Category: Bournemouth

The Best Beaches in Bournemouth

Bournemouth is home to seven miles of beach. If you can’t find a beach that you like in this quaint seaside town the your probably won’t find a beach you like anywhere.

The most popular beaches in Bournemouth, Poole and the surrounding areas are:

  1. Bournemouth Beach Pier
  2. Durley Chine Beach
  3. East Cliff Beach
  4. Boscombe Pier Beach
  5. Branksome Chine Beach
  6. Manor Steps Beach
  7. Canford Cliffs Beach
  8. Fishermans Walk Beach
  9. Shore Road – Sandbanks Beach
  10. Sandbanks Harbour Beach
  11. Sandbanks Beach
  12. Shell Bay
  13. Knoll Beach

By far the most popular beach is the main Bournemouth Beach by the pier. This beach has been has see beach goes swimming in it’s waters since before the Victorian times and is by far one of the UK’s favourite beaches.

The only thing you might not like thought is the fact that the beach gets very crowded in summer and parking is hard to find. But with some many different beaches in Bournemouth you don’t have to worry at all as you have more choices than time!

The great thing about the main beach in Bournemouth is that you are only minutes away from a variety of entertainment, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Strolling back into town will only take a few minutes also. If you’re only in town for a short while you will want to walk on the pier. It’s nice and relaxing plus you’ll get a nice view of Bournemouth so make sure to take lots of pictures! It’s over 300 meters long and dates back to the 1880 so why not walk down history lane.

If you want to avoid the crowds you have many choices. If you head west then Durley Chine Beach is the next beach across. If you head East then Boscombe Pier Beach is the next beach in the other direction. Keep in mind though each beach is quite a long way away so it’s best to get in the car and drive.

Hopefully you enjoyed this article by Abacus Locksmiths Bournemouth.

The Square Bournemouth – The Heart of Bournemouth

The Square refers to the open square that marks the center of Bournemouth. The square separates the central gardens from the lower gardens. You’ll also find a gorgeous river called Bourne that streams under the square. Bournemouth has 7 miles of beach, and it’s specifically warm making it a favorite to a lot of UK tourists. There’s a range of things for everybody there to keep water sports enthusiasts busy to the routine beach goer.

You can even head to Pine Walk. It’s walking range from The Square in the Bournemouth gardens. The Pine Stroll Open Art Exhibit is held here on summertime days. In the last few years, peoples’ population has actually commonly grown here offering more of the Bohemian image, rather than a typical south coast retirement town therefore causing the nickname BoMo.

History of The Square

An author by the name of Hubert Parry who was born next door to The Square was stated to have marked it with a blue plaque. A blue plaque serves as a historical marker. Its an irreversible sign put in a public place in the UK in commemoration of a well-known individual.

A cable car shelter was built at the center of the Square in 1925, with a clock on the top. The clock was contributed by Captain HB Norton who was a magistrate and former councilor in the region. He later on turned the location into a roundabout that had a clocktower until 1997. At around that time, the clock was famously called the Leaning Tower of Bournemouth. The Obscura Café was later integrated in its place, and the clock set up right at the top of it! In 2000, the Square has went eco-green as traffic is no longer allowed except for delivery trucks for businesses.

Markets in The Square

The Bournemouth Christmas Market which was inspired by the Weihnchtsmarkt traditional German Markets has been in play for 6 years now. The new organizers S&D Leisure Europe Limited provided a brand-new lease and had because taken over in its running and promotion of the marketplaces in The Square each December.

Because S&D Leisure Europe has taken over the quality of the event has leapt significantly into the positive. More traders have up their game by constructing exhibitor chalets in combination with wonderfully made Christmas decorations and dedicated Christmas Market Gateways. The event certainly intends for a family audience with something for everybody.

Food & Drink available at The Square

For those who like a beer or more, there’s a new joint called the German Alpine Bar in The Square where you can hang out and have fun. You’ll get different restaurants with various tastes and budgets. There has been an increase in takeaways for many years, using cheap alternatives to a restaurant meals.

Accommodation in The Square

There are numerous incredible hotels to sleep in! This is because the town was developed as a seaside resort and in turn hotels are a massive part of that. Hotels with gorgeous classical architecture can be found everywhere if you just walk into the  backstreets of the square.

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A Visitor’s Guide to Russell Cotes Art Museum and Gallery

If you’re visiting Bournemouth you don’t want to miss the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum. The museum not only features a timeless collection of masterworks and special exhibitions, but is a historic building of architectural heritage in and of itself, dating back to 1897. See the photo the the right. Just beautiful isn’t it!

Originally commissioned by Sir Merton Russell Cotes, a former mayor of Bournemouth and designed by the renowned architect John Frederick Fogerty, the building is designed in the Celtic inspired Art-Noveau style, which preceded and partly inspired Art-Deco in the 20th century. Russell-Cotes is also historically exceptional in that it was originally designed with art-exhibition in mind, making it one of the few art museums housed in an a heritage site designed for the purpose that still exhibits many of the original period works its collection.

Sir Russell-Cotes was a strong supporter of female artists of the time, and the museum’s original collection reflects this with portraits by Lady Violet Manners, including a portrait of the famed author and poet Rudyard Kipling, paintings by the pioneering Swiss Neoclassical artist Angelica Kauffmann and sculptures by Lady Kennett Kathleen Shaw.

The founding collection also includes 173 works by Edwin Landseer, known for his animal portraits, historical scenes and sculptures. Particularly noteworthy is his 1860 painting Highland Flood’ which depicts a biblically suggestive gathering of people and animals taking shelter on a cottage roof from a devastating flood in the Scottish Highlands.

After the second world war, the museum acquired Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s masterpiece Venus of Venticordia. Russell-Cotes art museum also has Albert Moore’s renowned pre-Raphaelite work Midsummer on display.

The founding collections reflect Merton Russel-Cotes’ personal tastes, which were strongly traditional and classical. On their travels across the world, Russell-Coates and his wife acquired many local paintings and artifacts including an extensive collection of Japanese Noh masks and ceremonial shrines which are also on display throughout the museum.

They were not supporters of the impressionist movement and no such works were collected by him personally. However, the collections were subsequently expanded to include contemporary art from the post war era and beyond, with an emphasis on local artists from the Bournemouth area, most notably Leslie Moffatt-Ward and his painting A Dorset Landscape, influenced by the Bloomsbury Group, a progressive early 20th century collective that included Roger Fry, who was influenced by post-impressionism.

If you feel daunted by the sprawling collection, there are free guided tours available. There is also a constant rotation of exhibitions, workshops and tours.

Those with a love for plants and ornamental gardening will also appreciate the beautiful lawns, ponds and Japanese-inspired garden outside.

Russell-Cotes Art Museum and Gallery is located at East Cliff promenade, Bournemouth, a five minute walk from the city center, and a 20 minute drive from the airport.

After you visit the Russell Cotes Art Museum and Gallery by not relax at Bournemouth Beach? You’re practically right there anyway!

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