Christchurch sits east of Bournemouth at the point where the Rivers Avon and Stour join and run out to sea through Christchurch Harbour, and it is one of the most quietly satisfying towns in Dorset. Against its busier neighbour it offers a calmer, older kind of place: medieval streets, water on every side and a slow riverside pace that has been pulling in visitors for hundreds of years. It appears regularly in lists of the best places to live in the country, and from a Bournemouth base it is the natural day out when you want a change of scene without a long journey.
Some history
There has been a settlement here since Saxon times, when the place was called Twynham, a name that describes its position between the two rivers. The buildings tell the rest. Christchurch Priory, one of the longest parish churches in England, has stood above the Avon valley for more than 900 years and gave the town the name it carries now. A few minutes' walk away are the worn ruins of a Norman castle and, next to them, the Constable's House, one of the very few Norman dwellings to survive anywhere in the country. Between them they carry the story from Saxon quays through to the market town you find today.
Things to do
The old town suits a slow pace. Narrow lanes run from the Priory down towards the river, with independent shops, cafes and plenty of evidence of Christchurch's long life as a Dorset market town along the way. Go inside the Priory for the tall nave and centuries of carved stone, walk up to the castle ruins for a view across the rooftops, then browse the local makers and stop for coffee before wandering down to the water. A boat trip on the harbour and an easy walk along the riverbank complete a relaxed day. For more days out across the area, start with our things to do guide; when hunger sets in, there is no shortage of food and drink to choose from.
The quay and the harbour
The waterside life of the town centres on Christchurch Quay, a wide green stretch of riverbank where swans drift past, families spread out picnics and rowing boats go out by the hour. The old Place Mill stands at the water's edge, on a mill site that predates the Norman conquest; it no longer grinds grain but still draws the eye. Boat trips and the small Mudeford ferry leave from the quay and cross the sheltered harbour, threading between moored yachts on the way to the sea. Few places in the district are better for simply sitting and watching the tide move.
Beaches
There is a beach here for most moods. Nearest the town, Avon Beach and Friars Cliff next door are easy, family-friendly sand with calm water and cafes close at hand. On the far side of the harbour is the famous Mudeford Sandbank, a car-free strip of golden sand reached by ferry, where the beach huts are among the most expensive in Britain thanks to their quiet position between the still harbour and the open Channel. If you would rather have wild coast than deckchairs, the dunes and heathland of Hengistbury Head are a walk away.
Getting there
The town lies just off the main coast road east of Bournemouth, a straightforward drive or a short bus ride along the shore. It also has its own station on the main railway line, so reaching it without a car is easy, and once you are there the Priory, the quay, the harbour and the beaches are all within walking distance or a ferry ride of each other. Most people staying in the bay keep their base in Bournemouth and treat Christchurch as a day out, but if you would rather stay over, our accommodation listings cover the town and its surroundings.
Nearby
Directly across the harbour, Hengistbury Head is an ancient headland and nature reserve with wide views over the water and across to the Isle of Wight, and one of the best coastal walks in the region. Christchurch combines well with the seaside village of Southbourne, a little way back towards Bournemouth, while Highcliffe Castle sits in its elegant clifftop grounds a few miles further east along the coast. Our wider explore guides will help you plan, and the what's on calendar shows what is happening during your stay.
