Mei’s guidebook
Outdoor activites
Paddleboard, kayak, windsurf and sailing hire (and wetsuits!) and lessons in the protected & shallow Christchurch harbour.
14 abantu bendawo batusa
ShoreSports
Paddleboard, kayak, windsurf and sailing hire (and wetsuits!) and lessons in the protected & shallow Christchurch harbour.
Sea kayaking, kayak fishing, coasteering, climbing, foraging and bushcraft courses at Studland. You can kayak up to Old Harry Rocks. Guides are really knowledgable on local plant and animal life. Highly recommended.
10 abantu bendawo batusa
Fore/Adventure
Beach RoadSea kayaking, kayak fishing, coasteering, climbing, foraging and bushcraft courses at Studland. You can kayak up to Old Harry Rocks. Guides are really knowledgable on local plant and animal life. Highly recommended.
Everything from a SuperwormTrail to bike hire & Go Ape High Ropes
262 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Park yaseMoors Valley neForest
Horton RoadEverything from a SuperwormTrail to bike hire & Go Ape High Ropes
Beautiful and very Instagrammable (but really busy in high season) Go as early as you can and brace yourself for the parking fee (take cash!)
383 abantu bendawo batusa
Lulworth Cove
Beautiful and very Instagrammable (but really busy in high season) Go as early as you can and brace yourself for the parking fee (take cash!)
A beautiful nature reserve on the Headland at the West end of the prom (about 4 miles). There’s a cafe by the car park and you can either walk, bike or take the land train to Mudeford Sandspit with views across Christchurch harbour and to the sea. There’s a small pop up bar & pizza stand at the Beach House https://www.beachhousecafe.co.uk/
264 abantu bendawo batusa
Hengistbury Head
A beautiful nature reserve on the Headland at the West end of the prom (about 4 miles). There’s a cafe by the car park and you can either walk, bike or take the land train to Mudeford Sandspit with views across Christchurch harbour and to the sea. There’s a small pop up bar & pizza stand at the Beach House https://www.beachhousecafe.co.uk/
Boats, kayaks and paddleboard hire on the river at Wareham
22 abantu bendawo batusa
Wareham Boat Trips
3 The QuayBoats, kayaks and paddleboard hire on the river at Wareham
Rainy day activites
10 screen Odeon cinema, a range of national restaurants and indoor golf!
29 abantu bendawo batusa
BH2 Leisure Complex
Exeter Crescent10 screen Odeon cinema, a range of national restaurants and indoor golf!
Splashdown
Tower ParkWaterslides!
Frieda's Tearoom
7 Stafford RdAfternoon tea on a bus along the Bournemouth seafront
A rainy day favourite for us. A great secondhand book shop (with a good children’s section), home made cakes and vintage homewares.
10 abantu bendawo batusa
The Crooked Book
725 Christchurch RdA rainy day favourite for us. A great secondhand book shop (with a good children’s section), home made cakes and vintage homewares.
Victorian house, part home, part gallery, part museum designed to house their collection of artifacts from their travels.
110 abantu bendawo batusa
Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
West Cliff PromenadeVictorian house, part home, part gallery, part museum designed to house their collection of artifacts from their travels.
Award winning independent live music venue. Beautiful decor from local artists.
44 abantu bendawo batusa
Chaplin's & The Cellar Bar
529 Christchurch RdAward winning independent live music venue. Beautiful decor from local artists.
Giant
Bourne AvenueContemporary art gallery in a converted department store
Food scene
A relaxed restaurant with a wood fired oven serving fresh fish, European dishes and with a 1920s cocktail bar upstairs to retire to. Our favourite place.
77 abantu bendawo batusa
The Larder House
4 Southbourne GroveA relaxed restaurant with a wood fired oven serving fresh fish, European dishes and with a 1920s cocktail bar upstairs to retire to. Our favourite place.
Inventive eco-focused small plates dishes (not Spanish-style tapas). Food is as local as possible, often brought in by cargo bike from a nearby farm. Has just won a Michelin Green Star (2022).
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Terroir Tapas
81 Southbourne GroveInventive eco-focused small plates dishes (not Spanish-style tapas). Food is as local as possible, often brought in by cargo bike from a nearby farm. Has just won a Michelin Green Star (2022).
Fine dining with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Book far in advance for a weekend table!
21 abantu bendawo batusa
Restaurant Roots
141 Belle Vue RdFine dining with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Book far in advance for a weekend table!
Seafood restaurant just across the water at Studland.
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Shell Bay Seafood Restaurant
Ferry RoadSeafood restaurant just across the water at Studland.
Modern country hotels and restaurants with kitchen gardens & their own pigs. The original Pig is in the New Forest at Brockenhurst,
147 abantu bendawo batusa
The Pig
B3055Modern country hotels and restaurants with kitchen gardens & their own pigs. The original Pig is in the New Forest at Brockenhurst,
Modern country hotels and restaurants with kitchen gardens & their own pigs. The Pig On The Beach is on the clifftop on Studland.
165 abantu bendawo batusa
The Pig on the Beach
Manor RoadModern country hotels and restaurants with kitchen gardens & their own pigs. The Pig On The Beach is on the clifftop on Studland.
The Jetty
95 MudefordFine Dining with sea views in Mudeford
Great cheeses, deli meats and fresh farm veg, eggs and milk. Fresh fish counter Friday & Saturday
Parlourmentary
7 Southbourne GroveGreat cheeses, deli meats and fresh farm veg, eggs and milk. Fresh fish counter Friday & Saturday
Fresh sourdough breads, amazing pastries and daily flavoured breads.
15 abantu bendawo batusa
M's Bakery
805 Christchurch RdFresh sourdough breads, amazing pastries and daily flavoured breads.
Fresh sourdough breads and cakes & coffee. Tuesday - Sunday 8am - 2pm
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Bakehouse 24
154 Seabourne RdFresh sourdough breads and cakes & coffee. Tuesday - Sunday 8am - 2pm
Independent wine merchant, hugely approachable & helpful with affordable prices (and some really special bottles if you want to push the boat out!)
Jolly Vintner Too
1099 Christchurch RdIndependent wine merchant, hugely approachable & helpful with affordable prices (and some really special bottles if you want to push the boat out!)
A chippy that also does amazing specials like Steak Chimichurri, pulled pork burgers and if you’re lucky maybe some smoked brisket or Persian lamb. All their food is home made from scratch and we especially love the fresh salads & slaws they make.
Great for a sunset dinner on the beach.
7 abantu bendawo batusa
Ricky's
121-123 Belle Vue RoadA chippy that also does amazing specials like Steak Chimichurri, pulled pork burgers and if you’re lucky maybe some smoked brisket or Persian lamb. All their food is home made from scratch and we especially love the fresh salads & slaws they make.
Great for a sunset dinner on the beach.
Great for brunch watching the waves.
149 abantu bendawo batusa
Urban Reef - Seafront Restaurant in Bournemouth
Undercliff DriveGreat for brunch watching the waves.
Cafe Boscanova
650 Christchurch RdFor excellent coffee & vegan (and non vegan) breakfasts
Espresso Kitchen Boscombe
651a Christchurch RoadTiny but with great coffee!
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Beryl Bikes - Bike & electric scooter hire across town
Beryl Bikes https://beryl.cc/bikeshare/bournemouth-poole
Bike & electric scooter hire across Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole. Bikes & scooters are Green and are parked in bays across the area, just unlock it with the app. You’ll need to verify ID with a driving licence for the scooters.
(NB can’t be used on the prom 10am-6pm in July & August)
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Local taxi firm that also has an app!
United Taxis Tel: 01202 556677 https://556677.com/
Local taxi firm that also has an app you can use to prebook a car & track it (like Uber)
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Purbeck Breezer
The Purbeck Breezer is an open topped bus that runs on a number of routes from Bournemouth to Swanage via Sandbanks & Studland,Warham or Corfe Castle. Really scenic!
https://www.morebus.co.uk/purbeck-breezer
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Bus operators
MoreBus https://www.morebus.co.uk/
Yellow Buses https://www.yellowbuses.co.uk/
Buses do take contactless but don’t share tickets