Living in Bournemouth

Your guide to moving to Bournemouth

Why Bournemouth is a good place to live

With award-winning sandy beaches stretching for 7 miles along its doorstep, buzzing Bournemouth is the largest town in the county of Dorset.

There are plenty of great restaurants to enjoy at the weekends, from fine dining to cheap and cheerful options.

Or for a more relaxing vibe, the Upper, Central, and Lower Gardens run through the centre of town and date back to the Victorian era.

Bournemouth is surrounded by upmarket neighbourhoods, the infamous Sandbanks is just down the road and the nearby village of Westbourne is also a great location for shopping, with an eclectic mix of fashion boutiques, gift shops and vintage stores.

There are some beautiful countryside walks nearby, including a hike up to Hengistbury Head, and the New Forest is just 20 minutes away by car.

The schools here are excellent, with plenty of Good primary schools and four Outstanding secondaries to choose from.

What's Bournemouth famous for?

Apart from it's beautiful beaches, Bournemouth has not one, but two piers.

The iconic, 300 metre long Bournemouth Pier has family amusements and ice creams galore, while the lesser known Boscombe Pier happens to be the illustrious winner of a Pier of the Year award and is a relaxing spot for enjoying all the views from.

If you love a beach hut, Bournemouth is the place to get one, with 2,000 of them nestled along the shore. It has beach hut kudos points too, since it happens to also be the place where the very first public one opened in England back in 1909. Hut number 2359 still has a plaque outside commemorating its place in history.

Things to do in Bournemouth

From beachside strolls to seaside action with scuba diving , snorkelling , beach yoga , jet skiing and power boating courses, if you love the sea, you're going to love it here.

For the brave, Bournemouth also boasts the world's first pier-to-shore zip wire with two lines, so the whole family can fly at the same time.

After all that excitement, you might like to check out Frieda’s Afternoon Tea Bus, which takes you on a tour of the town while you enjoy an afternoon tea.

For shopping fans, Bournemouth has Victorian arcades alongside high street favourites, and the bohemian Triangle area is well worth a visit, as are the charming stores at nearby Poole Harbour.

A suburb of Bournemouth called Pokesdown is quickly establishing itself as the new ‘Vintage Quarter’ of the city - and the Bournemouth Vintage Emporium is a must.

Or, for a more relaxing afternoon, Bournemouth’s utterly lovely, award-winning Upper, Central, and Lower Gardens are the place to be.