Southbourne sits on low cliffs to the east of Boscombe and is the quietly successful part of Bournemouth, a suburb with a real village feel that locals prefer not to advertise. While the central seafront fills with visitors, life here runs at a slower, more residential pace: dog walkers along the overcliff, families heading down to the sand, and an independent high street that still works as the centre of a small community. For a stay of a week or more it is one of the most comfortable bases in the bay.
The feel of the place
Nothing in Southbourne is in a hurry, and most of it is local. The clifftop forms the backbone: a wide grassy overcliff promenade with rows of colourful beach huts and benches turned towards the sea. Down below, Southbourne Beach is long and sandy, quieter and emptier than the beaches near the pier, with zones where dogs are welcome for much of the year. This is somewhere for an early swim, a flask of coffee and a walk rather than arcades and crowds, and families find it an easy place to settle into.
Things to do
The walk along the overcliff is the highlight: an easy, almost level path with some of the best sea views in the area, taking in Hengistbury Head, Christchurch Harbour and, when the air is clear, the Isle of Wight and the Needles. Reaching the sand is half the pleasure. You can follow the zig-zag paths down, or take the restored cliff lift at Fisherman's Walk. Turn east and the beach continues all the way to Hengistbury Head, an ancient headland and nature reserve full of trails and wildlife. Our things to do guide has more ideas across the bay.
Eating, drinking and shopping
Away from the beach, everything revolves around Southbourne Grove, a tree-lined high street that moves at a neighbourhood pace. It is refreshingly free of chains: bakeries, delis, coffee shops, a handful of galleries and small boutiques, plus enough good brunch places that one coffee tends to become two. It also covers the everyday shopping that makes a self-catering week work, so it suits a slow browse and a practical errand equally well. Our food and drink listings cover more places to eat across the bay.
Getting there
Southbourne is a few miles east of Bournemouth town centre, and buses along the coast road or a car will get you there without fuss. Parking is on-street around the Grove and the clifftop, though the restrictions vary, so read the signs. The quieter setting makes it a restful base away from the busier centre; our accommodation guide lists places to stay nearby.
Nearby
To the west, Southbourne joins straight onto the creative quarter of Boscombe; to the east lies the historic town of Christchurch with its priory and quay. For further along the coast, our explore pages are the place to start.
