to ask if there's actually anything to do in Bournemouth

[PaulineWhatsername]

I'm going to visit 22 year old DD in mid November, Friday to Sunday. She's working down there for a few months, but doesn't know the area well.

Is there actually anything to do in Bournemouth at this time of year?

I've been to Mudeford quay and Avon beach today, bit blowy but lovely.
Get dressed crab from the fish stall and have a pint at the Haven Inn, you could go crabbing too!

We went to Southbourne Cliff Top and Tuckton Tea Gardens. Was a little bit breezy.

Nice cake though.

I did Southbourne overcliff yesterday, nearly got blown over!

Haven't been to Tuckton tea gardens for ages, that's one for me and the dog next week then.

Would be a pleasure Localeditor, I'll do it in the week... :)

I admit I did wander into Local some time ago but it didn't seem that active yet, although I think I did mention some places on a thread?

Is there anywhere specific I should post?

Thank you so much. This is the best place.

I'm slowly getting there with Local, but as this thread shows, there is a lot going on and a lot to list!

If you fancy coming for a drink we're having a meet up in a few weeks
here.

Thanks Local, I've bookmarked the link and will definitely put in my reviews over the week...

Great stuff taking on the Local site, will definitely pop in more often :)

I agree with reeling about the breakfast in kings park. Has anyone mentioned castlepoint shopping center yet ? Lots of shops there and all in one big area. We have loads of bars and cafes, plus a lot of young people as we have a college, university and also lots of foreign students.we have one of the best beaches which can be nice to walk along even in the winter. We are also close to the new forest and Swanage .

I don't like Castlepoint, no centre or small coffee shops, and all 'samey' type shops, Monsoon is ok but dear, the rest is boring.
And the whole place always looks a bit 'wobbly', the parking underground is a bit scary because it's been unfinished for years.

I say go for Tapas or The Coriander in the town centre but don't park on Richmond hill because it costs £4.10 for two hours.

And I betcha that KP café beats any café into the ground for a breakfast!

If your DD likes steam trains there's the lovely Swanage to Corfe castle line - I think it runs all year round, you'd need to check. Corfe castle is worth a visit anyway as mentioned up thread - ancient ruins and lovely views.

Oh I like castlepoint but agree about the car park. There is another nice cafe in moordown we go to, lovely clean and fresh food and reasonable prices too. But for me I am at kings park for footi !

You've got the Christmas lights festival and ice skating opening on Nov 16th in the gardens, and the Christmas market, food, drink etc in the square from the 14th.

Russell-Cotes museum is free admission for the next few months, and the land train is running between Bournemouth and Boscombe pier over the weekends. The beach is lovely in all weather IMO unless it's windy... I hate wind.

The tapas restaurants are nice, there's a lovely place called Lolita's up at the triangle. We've had a lovely meal plus wine for about £20 a head there.

Moving along toward Boscombe, the chine gardens there are nice, and if you've ended up at the beach take a walk on the pier. I like Chaplin's/Cellar Bar, a nice quirky pub. The food there was excellent but the chef has changed since I last ate there so I don't know how it is now. Live music there too if that's your thing.

The precinct isn't derelict like some have said, but it's not somewhere you would go to shop really, mostly supermarkets and poundshops, but there is the market on Saturdays and the charity shops are good. Some of the more interesting and vintage-y shops further along:

Flair
Cotton Candy
What Alice Found
Clobber
The Crooked Book

Some more here but if you love vintage maybe give Molly's Den in Poole a look.

When you've got through Pokesdown, head down to Southbourne for some more lovely shops, wander through Fisherman's Walk and try out Café Riva. The. Chicken. Is. Divine. I dream about it. Nice atmosphere in the evening, but I've only been once, I'm poor .

And do visit Christchurch, it's beautiful. The castle, the priory and grounds, the Red House museum, mill and the quay are all great, and free. You can easily spend hours there.

Still in Christchurch, there's a harbour cruise, various Christmas craft fairs, and further along is Highcliffe Castle.

Personally, I'm not fond of Poole and can't think of a great deal to do there even though I'm from there!

Hope that helps. Check out the BIC website if you want to see a show.

My longest post ever .

KP café let you swap anything for bacon, what's not to love.

Castlepoint does my head in.

Rather go into Bournemouth, I got new boots at Office last week and a bag from River Island.

Nut the precinct is a dump, be honest now, there is bog all there.

What you are saying is great but it takes a bit of driving from Boscombe to Pokesdown to Southbourne, not really an afternoons amble.

Chaplins/Cellar bar is an idea though, and The Cricketers is a fab local, close to town but old school.

Oh I know the cricketers pub, wasn't there an incident there a few weeks ago ?

Walking along the prom to southbourne doesn't take so long - but then you miss the shops :S but you would get to the bistro on the beach, and deserve your fry up...

Boscombe to Southbourne is no distance!

Love those recommendations Nut :)

Castlepoint is handy, but hardly a destination when visiting Bournemouth! I imagine any town in Britain offers the same, better actually...

I second Mudeford quay, also out in the New Forest High Corner Inn is nice too.
I never knew there were so many of us in Bournemouth!

Wow! All these Bournemouth people in one place.

If you haven't all ready then please check out our Local site and feel free to add any places/attractions or leave a review.

Also we're having a meet up on the 30th November and everyone is welcome, just add your name here. If you can't make this meet up but would be interested in coming to another one then let me know. I will never turn down the chance to have , or .
Does anyone else think we need a fry up emoticon?

If there is anything you would like to see more of on Local then please let me know.

Thanks for all your amazing posts.

Life is slowly being breathed back into Boscombe itself. Plans are going ahead to re-develop as flats the upper part of the Arcade (look up and see the beautiful windows). I'm sure this will attract more people and businesses to the arcade

To be fair, they've been saying that since I first moved to Bournemouth which was about 10 years ago.

The places I love in Bournemouth are the ice rink when it's open, the gardens, there's a really cute little crafty, do it yourself pottery place in the square. The German market is lovely :)

It would be lovely if they did redevelop the upper part of the Arcade into flats.

I have a vague drunken memory of being up there many years ago and it was beautiful. I was very drunk though.

Poole park is nice and if its raining there is a soft play area in building by the main car park.

I've put most of the recommendations from this thread on the Local site. Links to the sections are below so they are easier for everyone to find. Please feel free to leave reviews.

What's On is here
Attractions/Places to go are here
Cafes/Restaurants are here
Shops are here