

• Clip ‘n Climb – a set of 25 unique climbing walls
• HighLine – aerial obstacle course
• Vertical Slide – a slide with a 25 foot long vertical drop
• Pier Cave – three caving tunnels of varying difficulty

RockReef’s opening times are seasonal, opening daily during peak season. Further details can be found here. Costs vary according to activity, starting from £12 for an individual session (£11 off peak). Various package options are available.

Zipline

There is also the thrilling PierZip; a set of two ziplines that glide you (and a friend) over the waves, starting from the end of the pier and landing on the beach.

The cost of a ride on the PierZip is £27 for one person (£21.50 in winter). Again, various packages are available.

Pier Amusements

At the entrance to the pier is an Amusement Arcade is packed with classic and modern games, with some cool art work thrown in. It is open daily from 10 am until 10 pm (closing earlier off peak).

Fun Fair

At the far end of the pier, there is a small Fun Fair, including the pier’s iconic Helter Skelter. The fair operates between April and October.

Street Art

As you walk along the pier, you can see two pieces of art which form part of the Prom Selfie Trail; Floating Love and The £99 Flake. Plus a couple of pieces by digital artist Maxine Walter; Beach Love and Ice Dreams.

Food and Drink

Aruba

At the entrance to the pier, you will find Aruba restaurant and club. It lays on a range of events from karaoke to yoga. The events calendar can be found here.

Key West

Key West is on the end of the pier. As well as dining, it offers plenty of entertainment from live music to a Fawlty Towers dining experience or breakfast with Santa. The events calendar can be found here.

Proper Cornish

At the entrance to the pier, there is an outlet selling pies and pasties; Proper Cornish. They also sell donuts and ice cream donuts.

Coffee Reef Café

Coffee Reef Café sells coffee (unsurprisingly), plus other drinks and snacks.

Other retail outlets include an Ice Cream Kiosk, a Rock Shop (selling rock and fudge), a Beach Shop and a News & Gift Shop. In summer, other pop-up vendors may be in operation; 2025 saw an new ice cream shop (Dippy Sundaes) in the former ticket office, plus strawberries & chocolate and a jewellery stall.

Toilets

Bournemouth Pier is home to some of my favourite toilets, if it is possible to have favourite toilets. The interior has been painted by local artists Paint Shop Studio. Walking in always makes me smile.

Events

Throughout the year, Bournemouth Pier hosts an exciting line-up of events and entertainment. From live music concerts and firework displays to art exhibitions and charity fundraisers, there’s always something happening on the pier. Checking the events calendar before your visit will ensure you don’t miss out on any performances or celebrations.

Pier to Pier Swim

In July, the popular Pier to Pier Swim takes place where thousands of swimmers attempt to swim the 1.4 miles between Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Pier.

Run Bournemouth

In October, the pier forms part of the route for Run Bournemouth, so you are likely to see plenty of runners practicing and going after those pier Strava segments. It is at this point that you really appreciate how long the pier is (304.8 metres to be precise), which feels like a lot when you’ve just run 13 miles and were briefly in sight of the finish line!

Christmas

During the winter season, the Pier forms part of the town’s Christmas Tree Wonderland with illuminations and PierZip night flights.

Bournemouth Pier for Children

There is plenty to keep kids entertained on the pier. The Fun Fair is ideal for small children, while older children will enjoy the Amusement Arcade. RockReef is suitable for ages 4 and up, while ages 6 and up can ride the Zipline.

Key West and Aruba both offer a children’s menu. Each offer the usual options of burgers/pizza/chicken goujons for £8.45 (Key West) or £7 (Aruba). Events for children are offered during the school holidays, such as a family Halloween disco or breakfast with Santa.

• Updated October 2025

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my other ideas for ‘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.