Bournemouth is a must visit coastal resort town on the south coast of England. It is known for its sandy beaches and close proximity to the world renowned Jurassic Coast. Whether you live in London or are visiting, this is definitely a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
This is a guide for a trip to Bournemouth. It includes where to stay, what to do and what to eat. We travelled on the 11th August 2021 and stayed for just for the one night.
Premier Inn Westbourne Bournemouth – finding hotels in Bournemouth or the Dorset area during this time was extremely difficult. Most were sold out and the few that were available were too expensive.
There were four of us, so we booked 2 rooms for 1 night and it cost £234 (excluding breakfast). This was a good price considering the time and location.
The hotel was nicely located: near the beach and also near the centre of town for eateries.
Parking in the car park is not free and it is open to the public. So, it is very difficult to find parking here. Quite annoying to be honest. Not only do guests not get free parking, but they also don’t get any priority parking spots over the general public. Ask reception on guidance of where to park overnight, there are a few roads nearby where you can park overnight until 10am (I think).
Top tip: book a Bournemouth beach lodge for a unique beach experience. You have to book well in advance and for a minimum of 3 nights. Prices start at £350 (rates vary throughout the year).
Bournemouth Beach
The beach was a 10 minute drive from the hotel. It was clean and not too busy when we went, but it can be so in the summer school holiday months.
We had a picnic on the beach and there were many other families there doing the same thing, so it is family friendly. Noticed some had a tent with them, which we thought was a decent idea (can purchase from shops outside the beach). From that beach shop we did purchase ping pong bats and a ball – good activity to do on the beach if you get ‘tired’ of just relaxing.
We could see the pier from a distance, but decided not to go see it. It is the focal point and possibly the main attraction. And I know this is a thing of British beaches – the pier and the facilities that come with it e.g. arcades, mini golf and other indoor activities, but I don’t get it. If I want that I can go to my local arcades or mall. If I’m going to the beach I want to enjoy the sand, the water, the sun!
Sandbanks
Sandbanks was a 20 minute drive from the Bournemouth beach. Supposedly these are the best beaches in the UK and the properties in this area are the most expensive. However, we didn’t notice too much of a difference compared to the Bournemouth beach. It was quieter and probably ever so slightly cleaner. But we were only there for a couple of hours and didn’t get much of a chance to explore.
Lulworth Cove and Durdledoor
Now, let’s talk about the star of the show, the reason you need to travel to this part of the country. The Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site is a 40 minute drive from Bournemouth. And it contains quite possibly the best natural sites of England! Definitely Southern England. Lulworth Cove and Durdledoor.
We parked at the Lulworth Cove car park. It costs £5 for 4 hours and £10 for the whole day. This parking ticket is also valid for the Durdledoor car park. Both car parks are massive so you’ll find plenty of space.
We wandered around Lulworth Cove, took some pictures, had handmade ice cream and then drove to Durdledoor. It is about a 5 minute drive from one car park to the other (20-30 minute trek). We drove because I had my mother with me and we weren’t fancying a trek and a hike up to Durdledoor.
However, it is still quite a bit of a trek/hike from the Durdledoor car park to the point where you can actually see Durdledoor. It is a fairly easy walk down – wide walking path and ever so slightly steep – it takes about 10-15 minutes. We found it easy and this is coming from someone who does not hike and has a fear of heights… seriously I just can’t do it. From the point where you can see Durdledoor (and wow what a sight!) you can then go further – down to the beach right next to Durdledoor – takes about 10 minutes. That’s a very steep trek down. Again, wide steps and fairly easy, but this is steep and lot more so than the previous part. Some of us went down some of us didn’t. The walk back to the car park is the most torturous though as this time it is an incline. This is quite challenging on the thighs. However, it wasn’t too bad and definitely something doable – this is coming from an amateur like me and also my mother – this last bit was her biggest struggle.
Food wise there isn’t much halal around in the area. So, consider getting yourself some picnic food.
Loads of halal restaurants including plenty of Middle Eastern and Turkish spots – e.g. Luxor Restaurant, Beirut Lounge, Baraca, Levant Lebanese, Basilico, Ali Baba. Also some Pakistani and Indian options – e.g. Bournemouth Lahore, Abduls Indian and Bengali Cuisine.
We tried Sambal Tumis – a place that does authentic Malaysian and Indonesian street food. See dedicated post for more info.
What we wanted to try had we had more time:
- The fish & chip plaice (halal fish and chips not too far from the beach).
- Cream tea from steam vintage tea rooms, dot teas or Frieda’s tearoom (this one is on a bus!).
- Breakfast or brunch at the beach in Urban Reef.
Durdledoor. It was such a breathtaking sight. There was a dramatic and iconic feel to it. If you are visiting Bournemouth, it is definitely worth a trip down. Even though it’s a bit of drive away, it truly is worth it. It will be the highlight of your trip. Some say it is the best sight of Southern England if not the whole of England!
