Coast for 2 days - Poole or Bournemouth

[ThePenIsBlue]

I’d like to pop away with the kids for a night or 2 in august, and want to go somewhere with a sandy beach so we can play/ paddle etc. I live approx 2 hours from Bournemouth, have never been. It will be me alone with 4 kids as my DH can’t get away with work, so I’d like somewhere with nice beach cafes/ diners/ boardwalk maybe. Don’t want to go to Weston super mare which is closer because it’s pebbly and a little bit too arcadey for me!

what’s Bournemouth like? How about Poole? Any suggestions of places to stay/ beaches to go to? Is it easy to park? It’s a bit overwhelming thinking of going alone with the kids so trying to make sure I’m prepared mentally!

Hardly, OP asked what those two places are like. Both town centres have been hollowed out in recent years and there really is not much to enjoy for smaller children. Weymouth and Swanage are both infinitely superior. Weymouth has the "Beach of the Year 2023" award. I know all four places extremely well, Poole especially is suffering terribly from anti social yobbish behaviour fanning out from the bus station. A shame to witness

Christchurch and Mudeford Quay area is the same coastline but a bit quieter than Bournemouth/Poole. I go to Bournemouth and Poole a lot but it's really gone downhill in recent years. The beach by the evening looks like a dumpster, it's so sad to see. The Sandbanks area of Poole is lovely, I used to take my children all the time.

But if WSM is closer to you, have you looked at Brean Sands or Burnham-on-Sea as an alternative?

I would go to Christchurch- nice than both in my opinion

I think it depends on what you actually want to do whilst you're there OP. If you want a proper beach I'd head to Studland. You can definitely see how it inspired Enid Blyton. I feel like I'm in the Famous Five when I'm there!
If you want other forms of entertainment whilst you're there I'd probably go for Bournemouth over Poole.
There are a few Premier Inns around. They'd do for a night or two.

Thank you all. Lots of planning to do. I think obviously I want some other stuff to do besides beach incase the weather doesn’t play ball but also because kids are pains and have a short attention span and are such different ages 🤣 I hadn’t thought of some of these ideas and don’t know the area at all so it’s all been helpful.

Bmth pier has a clip and climb- lots of climbing walls/leap of faith etc which is really fun for a few hours. It also has a small ocearium just at the top of the beach. There's a walk through gardens to shops/cafes etc. A big cinema. Definitely other stuff to do.

If you're driving there's a water park nearby too.

Mine are 15/13 and have loved the crazy golf in Bournemouth winter gardens since they were little. There’s a little stream running through the gardens and you can float little boats in it. There’s a great playground at alum chine with a good cafe / pizza place next door (less of a lovely restaurant than it used to be but still v good). The oceanarium gets busy but it works on a rainy day. I think there are sometimes trampoline things at the Bournemouth end but not sure. It’s a great place for kids.

Oh yes and as pp said, tower park water park over nearer Poole area is fantastic.

It gets very busy in South Devon.

But I thought Poole and Bournemouth were the same conurbation? So if you go to one, you are close to the other anyway.

Yes, Poole and Bournemouth are next to each other and it’s easy to travel between the two

I’ve booked an apartment in Bournemouth for next week!! …. Thinking about what to take, does anyone walk around with those gear buggies? I can imagine it will be super useful with 4 kids and lugging all their beach stuff, but we usually use it for camping and I don’t want to look like a plonker 🤣

We always go to Bournemouth/Poole for a quick beach getaway in the U.K. and stay at Alum Chine or Southbourne/Christchurch. Loads of people take those pull-along wagons including us!

You could look in the area between Milford on sea to Christchurch, Barton etc. Mudeford is lovely and a lot less hectic than Bournemouth or Poole. There are a few stretches of beach along that part that I really like although some are pebble ie Milford (mostly)

Christchurch is pretty as has been said, Lymington too. Plus closer to the forest if you fancied a bit of stream paddling (we love doing that)

Whereabouts roughly? There are some steep zigzag paths down to the beach in some places, a couple of cliff lifts, and other bits where it's more gentle.

Seen lots of those at the beach - just note that the toilets right next to the pier are downstairs and you can’t take one of those down into them (saw someone looking all forlorn at the top of the steps with one a couple of weeks ago!). But I’m sure there are other loos.

Have a fantastic few days!

Swanage is definitely a great suggestion, worth the extra 40 mins imo.

But out of Bournemouth and Poole, I'd go to Poole.

Bournemouth air show is on 31st August to 3rd September btw. Might be an incentive to go or a reason to avoid?