Bournemouth Beach is around an 80-minute drive from Reading and offers seven miles of flat golden sands and lush bordering greenery, just waiting to be explored.
The beach is popular with locals and sun seekers from all around the south and surrounding areas when the weather is good so we always check the weather forecast and arrive early.
Bournemouth has five separate beaches to enjoy, all rated as Blue Flag.
Late one afternoon while at the park with a friend we decided to plan a last minuet trip to the beach as the weather looked ok the next day, not the glorious sun filled days you would expect in August but we though sod it lets go anyway. I’m so glad we did as we actually got a beautiful morning and most of the afternoon stayed nice too.
Where to Park for Bournemouth Beaches
There are several side roads in the surrounding areas with free parking if you don’t mind a 10 to 15 min walk but as we had the four kids and days supplies with us we decided just to use one of the many beach front car parks that you can just turn up to. They vary in price but some you can get 6hrs for £10 which isn’t overpriced as would cost you more in The Oracle shopping centre.
You could also use the park and ride system for Boscombe beach which is the next beach along and is lovely but with slightly less around to see and do. Kings Park to Boscombe Pier is £5 to park with a free Morebus service every 15 minutes daily from 24 July to 1 September.
No matter what you want from your day at the beach, Bournemouth has it on offer, whether you want to relax with the sand beneath your feet, wander up and down the coast line building as many sandcastles as you can.
Bournemouth Pier & Arcades
Or you could take a wander down the pier and hang out in the arcades, this means Bournemouth can be a great day trip even when the weather takes a turn as you can pop inside for a while if needed.
Bournemouth Oceanarium
Another great inside venue is the Oceanarium which has 1000’s of amazing creatures above and below the waves to discover and the newly re-themed underwater tunnel, home to stunning sharks, Carrie the loggerhead turtle and many more. Don’t forget to check look out for offers as this Oceanarium is often on the Tesco club card voucher scheme.
Eating Out in Bournemouth
There are many different food and drink options around the beach areas and pier but these do come with convenience pricing. We had a traditional treat of fish and chips on our visit this time. There is plenty of ice creams and rock shops around too it you need a sweet treat.
Every section of Bournemouth’s beach offers a different experience, with water sports and zip line rides available. The land train means you can travel from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Pier and back again. Prices start from £3.30 (Aug 2021) just check out one of the many train stops for more information. The West cliff lift is another great feature offering easy access from the beach to the cliff tops as well as stunning views of the coast. Not forgetting the big wheel which is another way to see the view of Bournemouth.
We really enjoyed our day and found the beach even though it was busy but not too much and we had our own space. There are also lots of public toilets around and places to eat on the way out of Bournemouth if needed for your trip back.
There is a bit of the beach with your name on it no matter what your looking for at Bournemouth.
