-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Kingfisher Barn
Kingfisher Barn is a Visitor Centre in the Stour Valley Nature Reserve; a two mile stretch of riverside footpaths on the northern edge of Bournemouth. The reserve is abundant with flora and fauna, with over 400 species of plants, plus plenty of wildlife, such as kingfishers, otters and dragonflies. How to get to Kingfisher Barn…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Escape Rooms
There are a multitude of Escape Rooms in the Bournemouth area; 7 companies offering a total of 14 real life escape rooms, plus a further 15 Virtual Reality escape rooms, to be precise. These cover a broad spectrum of theme and difficulty, from trying to rescue a scared animal to trying to escape a deranged…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Poole Quay
The historic Poole Quay, which was once used to moor ocean-going ships, is now the home of harbour cruisers and pleasure boats. The half mile log stretch running west to east from the Lifeboat Station at one end to the Old Lifeboat Station at the other is a popular tourist destination. Lined with bars and…
-
101 Things to do Bournemouth – Hurst Castle
Hurst Castle is a fortress situated on the end of a shingle spit off the English coast, less than a mile from the Isle of Wight. The 16th Century castle has a long and interesting history plus spectacular views. As part of the castle collapsed during storms in 2021, only the Tudor Castle is currently…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle is the name of both a castle and a village in the Purbecks near Wareham, just across Poole Harbour from Bournemouth. The village and its thousand year old castle are either 15 miles from Bournemouth (if you cross Poole Harbour by ferry) or 20 miles away (if you drive round the harbour). How…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Stompin’ on the Quomps
The rather unusually named Stompin’ on the Quomps is Christchurch’s annual smooth jazz festival. It takes place in the park on the edge of Christchurch Harbour, known locally as The Quomps. The one day event is mainly about the music, but there is also food, drink and other entertainment in the beautiful harbourside setting. All…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Westbourne
Today I have a tour guide; a friend has offered to show me round the suburb of Westbourne. So far I’ve only been to Westbourne to eat or drink. And to weigh myself – but that’s another story. Westbourne has a reputation for being rather genteel. The main (Poole) road is lined with cafes, restaurants…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Durlston Country Park
Just across Poole Harbour on the outskirts of Swanage is Durlston Country Park; a park and nature reserve in the grounds of a castle. Durlston Castle sits perched on the cliff top overlooking Durlston Bay with stunning coastal views. How to get to Durlston Country Park From Bournemouth there are two main ways to reach…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Watch a Firework Display
If you’re a fan of pyrotechnics, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a free firework display in the Bournemouth area, particularly during the summer holiday season. And, of course, around 5th November for Guy Fawkes. Here are some dates for 2025. All of the events listed are free with the exception of Littledown Fireworks…
-
101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Bournemouth Natural Science Museum
Bournemouth Natural Science Museum has been in existence for over a century. Located in a grand Victorian Grade II listed building on the outskirts of Bournemouth, I had driven past it many times without noticing its existence. Tucked back from the road, most of the year the museum is only open once a week, but…
Jane's Midlife Journey 