Bournemouth Beach

Bournemouth Beach is the resort's centrepiece: the broad band of golden sand immediately below the pier, and the scene most people have in mind when they think of a day on the coast here. Of all the town's beaches it is the busiest, the best served with facilities and the simplest to get to, since the pier, the Lower Gardens and the Oceanarium all stand right behind it. In good summer weather it turns into a long, good-natured line of deckchairs, windbreaks and children in the shallows, though there is enough width that you can nearly always claim a space of your own.

Some background

There was next to nothing here before the town. Bournemouth was founded in 1810 on what was then mostly empty heathland, and it was planned from the outset as a polite health resort for visitors wanting sea air. The seafront was always its focus, and the beach gained its landmark with Bournemouth Pier, first put up in the 1850s and replaced by a grander iron structure in the 1880s. Generations of families have known it as a classic bucket-and-spade beach, and it now holds both Blue Flag and Seaside Award recognition for its water quality and facilities.

What it's like

Underfoot it is soft golden sand, not shingle, one section of the seven unbroken miles of sand that curve around Poole Bay. The sea is gentle, and clear enough on a still day to tempt you in. The character changes through the year: in high summer it is busy and full of holiday noise, while out of season it is quieter and rather lovely, with the promenade handed over to walkers and people exercising their dogs.

Swimming and safety

Because the sand slopes gradually into the bay, the water near the shore stays shallow and calm, which is a comfort to parents with small children. In the summer season RNLI lifeguards are on duty on the central beach, marking out a supervised bathing area with red-and-yellow flags. Stay between those flags when you swim, watch for any warning flags, and take the lifeguards' guidance on tides and conditions seriously.

Facilities

Whatever you need for the day is within a few steps. The promenade has public toilets, cafés and ice-cream kiosks, deckchair and beach-hut hire, and a cluster of amusements around the pier. Ramps run down from the promenade for accessible access, and in season beach wheelchairs can be reserved so that the sand is easier to cross.

Dogs

On Bournemouth's central beaches the rules for dogs change with the season. During the busy months, roughly May to September, the main resort beach by the pier is closed to dogs so that the sand is kept clear for families. For the rest of the year they are welcome here, and the stretches towards each end of the bay allow dogs all year round, so a walk is always possible somewhere.

Getting there and parking

From the town centre and its transport links, the beach is roughly a ten-minute downhill walk, straight through the Lower Gardens to the pier. Paths along the clifftop and the seasonal cliff lifts link the sand with the higher ground on both sides, while the promenade gives step-free access along the front. There are seafront car parks by the pier and along the shore, plus larger ones in town; on warm summer weekends every one of them fills early, so a morning arrival is the sensible plan.

Nearby

For the finest view back across the bay, stroll out along Bournemouth Pier; take the promenade eastwards to reach Boscombe Beach and its watersports, or go west for the calmer sands at Durley Chine.

Bournemouth Beach good to know

Is Bournemouth Beach good for families?

Yes, it is one of the best family beaches on this coast. Shallow water lies over a gently sloping sandy bottom, RNLI lifeguards watch the flagged zone through the summer, and the Oceanarium, the Lower Gardens and the amusements on the pier are all a few minutes' walk from the sand.

Can you swim at Bournemouth Beach?

Yes. Close to the shore the sea is shallow and usually calm, so bathing is straightforward. During summer, keep to the area between the red-and-yellow flags, which is where the RNLI lifeguards are watching, and take their advice on the day's conditions.

Are dogs allowed on Bournemouth Beach?

There is a seasonal ban on the central beach next to the pier, running roughly May to September. For the rest of the year dogs can come onto this sand, and stretches at either end of the bay stay dog-friendly all year round.

Where can you park near Bournemouth Beach?

Seafront car parks sit by the pier and along the promenade, and the bigger town-centre car parks are a short downhill walk away. On warm summer weekends they all fill up early, so it is worth getting there in the morning.

Does Bournemouth Beach have a Blue Flag?

It does. The central resort beach, like Bournemouth's other beaches, carries both Blue Flag and Seaside Award status, which reflect water quality, cleanliness, safety cover and the standard of visitor facilities.

What facilities are at Bournemouth Beach?

Public toilets, cafés, ice-cream kiosks, deckchair and beach-hut hire and promenade amusements are all on hand. Ramps lead down to the sand, and beach wheelchairs can be booked, so getting onto the beach is easier for those who need it.

How do you get to Bournemouth Beach from the town centre?

Allow roughly ten minutes on foot, heading downhill through the Lower Gardens to the pier. Paths along the clifftop and the seasonal cliff lifts connect the higher ground with the sand, and the promenade gives step-free access along the front.

Is Bournemouth Beach sandy or pebbly?

Sandy, and wide with it: a golden beach forming part of the seven miles of sand along Poole Bay. There are no pebbles to walk over, one reason it has been a bucket-and-spade favourite for so long.