Bournemouth Central Beach

Description:

Bournemouth is the quintessential seaside beach and possibly the most phographed of all of Britain's beaches. Bournemouth really does have it all. In the centre of town just follow the signs from the A35 Wessex Way and the A338 spur road. There are several car parks in the area namely; Bath South (the closest and there are no roads to cross), Bath North, Central car park in Hinton Road, the BIC and Priory Road.

Bournemouth Central is among the best resort beaches in the country.The Pier  is the central point of the beach and there are thousands of visitors every day in peak season. The beach is known for its cleanliness, enjoyment and safety, and visitors return year after year with the knowlege that the standards will remain. The quality of the beach envirement and the proximety of so many attractions, makes Bournemouth Central beach, Dorset's favourite spot for locals and tourists alike.

The seafront is the focal point for a host of Summer events, including weekly firework displays in peak season. The Pier and Pier aproach also offer everything from sticks of rock to amusement arcades and even a theatre at the end of the Pier.You can hire deck chairs and beach huts. Call: 0845 055 0968.

The Pier  is also popular with anglers and is the boarding point for boat cruises around Poole Bay.

Bournemouth  town centre has a multitude of shops including a huge M & S, Beales Department Store, House of Fraser, Debenhams  and almost every other highstreet group is represented. The shops are just a short walk from the beach, through the Green Flag award winning Central and Lower Gardens. In the park there is a tethered hot air balloon giving a panoramic view of the surounding area.

Within a stones throw of the beach there is a Waterfront complex, with a Big Steak Pub and a Wacky Warehouse, a KFC and the Exchange Bar and Grill. Harry Ramsden's fish restaurant is very popular, as is the surf restaurant Hot Rocks and seafront restaurant cafe, West Beach, named the AA's Seafood restaurant 2005/6.

Summer is alive with fun for the children as there are numerous events put on for them. Bournemouth pioneered a KidsZone initiative, which involves handing out colour coded armbands on each stretch of beach, so that lost children don't stay lost for long.

If you like to walk or just people watch there is a vast promenade stretching from Bournemouth right through to Sandbanks in Poole.

The buses are plentiful stopping at the BIC Centre just up the hill from the beach. The service stretches to Christchurch  in the east and to Sandbanks  and beyond in the West.

There are ample toilets along the beach with facilities for baby changing and disabled.

Dogs are not permitted on the beach between May and September and dogs on the promenade must be on a lead. The nearest designated dog area is west of Durley Chine.

Places to visit on a rainy day are:-

Oceanarium, Pier Approach. There are sharks, stingrays, turtles and clownfish as well as many other weird and wonderful creatures.  Tel: 01202 311993.

Stokewood Road Leisure Centre, Winton. This indoor swimming pool hosts daily inflatable sessions during school holidays and also features a well-equiped gym,  Tel: 01202 529658.