Welcome to Bournemouth a staff handbook for our town 1 A warm welcome to Bournemouth Contents Welcome to Bournemouth 2 Bournemouth as a tourist town 3 Things to do & see 5 Bournemouth events 7 Bournemouth by night 9 Beyond Bournemouth We very much hope you will enjoy You’re joining a very important part of 10 living and working here – tourism is a the town, tourism is worth more than Making visitors happy major industry to the town and we’re £479 million to Bournemouth and 11 delighted you’ve chosen to become supports nearly 10,000 jobs. And it Access all areas part of it. Bournemouth’s beautiful doesn’t just impact hotels and tourist 13 beaches and stunning gardens are a attractions, visitors spend in just about Getting around major draw, but visitors also return for every sector - shops, pubs, restaurants, 14 our hospitality – a warm welcome from spas, transport and more. Without a Get in touch: people like you. healthy tourism industry many of the 01202 962 072 town’s facilities and packed events [email protected] It’s the people that visitors interact programme simply wouldn’t exist. coastaltourismacademy.co.uk with that make the difference to a visitor’s experience, transforming an Customer service is very much at the average holiday into a great one - a heart of the National Coastal Tourism personal greeting or friendly smile can Academy, we hope you will find this be pivotal in someone’s day. booklet helpful in discovering what Bournemouth has to offer visitors and how to deliver top service to everyone. Enjoy working here! 2 bournemouth.co.uk/things-to-do/shopping Bournemouth as a tourist town Useful link Bournemouth’s town centre is ideal for shopping, with a pedestrianised shopping area, and a wide choice of one-off outlets, high street names and Pokesdown sits between Boscombe and large department stores. The centre’s impressive Southbourne and is known for its antiques shops. Victorian architecture is complemented by Its retro atmosphere makes it a draw for lovers of award–winning gardens that stretch down to the vintage clothing and artefacts. It offers good beach and right up to the border with Poole. transport routes from Pokesdown railway station Bournemouth Square is a central point, west is and a good bus network. the Triangle shopping area, while Westover Road is lined with elegant shops and galleries, you’ll Southbourne is just over three miles from also find the Tourist Information Centre and Bournemouth, the area is hugely popular with cinemas here. There are additional seafront families who flock to its wide sandy beaches and information offices situated close to seafront eateries. Southbourne Grove offers a Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers. For night number of tempting cafés and shops, many sell owls, there’s no shortage of cafés and restaurants locally made Dorset produce. The clifftop is ideal in the town centre, with nightclubs and bars that for walkers offering panoramic views of the Isle stay open well into the early hours of the of Wight and across to the Purbeck Hills. Further morning. east is Hengistbury Head with an outstanding Visitor Centre. Boscombe is approximately two miles east of Bournemouth’s town centre. Its seafront is a Charminster offers a cosmopolitan mix of magnet for watersport’s fans, and home to the restaurants, cafés and bars with every cuisine Coastal Activity Park which sits either side of from Lebanese to Thai. Boscombe Pier. The seafront offers a number of popular restaurants and bars. Open air markets Westbourne is a mile and a half to the west of take place on Thursdays and Saturdays beside the town centre, a chic suburb packed with Bournemouth! the Sovereign Centre in Boscombe, which also upscale fashion boutiques, top class restaurants (From Hengistbury Head) operates a Shopmobility scheme for visitors with and trendy coffee houses. Lovely pine tree woods disability. flank the path down to Alum Chine beach which boasts restaurants, ice-cream outlets and children’s playground with splash pool. 3 4 bournemouth.co.uk/things-to-do Bournemouth can be enjoyed at any Useful link coastalactivitypark.co.uk Things to do & see time of year, and many activities can be enjoyed for free! The stunning Victorian Gardens - Lower, Central and Upper - (all year round) lie between the town’s shopping area and the seafront and include tennis courts, mini-golf, children’s play areas and outdoor art exhibitions. Guided walks and tree trail guides are available from the Tourist Information Centre. Water sports are popular throughout Top entertainment features at The the year. But there’s also a packed Bournemouth International Centre programme of events year round, see (BIC), Pavilion Theatre and Lighthouse the events page (7). At Christmas in Poole, with dance performances at dozens of market stalls brighten the Pavillion Dance. The Littledown Centre Square, there’s live music, food stalls, a offers indoor sports facilities including German bar as well as an ice rink in the a large pool with flume rides and Lower Gardens. A traditional Christmas Altitude High Ropes. Splashdown pantomime is staged at The Pavilion Waterpark, at Tower Park, Poole, is also Bournemouth has four Blue flags But there’s also plenty of choice away Theatre. a popular year-round attraction. awarded for the cleanliness of its from the beach, whatever the weather. beaches, Green flags for the quality of The captivating Russell-Cotes Art its parks and a Purple flag for its night Gallery and Museum beside the Royal time economy. It has seven miles of Bath Hotel is crammed with amazing safe, sandy beaches, the town’s greatest works of art, the Oceanarium is also natural asset, and two piers, umissable, showcasing sting-rays, Bournemouth and Boscombe. Alum sharks, otters and more. The Pavilion Chine, Durley Chine, Boscombe, Theatre and Bournemouth International Fisherman’s Walk and Southbourne Centre provide a line-up of top beaches surround the central beaches entertainment year round, from the of East Cliff and West Cliff. latest boy bands to Brahms and Beethoven. The new Coastal Activity Park at Boscombe offers a variety of water Shopping is always a draw, both in the sports including kite-surfing, stand-up town centre and three miles beyond at paddle-boarding, body-boarding, surfing Castlepoint, which offers an extensive and kayaking - with instructors on-hand choice and free car parking. if needed. The Coastal Activity Park stretches either side of Boscombe Pier and provides a huge choice of activities for every age and ability both on land and sea, many of which are free. 5 Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum 6 Bournemouth events A packed events programme brings thousands of visitors into the town each year. The Bournemouth Wheels The biggest event is the famous Bournemouth Festival is a free festival for all Air Festival, held each year in August. the family over three days in A dazzling aeronautical display fills the skies May. above the beach, highlight of which is the Red Featuring historic classic cars, Arrows, but the entertainment lasts long into the world-class BMX stunts, night with thrilling dusk air displays, live music Monster Truck parades and and family entertainment. The event is free and supercars, there are four transforms the town for four days. grandstands along the beach to watch demonstrations, plus evening live entertainment, Free family entertainment takes place in August shopping, food and fireworks. in the Lower Gardens and at Bournemouth Seafront, featuring magicians, puppet shows, clowns, music and more. The Bournemouth Marathon Festival takes place in October. Featuring events for all ages The annual Bournemouth Arts by the Sea and abilities, from children Festival is staged across the town during running 1.5k to professional September and October. runners doing the full marathon! This multi arts festival attracts international The route runs along the sea artists as well as showcasing some of the best and around the town, a stunning local talent. setting for anyone who loves running. The town also holds a Christmas Festival from mid-November to early January. Every Sunday afternoon from Yule-tide visitors can shop for seasonal gifts and mid-April to September. Classic buy hot food from the market stalls. A temporary Cars on the Prom line the hill stage showcases local bands and performers just behind the BIC on the while a Victorian carousel adds to the seasonal clifftop. atmosphere. Useful link bournemouth.co.uk/whats-on 7 8 Bournemouth by night Beyond Bournemouth With more than 250 hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, Bournemouth is the ideal base to stay. And there’s enormous choice for great days out right on the doorstep. Bournemouth is renowned as Worth Matravers, Nr Swanage one of the most exciting places to enjoy a night out and is a proud recipient of the Salisbury and Stonehenge Poole and Christchurch Dorchester and North Dorset prestigious Purple Flag Less than an hour away from To the West, Poole features Europe’s Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, National Award for its Night Bournemouth, Salisbury has largest natural harbour. Visitors can is 28 miles west of Bournemouth and Time Economy. The BIC and some of England’s finest enjoy water sports, beaches, historic home and inspiration for Dorset author Pavilion feature plenty of historic houses, a great pubs and restaurants on the bustling Thomas Hardy, whose novel The Mayor variety, from classical concerts shopping centre and the Quay and spectacular views. Poole of Casterbridge was based on the town. to children’s shows and West majestic Salisbury Cathedral, Pottery and Poole Museum are great Travelling further into the countryside End musicals, there are also boasting Britain’s tallest spire.