8 Best Beaches in Bournemouth

Most of us enjoy a beach holiday, particularly families with children.

It is a fact that we Brits are opting for a “staycation” holiday these days, making a seaside getaway to a beach in the UK more popular than ever.

With the current financial situation finding everyone with less spare cash to splash on expensive attractions, a day by the sea is the perfect way to entertain the whole family on a budget.

Add a packed lunch and it becomes even more economical.

There are literally hundreds of wonderful beach locations in the UK, from the far reaches of Scotland’s rugged coastline right down to the southern end of the UK.

Southern parts of the UK such as Dorset generally experience the best weather conditions boasting 25% more sunshine than the UK average during the summer.

The Bournemouth area sits along the south coast in an area known as the Jurassic coast.

Bournemouth itself is a quintessential British seaside town. The 11-mile-long coastline boasts a high number of award-winning Blue Flag beaches along with a host of great amenities.

If you want to plan a summer trip to one of the beaches in Bournemouth, here is some helpful information about 8 of the best.

Bournemouth Beach

Bournemouth Beach. Image credit: Depositphotos

Bournemouth Beach has been a holidaymaker’s paradise for many years. Generations have enjoyed their time here.

It is the largest stretch of beach along the south coast and the busiest during the summer. Known for its golden sand and lines of pretty coloured beach huts.

The beautiful sandy foreshore is just what children love. The water is clean and clear and most importantly, safe. They can build sandcastles all day long.

Bournemouth has retained the international Blue Flag award status since it was first introduced in 1996, quite an accolade.

To keep this status, Bournemouth Beach operates to the highest standards for water quality, environmental management, safety and services and environmental education.

Plus, with this beach, you get the bonus of the pier, the beautifully tended historic gardens, cliff-top walks, and uninterrupted views of the Isle of Wight. What’s more, all this is free of charge!

It is important to note that From May 1st until September 30th, dogs are not allowed on the beach between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm.

Durley Chine Beach

Another Blue Flag location, Durley Chine Beach has both sandy and shingle areas and sits to the west 10 miles from Bournemouth.

A little quieter than its nearby cousin and most popular with locals.

The beach has good amenities nearby where you can buy fish and chips, ice creams and other refreshments.

Plus, there are toilets and baby changing facilities perfect when you have to deal with little ones.

There are plenty of car parking spaces here so there will be no problem parking with all the paraphernalia you need for the day.

Durley Chine has a dog-friendly area so you can take your pooch with you all year round.

Sandbanks Beach

Sandbanks Beach. Image credit: Depositphotos

As you would expect from such an upmarket locale, Sandbanks Beach is pretty special.

It has held the very prestigious International Blue Flag award for the last 30 years!

No problem seeing why. It has a gorgeous stretch of sandy beach and some fantastic activities for everyone to enjoy.

Crazy Golf, water sports equipment hire, a children’s play area and a great beach café if you don’t want to self-cater for the day.

You can even BBQ on the sand between the hours of 6pm and 10pm.

Parking is situated nice and close to the seafront too.

You could be forgiven for thinking you have landed on a beach in the south of France.

All in all, Sandbanks is a very hard beach to top when it comes to Bournemouth’s best.

Canford Cliffs Beach

Canford Cliffs. Image credit: Wikipedia

Canford Cliffs Beach known for its sandy cliff backdrop, is a more tranquil and less commercialised location than most beaches in Bournemouth.

But it is still as good as its other contenders because it also holds the coveted Blue Flag status.

It is situated between Shore Road and Branksome Chine beaches midway between Poole and Bournemouth.

Canford Cliffs is a good alternative if you want to avoid being sat on top of other beachgoers during the busy summer period.

The beach slopes gently to the sea making Canford another hit with people who have younger children.

Due to the water being relatively shallow Canford attracts lots of eager windsurfers and parasailers.

There’s nothing nicer than relaxing, enjoying the sunshine and watching these skilled people skipping along the sea.

Hengistbury West Beach

Hengistbury West Beach is a little different.

Hengistbury hosts over 1 million visitors each year and it is not just that it has a stunning beach front.

It is a site of international importance. A scheduled Ancient Monument, a Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation all rolled into one.

West Beach is composed mainly of shingle and pebble. From the beach, there are views towards Poole Bay and towards the western tip of the Isle of Wight.

Named Hengistbury Head because it juts out around from the mainland for around a mile into the sea.

The spit is home to more than 300 privately owned beach huts, which are some of the UK’s most expensive. In 2015 five of the huts were put on the market for a combined asking price of £1 million!

Forming part of a beach stroll, country walks can be taken all over the head due to the well-defined gravel paths, some of which form part of the Bournemouth Coast Path.

Hengistbury is also one of just a few beaches in the area that are dog friendly throughout the year.

Southbourne Beach

Southbourne Beach. Image credit: Unsplash

This is another of Bournemouth’s quieter beaches but nonetheless equally as high a standard.

Access to Southbourne Beach is directly from Southbourne high street through the pretty Fisherman’s Walk.

The bonus for Southbourne is that it has a cliff lift so getting down to it is made that much easier for less mobile people.

The beach itself is particularly wide and mostly sandy. Again, it slopes down to clear clean seawater, yet another Blue Flag awarded beach,

Unlike many of the other Bournemouth beaches, Southbourne has a lifeguard station so could not be safer. All you need do is swim between the clearly marked red and yellow flags.

This beach is also popular with surfers, jet skiers, water skiers and fishermen.

Southbourne Beach is also the perfect place to enjoy an evening meal.

The Bistro on the Beach sits right on the promenade, complete with beautiful sea views from every table.

Alum Chine Beach

Alum Chine is the largest chine (or gorge) in Bournemouth.

The beach here is arguably considered the best in Bournemouth. This is not just due to it being so sandy (which is more or less a given in this area).

The beach features a large adventure playground with a pirate theme. Ideal for when the children need a little more entertainment.

It also boasts public restrooms that are equipped with baby-changing facilities. A lost children centre, RNLI lifeguard stations, several pubs, and ice cream kiosks. All you need for a day out.

It is easy to see why this beach is so very popular with young families.

It goes without saying that it is blessed as being among Bournemouth’s Blue Flag status beaches too.

Although Alum Chine gets busy in the summer, it is still not quite as packed as Bournemouth Beach gets.

Boscombe Beach

Boscombe Beach. Image credit: Depositphotos

Originally a sparsely inhabited area of heathland, from around 1865 Boscombe developed rapidly from a small village into a seaside resort alongside Bournemouth.

You can walk or cycle from Boscombe Beach all the way to Bournemouth Beach.

Alternatively, there is a small train you can catch. It regularly runs back and forth throughout the day along the seafront to Bournemouth. Children (and adults) love it.

Boscombe provides various beach activities. Stretching over 1km on either side of Boscombe Pier, there is everything from sports courts and water sports to bouldering and slacklining.

The long pier offers some lovely views across the sea and is backed by Boscombe Chine Gardens.

Plus, Boscombe has become a favourite location for wheelchair users who often struggle to get onto a sandy beach. Mobi-Mats help wheelchair users move easily from the promenade onto the sand.

Away from the beach, it is just a short hop into town where you will find a thriving nightlife scene including some great restaurants and plenty of opportunities to shop.

Considering a Move to Bournemouth?

White&Company Truck in Transit

It is evident that there are some excellent beaches to enjoy in Bournemouth!

If you are considering moving to Bournemouth then White & Company are here to assist you.

Our tailor-made door-to-door services have helped thousands of people with their moves since 1871.

The Bournemouth branch is one of 19 found across the UK.

White & Company aim to ensure that your move is as stress-free as possible.

Our friendly staff can answer any questions you have from the minute you call our office in Bournemouth to the day we deliver your personal effects to your new home.

The first thing we will need to do is carry out a removal survey either virtually, or via a personal visit to your home.

This will be followed by a free-of-charge no obligations quotation.

Alternatively, you can complete our quick quote form online today.

We can also quote you for storing your belongings, whether it be for a few days or several months.

Give us a call today and we will help you start enjoying the beaches in Bournemouth very soon!

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.