Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Single mum. Taking children to Bournemouth. What to do?

54 replies

Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 06:28

I’ve booked a few nights in Bournemouth on the spur of the moment for me and the children (8 and 5).

I’ve booked a surf lesson for my eldest and then caving at the pier for both of them.

Any other suggestions?

TIA

OP posts:
lolalotta · 12/08/2018 06:38

There's an aquarium in the sea front, which they might enjoy!

Original poster
Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 06:41

Not an aquarium thanks. Done so many!

OP posts:
1vandal2 · 12/08/2018 06:41

Um stay away from the beach and town centre as you'll be accosted by needles in the sand and all over the place and druggies begging every few steps. Sky high parking charges.
There's a nice water park and adventure wonderland. The Russell cotes museum. Castlepoint shopping centre - free parking.

Give Lymington a visit its a nice quaint villagey type town or milford on sea. Lovely stoney beach there without the drunk idiot types you get on bournemouth beach.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
1vandal2 · 12/08/2018 06:42

Corfe Castle would be a good one.

Original poster
Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 06:48

Oh thanks so much!

Will investigate

What’s the waterpark and Adventureland?

OP posts:
Original poster
Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 06:49

We are staying in boscombe

OP posts:
theveryhighlife · 12/08/2018 06:51

Any National Trust places close by? They often have events running for kids during the holidays

HollyBollyBooBoo · 12/08/2018 07:00

Studland beach is beautiful. Love getting the ferry to it.

Iamnuts · 12/08/2018 07:01

Hengistbury head. Bit of a walk from the cafe/car park, three ways to get to the end - beach, walk through woods next to the river (or ride on the road train) or over the too. Cafe among the beach huts and a ferry to Mudeford. Never very crowded like Bournemouth.

mrsnec · 12/08/2018 07:02

Christchurch used to be very nice and you can get a bus there easily from Boscombe.

If you are driving though a bit of a trek I'd recommend Farmer Palmers near Poole. For a day out.

Beach wise there certainly are dodgy bits. Bad experiences. Certain beaches here too. Avon beach and the beaches around Highcliffe were always my favourite

SinkGirl · 12/08/2018 07:08

Um stay away from the beach and town centre as you'll be accosted by needles in the sand and all over the place and druggies begging every few steps

Oh give over. I’ve lived in Bournemouth and Poole most of my life and have never seen a needle in the sand (or anywhere else), nor have any of my friends or colleagues.

OP, there’s a huge softplay called Lemur Landings at Tower Park (Poole) which looks amazing for bigger kids, there’s a big climbing wall and all sorts in there. Also Splashdown at Tower Park, waterslide place.

Adventure Wonderland in Christchurch, Monkey World, Bovington Tank Museum, Paultons Park are all highly recommended by my friends with older kids than mine.

SinkGirl · 12/08/2018 07:11

Most of this assumes you have a car of course.

I’m not sure which stretches of beach people think are dodgy. I used to live in Eastcliff and went to that beach often - between boscombe and Bournemouth pier - and it was always quiet and clean. Alum Chine is absolutely lovely and has a great playground too.

MaverickSnoopy · 12/08/2018 07:17

I was going to suggest Alum Chine too but note that the parking close by is very limited and fills up early in the day.

Original poster
Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 07:20

Oh yes love the idea of getting ferry

Is Hengistbury head same place as mudeford?

I will drive to Bournemouth but no driving whilst there. Children run / scoot. I walk/jog. Everywhere

OP posts:
literallydumbfounded · 12/08/2018 08:06

If you are staying in boscombe. There use to be a crazy golf in boscombe gardens and if you carried on walking down through a small water park. Then if you carry on walking down it takes you to boscombe pier and beach. (Not been there in years so not sure if any of that is still there)

SinkGirl · 12/08/2018 08:08

You’ll limit yourself quite a bit if you don’t drive as quite a lot of the activities are well out of town. You might be able to get a bus to some.

Another nice thing would be to get the bus / drive to Poole quay, and get a boat over to Brownsea Island, explore, have a picnic, they do have some activities over there in the summer but not sure what’s running by then.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 12/08/2018 08:21

Love sitting on Poole Quay with a coffee and wistfully looking at the beautiful yachts!

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 12/08/2018 08:24

Um stay away from the beach and town centre as you'll be accosted by needles in the sand and all over the place and druggies begging every few steps

We go to Bournemouth beach all the time as well as the town and have never come across a needle.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 12/08/2018 08:25

Why wouldn't you drive whilst there? It's about 5 miles from Boscombe to Alum Chine, surely you wouldn't want to walk that with all your beach stuff?

CarrotCakeMuffins · 12/08/2018 08:37

I recommend Moors Valley country park for a change from the beach. Its about 12 miles inland so you'd need to drive. Or you might be able to get a bus.

Original poster
Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 08:49

As I say, I jog and children on scooters. That’s how we get around. I like to park the car up and then leave. It’s what I’ve always done. Very liberating. Plus obviously by end of day i have often done 30000 plus steps and children flop in to bed exhausted, so that’s a nice side effect.

I have an osprey backpack. We are right on the beach, so won’t be walking with swim stuff. I’ll jog with wallet phone and water. We will buy picnic bits whilst out.

I have a plan! Thank you.
Studland is a must
My boy doing a surfing lesson
Both doing pier caving
Mini crazy golf and wander around Bournemouth

adventureland on journey back as it’s on way home.

and lots of beach time. Only there for 5 days, so perfect

Thank you

OP posts:
Sandsnake · 12/08/2018 08:50

I’ve also never, ever seen a needle in the sand at Bournemouth. However, I’d agree that around the pier isn’t the nicest part to station yourself. Go from Durley Chine west towards Alum Chine and it’s a lot nicer. There’s a great little play area at Alum Chine as well.

The open top bus runs from Bournemouth Station, over the ferry to Swanage and is a lovely thing to do if the weather is OK. Think it’s the number 50.

Adventure Wonderland near the airport is quite good. Lots of little attractions and a massive soft play. Echo PPs that Lemur Landings and / or Splashdown at Tower Park is good for a wet day (think you can buy combo tickets).

There’s loads of lovely things to do - have fun!

Original poster
Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 08:50

Thinking about getting bus to ferry? Perhaps cycling a bit much as would have to hire and little one only 5, albeit a competent cyclist

OP posts:
Original poster
Caribbeanyesplease · 12/08/2018 08:52

Open top bus... perfect!

OP posts:
Sandsnake · 12/08/2018 09:03

It’s hop on / hop off as far as I remember so you can get off for Studland and then go on to Swanage for fish and chips before heading back if you wanted. You’re wise not to take your car - the queues for the ferry can be awful in the summer but the bus has its own late so cuts a lot of the queue out.

Swipe left for the next trending thread