Jane's Midlife Journey

The village of Mudeford sits on the mouth of Christchurch Harbour. The area is split into two by the harbour. On one side is Mudeford Quay, a quaint working fishing quay. On the other is Mudeford Sandbank, where the golden sandy beach is lined with mega expensive beach huts. Mudeford has a long history of smuggling. Locals will be keen to tell you about the Battle of Mudeford; a skirmish between local smugglers and Customs officers, which took place in 1784 on what is now the car park.

How to get to Mudeford

Mudeford is on the outskirts of Christchurch, 7 miles east of central Bournemouth. By car, follow the A35/A338 to Christchurch, then turn onto Purewell Cross Road, which becomes Stanpit, and later Mudeford.

By Bus

Bus No 1c stops at Chichester Way, a 7 minute walk from Mudeford Quay. During the summer, you can also catch the No 70 Breezer Bus.

Parking in Mudeford

There is a large car park on Mudeford Quay. Parking costs £2.50 for a hour between March and October and £2.30 during the rest of the year. Further details can be found here.

Mudeford Quay

Watersports

Mudeford is a popular area for boating and other water sports. It has a public slipway and a Sailing Club. In addition, there are boat charters offering fishing and diving trips.

Shore Sports offers sailing, windsurf, kayak and stand up paddle board lessons as well as equipment hire.

Lifeboat Station

There has been a Lifeboat Station at Mudeford since 1963. The lifeboat carries out approximately 60 rescues each year. The RNLI organises regular fund raising events throughout the year. It is possible to visit the station, by arrangement.

Gundimore Promenade

Gundimore Promenade runs along the shoreline from Mudeford to Avon Beach.

Avon Beach

This pleasant, mainly sandy Avon Beach is popular with families and has lifeguards during the summer. Here, you will find beach huts, a sauna and popular seafood restaurant, The Noisy Lobster. You can check out my blog about Avon Beach here.

Sauna

The Saltwater Sauna has two saunas on Avon Beach. Relax in the steam in a hut overlooking the beach, then plunge into the sea for a refreshing dip. And repeat…

Mudeford Ferry

The Mudeford Ferry operates across the harbour connecting Mudeford Sandbank with Mudeford Quay. The ferry operation is seasonal, running daily from April until October. During the rest of the year, it runs on school holidays and at weekends (weather permitting). During peak times, ferries operate every 15 minutes between 9 am and 8 pm (10 am and 4 pm off peak).

The crossing costs £3.50 each way (cash only). You can take your bike on the ferry for £1.50. A child ticket is £1.50 and a child’s bike costs 50p.

Mudeford Sandbank

Mudeford Spit Beach

Mudeford Spit has a sandy, sheltered beach. As it isn’t possible to reach here by road, it can be quieter than other local beaches.

Beach Huts

There are 346 beach huts on Mudeford Sandbank, which can be slept in between March and October. The beach huts are privately owned, and among the most expensive in the UK, selling for upwards of £400,000.

From Mudeford Sandbank, you can continue on foot/bike or via the Land Train to the nature reserve at Hengistbury Head. You can check out my Blog about Hengistbury Head here.

Food and Drink

Mudeford Quay

• Haven House Inn & Cafe – quayside pub, cafe and gift shop with outside seating
• The Fish Stall – fishmonger selling raw and cooked fish and seafood
• The Raft – quayside snack bar

Mudeford

• Mudeford Rocks – family run cafe selling breakfast, sandwiches and snacks
• The Jetty – award winning waterside restaurant specialising in seafood (inside Christchurch Harbour Hotel)
• The Nelson Tavern – quaint gastro pub with a nice outdoor seating area
• The Upper Deck – waterside restaurant (inside Christchurch Harbour Hotel)

Mudeford Sandbank

• Beach House Cafe – licensed beach side cafe, which also has a pizza oven, seafood pod, sandwich & shack and beach shop during the summer.

Avon Beach

• The Noisy Lobster – seafood restaurant which also has a deli, shop & bakery plus seasonal takeaway outlets.

Events

A number of popular events take place on the quay each year:

Mudeford Arts Festival

Taking place every July, the Mudeford Arts Festival showcases local arts and crafts.

RNLI Lifeboat Fun Day

Held every August to raise money for the lifeboat, the RNLI Lifeboat Fun Day consists of raft racing and a duck race in the harbour, plus a funfair, music and food and drink. You can read my blog about the Fun Day here.

Mudeford for Children

The sheltered, sandy beaches at Mudeford Sandbank and Avon Beach are popular with families.

There is a playground next to the quay with a nautical theme, including a pirate ship.

Crabbing off the quay wall is also popular with children. You can buy buckets etc in nearby shops.

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.

• Updated: January 2025