Bournemouth

United Kingdom

Things to do in Bournemouth:

View the Gallery Pier by night

Bournemouth Restaurants

Affordable (24)

The Boathouse

In a lovely location overlooking the river with a huge outdoor terrace, this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and in the evening there's a lively bar. Food includes tasty pizzas... read more
Fine dining (20)

The Crab

Some of the best seafood in town is on offer in this light and airy restaurant, with dishes such as Bournemouth Bay Bouillabaise (�6) to start, followed by local cod (�19). There's also a... read more

Bournemouth Nightlife

Chilled (14)

Bar Ventana

A good selection of delicious cocktails are on offer at this stylish art-deco bar, high on the clifftop. The food is tasty, too. read more
Clubbing (21)

O2 Academy

Great music, club nights with top DJs such as Judge Jules, and themed events such as retro roller discos. Also hosts live acts such as Professor Green and Rizzle Kicks, Stereophonics and the latest... read more

This Month in Bournemouth:

By Matthew Hancock

Shopping: Boscombe Vintage Market takes place on the first Saturday of each month. On 3 March take a wander around this lovely Victorian arcade, which is filled with lively and creative stalls selling vintage clothes, textiles, accessories and art (Royal Arcade, Boscombe, BH1 4BT, boscombevintagemarket.co.uk).

Sightseeing: Get fit for spring in the nearby Moors Valley Country Park (moors-valley.co.uk), where you can try Nordic-walking, willow-weaving, power-walking, cycling, and even tree-climbing and zip wires on The Go-Ape high-wire course (weekends only).

Key areas: Take a trip out to nearby Corfe Castle (nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle) and explore the ancient ruins while admiring the fabulous views over the surrounding countryside.

Bournemouth News & Gossip

Sherborne Arts Centre

Although many developments have fallen foul of the recession, at least one building has been saved from decrepitude. Development plans have been approved to turn a 16th- century Dorset stately home, Sherborne House, into an arts centre. The Grade- I-listed building, which contains an intricate mural staircase, is due to open by mid-2013. sherborneartslink.org.uk

Bournemouth Trivia

March: Before the construction of Heathrow, Bournemouth airport was England's only international airport, serving destinations such as Sydney, Calcutta and New York.
February: This Valentine's Day, you need look no further than Bournemouth for romantic liaisons - it was here, in 1877, that the future Edward VII built a love nest for his mistress, Lillie Langtry.
January: Strangely, sedate Bournemouth was popular with gothic novelists: Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde here, while the author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, also lived in the town.