You’ll find plenty of things to do in Bournemouth, whatever the weather. Visit top Bournemouth attractions like Bournemouth Pier or experience its top-rated activities like sailing around Poole Harbour. Bargain hunters won’t want to miss shopping in Bournemouth while couples and families alike can enjoy Bournemouth's culture. Check out the best places to eat in Bournemouth and get a taste of the local food, before experiencing some exciting Bournemouth nightlife. Getting around Bournemouth couldn't be easier however you choose to travel, and you can rest easy knowing you've enjoyed all of Bournemouth's entertainment before heading back to your hotel in Bournemouth for a great night’s sleep on a super comfy bed.
Getting around Bournemouth
Public transport
Convenient transport links mean that you don’t need to bother with the car at all – the town centre is pretty compact and there are regular bus services if you’d like to journey a little further during your stay. You can also visit local areas, such as the New Forest and Stonehenge, all possible by local transport services. National Express coach journeys to/ from London Victoria run up to 21 times a day from just a few pounds, so it’s easy to swap the big smoke for a weekend of sea breeze.
The Bournemouth Coach Station is about a 20-minute walk from the centre of town, but there are easy bus links to get you anywhere you’d like. With regular routes to Poole and Christchurch too, it can be a handy saver to get a day ticket for unlimited travel on most services across all three towns.
Public transport
Bournemouth Station
Bournemouth Airport
Airport transfers
Bournemouth has its very own airport, connecting the town directly with various national and international destinations, both long and short haul. Yellow Buses (the B1) will drop you directly at Bournemouth Airport from the town centre, running hourly from around 7am-7pm. Our Bournemouth/Ferndown hotel is conveniently located just six miles away if you want a good night’s rest before or after you travel. It’s easy as anything to reach both London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports too – with both train and coach connections available.
More options for international travel are the continental ferry routes, with the ferry port of Poole just six miles away, as well as Southampton and Portsmouth within easy reach. There’s a fast ferry from Poole and Portsmouth if you’d like to take a trip to the Channel Islands or the French ports of St. Malo and Cherbourg.
Train stations
Bournemouth Railway Station offers a speedy service to London Waterloo in as little as 97 minutes, as well as other connections along the south coast. CrossCountry services from Manchester run all the way to Bournemouth and there are trains from many destinations all over the UK, from Newcastle to Nottingham. There are more frequent connections and a busier timetable if you travel during the summer months.