Bournemouth or Swanage with teens?

[Homeymum2]

I've never been to Bournemouth, a friend recently suggested it as a destination for a weekend with our 2 families - it will be March - so not really beach weather - I suggested maybe we do some walking around Swanage, to Corfe or to Old Harry Rocks as I've been once and am familiar with it.

But maybe I'm missing something without knowing anything about Bournemouth maybe it s a better choice?

Purbeck is more outdoorsy touristy scenic, you’ve got a good list of nice things to do (add in there walking to Agglestone Rock from studland village).

We have family near Bournemouth and go a fair bit - town centre is very run down now but the beach is great and there are lots of places to eat out, and more town things like escape rooms (big new one), etc. Also you can go over to Christchurch, hengistbury head, ringwood, bits of new forest.

I’d probably stick with purbeck though - better for walks etc if that’s what you’re looking to do. There’s a football golf place near swanage which is good fun even when it’s a bit dodgy weather :-)

I took four teens to Swanage for summer 24 holiday. We know it well and it was great. Enough for teens to come and go as they please - town has the beach, pier, amusements, shops, cinema, lots of places to get food (Wimpy!). Also good is that 'days out' are very close by. So when the teens don't get going til lunchtime, nothing is too far away. We went sea kayaking to Harry Rocks, walked over to Durlston, went to Corfe on the train, went to Lulworth cove and Durdle Door.

You can also do boat trips to Bournemouth from Swanage (although the last time we went there it was full of people getting drunk and high, peeing in the winter garden - whole place stank of weed and piss.

Swanage for the win!

I live in this area and I wouldn’t stay in Bournemouth. It used to be great and buzzing. It’s good for a day trip, there’s a climbing place on the end of the pier and a crazy golf/cinema/food complex. There’s a cat cafe (strange but true) and the gardens are nice. There’s also a small aquarium.

I think Corfe Castle/The Purbecks are pretty good. My teenage boys love a visit to the castle (although they don’t always admit it). The history of how they blew it up is pretty cool, so try and read up on that before you go. There’s also fossil hunting to be done in Kimmeridge. There’s also the The Square and Compass, in my opinion one of the best pubs for the view/pasties and ale. There’s a mud trail near the castle but that could be a bit nippy in March.

Poole Quay and a trip to Brownsea island, maybe? Poole harbour is good for paddle boarding/windsurfing. You can hire for an hour and they will give you wetsuits, so won’t be too cold.

If this sounds good then I would suggest finding somewhere in Poole/Branksome/beach wise maybe, as this is in the middle of Bournemouth and the purbecks. I’m sure someone will be along in a bit to give you better information, as a tourist. These are just a few things my boys like doing around the area.

You see, someone with way more info about a visit to the area 😊. Out of the two I also think Swanage is way nicer than Bournemouth and you can always get the ferry across to Sandbanks/Poole/Bournemouth.

Sadly Bournemouth’s got a bad reputation at the moment. It’s not the place it used to be.

Swanage is a lovely place with great scenery for walkers/hikers. It’s my often ‘go to’ place if I need to chill and relax.