Bournemouth - Seaside Beaches Holidays Sunshine

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Bournemouth - Seaside Resort On The Sunny South Coast Of England

If someone was to mention Bournemouth to you, what would come to mind? If you live outside of the UK, probably not a lot, since Bournemouth isn't on the list of main attractions that you find in the tourist brochures, especially for visitors from the USA.

But to the British public, Bournemouth instantly makes you think of the seaside; Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth Beaches or a stroll through The Pleasure Gardens. Since it's birth in Victorian times, Bournemouth has been a place for older people to retire to or to visit on holiday. Since the 1970's Bournemouth has also been home to a number of International Language Schools and so has also a large population of students from all over the world. Bournemouth is also home to some famous people, with a number of celebrities living in places such as Westbourne and of course Sandbanks.
 

Do You Need To Find Somewhere To Stay In Bournemouth?


As well as providing a lot of information on Bournemouth and the surrounding area for tourists, this lens is designed to help with finding accommodation, whether hotels, guest houses or rental properties in Bournemouth. There are many hotels in Bournemouth as well as guest houses and also a good number of places to rent. So whether you visit Bournemouth on vacation or on business, there is no shortage of places to stay.
 

Memories Of A Visit To Bournemouth?


Fond memories might come flooding back of the splendid views of the Cliffs, or the many Chines along the Bournemouth coastline.

If you like to go to concerts, shows or the Pantomime, or if you have attended one of the major conferences that are held in Bournemouth, you might instantly think of the Bournemouth Pavilion, or the more modern Bournemouth International Centre (known locally as the BIC) which is an integral part of the town centre.

If you are a railway enthusiast, you might even recall the grand old Bournemouth Belle, which used to bring visitors to the town in the good old days of steam.

Football supporters will be well aware of AFC Bournemouth, struggling to stay in Division Two in 2008 due to a financial crisis.

But whatever the word Bournemouth makes you think of, it has to be related to the seaside.

So whether you are familiar with Bournemouth or not, I hope that you will read on and learn more about this wonderful seaside town.
 

Where Is Bournemouth And What Makes It Special?


Bournemouth is thought by many people to be the finest seaside resort in England, with it's miles of golden sandy beaches, some of the finest beach sand in the world, the beaches stretching from Christchurch in the East to Sandbanks in the West.

With it's backdrop of towering sandstone cliffs, great views over Bournemouth Bay to the Purbeck Hills and the Isle Of Wight, and warm waters, it's a perfect place for a summer vacation.

Bournemouth is situated towards the eastern end of the county of Dorset, right in the middle of the South Coast of England. The town gets it's name from the fact that the centre of town lies at the mouth of the Bourne Stream, hence Bourne-Mouth.

With the English Channel being warmed by the waters that the Gulf Stream brings from Florida and The Caribbean, the climate here is warmer than it would otherwise be for it's latitude, making the area a very attractive alternative for holiday makers than going overseas to Southern Europe.

Bournemouth developed in the Victorian era when it became fashionable to spend time at the seaside, and it grew over the next century into one of England's finest seaside resorts.

It is also different to the typical English seaside resort, in that the sea frontage isn't lined with small hotels and guest houses, there is no funfair with arcades, fish and chip shops, people wandering around wearing "kiss me quick" hats etc... Bournemouth has always been a bit more reserved and had a lot more style than many of it's counterparts like Southend, Margate and Blackpool to name a few.

Bournemouth has many hotels and guest houses to suit all budgets and needs, plenty of interesting pubs and bars, casinos, concert venues, and night clubs for the night owls.

So please read on to learn more about Bournemouth and the area on the South Coast of England where I was born.
 

This Lens Is A Winner Of The Coveted Lens Of The Day Award


The Squidoo Lens Of The Day Award for 19th November 2008 goes to Bournemouth, a lens all about Bournemouth, a great seaside resort in Dorset on the South Coast of England
The Squidoo Lens Of The Day Award for 19th November 2008 goes to this lens about Bournemouth. I put of lot of time into creating this page about the town where I grew up, actually I put a lot of myself into it too, so it's really nice to see it recognised. Thanks so much to Megan at Squidoo HQ and for everyone who visited this lens and helped it get this much coveted award.
 

This Lens Is A Winner Of The New And Rare Purple Star Award


A Purple Star was awarded to this Bournemouth lens on 1st May 2009. This page was handpicked by Squidoo's editors as one of the most remarkable pages on the entire site. So if you like it, please remark on it, blog it, share it with a friend, and know you're spreading the word about something really exceptional on the web. border=A Purple Star was awarded to this Bournemouth lens on 1st May 2009. This page was handpicked by Squidoo's editors as one of the most remarkable pages on the entire site. So if you like it, please remark on it, blog it, share it with a friend, and know you're spreading the word about something really exceptional on the web.

Where To Find Bournemouth

Bournemouth On Google Maps 

You can always find Bournemouth on a map of England. It's right in the middle of the South Coast.

Bournemouth is a great place to visit, being on the eastern side of Dorset and just a few miles to the west of Hampshire. Both of these counties have wonderful scenery, and within two hours you can experience places such as Stonehenge, The Purbeck Hills, Weymouth, Portland Bill, Lyme Regis, Salisbury, Christchurch, The New Forest, Southampton or Winchester.

A History Of Bournemouth - Part I 

The early days of Bournemouth, from heathland to seaside villas in pre-victorian times.

The Bournemouth area has been settled for thousands of years, but even as recent as 1800 it was mostly a remote and barren heathland.

The only regular visitors to the area around the mouth of the Bourne River were a few fishermen, turf cutters and occasional gangs of smugglers until the 16th century.

The area was used as a hunting estate from Tudor times until the late 18th century, but with the exception of the estate, most of the Bournemouth area remained common land until 1802.

In 1812, the first residents, retired army officer Lewis Tregonwell and his wife, moved into their new home, built on land he had purchased. Tregonwell began developing his land for holiday rentals by building a series of sea villas. He also planted hundreds of Pine trees, providing a sheltered walk to the beach (later known as the 'Invalids walk'). The town would ultimately grow up around its scattered pines. In 1832 when Tregonwell died, Bournemouth had become a small community with a scattering of houses, villas and cottages.

The Invalids Walk is still an integral part of Bournemouth Gardens today. For many years the walk has featured cages with exotic birds, as well as regular exhibitions by local artists at the weekends.

The following photograph has been used with permission from
REAL BOURNEMOUTH - HISTORY IN PHOTOS

Bournemouth Gardens - Invalids Walk

A History Of Bournemouth - Part II 

The development of Bournemouth from Victorian times through to the 1950's.

In the 1830's, Bournemouth started to grow at a faster rate as the seaside village became a resort similar to those that had already grown up along the south coast such as Weymouth and Brighton. In 1841, the town was visited by the physician and writer Augustus Granville. Granville was the author of The Spas of England, a book which described health resorts around the country. As a result of his visit, Dr Granville included a chapter on Bournemouth in the second edition. This publication, as well as the growth of visits to the seaside to seek the medicinal use of seawater and the fresh air of the pines, helped Bournemouth to develop as an early tourist destination.

In the 1840s, the fields south of the road crossing the river, the site that is now The Square, were drained and planted with shrubberies and walks. Many of these paths including the remain in the town today, forming part of the Bournemouth Pleasure Gardens which run for several miles along the Bourne stream. The Pleasure Gardens were originally a series of garden walks created in the fieldsin the 1860s.

During the late 1800's the town continued to develop. The Winter Gardens were finished in 1875 and the cast iron Bournemouth Pier was finished in 1880. With the arrival of the railways there was a massive growth of seaside and summer visits to the town, especially visitors from the Midlands and London. In 1880 for example, the town had a population of 17,000 people. By 1900, when railway connections were at their most developed the town's population had risen to 60,000.

During this period the town also became a favourite destination for visiting artists and writers, including Mary Shelley.

The town was improved greatly during this period through the efforts of Sir Merton Russell-Cotes, the Mayor and a local philanthropist. He helped establish the town's first library and museum. The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum was created in his mansion and after his death it was given to the town.

As Bournemouth's growth increased in the early 20th century, theatres, cafés, art deco cinemas and more hotels were built in the town. Other new buildings included the War Memorial in 1921 and the Bournemouth Pavilion, the towns concert hall and grand theatre finished in 1925.

The town declined somewhat as a seaside resort in the 1940's, but by the late 1950's visitors began to flock to Bournemouth once again, as the post war popularity of holidaymaking at the beach became affordable to more of the population.

The following photograph has been used with permission from
REAL BOURNEMOUTH - HISTORY IN PHOTOS

Bournemouth Square 1948

Growth As A Major Commercial Centre 

Decentralisation of business from London helps turn Bournemouth into a major commercial centre.

With the growing trend in the 1970's for companies to move their headquarters outside of London, the Bournemouth area was a prime location for relocation, being relatively close to London, yet with lower prices for land, and all the benefits that go along with being in this beautiful part of the country.

The Bournemouth Technical College grew into Bournemouth University, which is now one of the countries top universities.

Bournemouth tops the league of the UK's 50 largest towns and cities for the biggest growth in the number of new businesses in 2007 according to UHY Hacker Young, the national accounting group.

The town is home to some of the largest financial companies in the UK, including JP Morgan Chase, Nationwide Building Society, Liverpool Victoria and Standard Life.

ThE Bournemouth International Centre (known as the BIC) is a major conference centre and hosts regular national conferences. Across the other side of the Bournemouth Gardens, the Pavilion is a conference center in it's own right, hosting the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties national conferences (nut not all in the same year).

A Video Guide To Bournemouth 

This is a nice compilation of short clips taken around Bournemouth - the pier, the beach, the gardens, the shops, the cliffs etc. It's a great way to get a quick introduction to this wonderful seaside town.

Bournemouth UK

Bournemouth, UK

curated content from YouTube

Frommers Best Day Trips From London 

If you are visiting Bournemouth, London, or anywhere in the South of England, this popular book is one of the best guides as to what you can see in this historic part of the country, and most of these are easily within reach of the Bournemouth area for a day trip, or even better to combine over 2 or 3 days.

Frommer's Best Day Trips from London: 25 Great Escapes by Train, Bus or Car

Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 12/03/2009)Buy Now

Bournemouth's Cliffs 

The sandstone cliffs that tower above Bournemouth's beaches are one of the most impressive natural features of the Bournemouth area.

The cliffs on this part of the coast stretch for miles, and make for a very pretty background to the sea, beach and the promenade.

They are comprised of sandstone, and are home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife. There are many rare plants, birds and butterflies, and the cliff area is protected for conservation interest.

The cliffs rise gradually to the east averaging a height of 24m (80 feet) to 27m (90 feet).

From Canford Cliffs in the west to Alum Chine in the east, the cliffs are broken by these valleys, allowing access to the beach. Either side of Bournemouth Pier however, the cliffs are unbroken, and the only way up or down is by either taking the zip-zag paths, which snake their way down the cliffs, constantly changing direction, or the lifts, which run on rails straight up the side of the cliff.

From the age of 7 to 11, I attended a school that was close to the West Cliff. This was a boarding and day school, and daily the whole school had to go on a walk at lunchtime, often along the West Cliff and sometimes if we were lucky, down to the promenade below. It was fun walking down the zig-zag path, but walking back up was a different matter. I am sure that anyone who has had to do this while loaded up with beach gear having spent a day at the beach will know what I am talking about.



For more information on Bournemouth Cliffs and for some stunning photographs of the area, CLICK HERE. This is an article on The Eocene Cliffs With Leaf Beds of Bournemouth, Dorset by Professor Ian West of Southampton University. The geology of the area is very detailed, but it is the maps, diagrams and above all the photographs that make me highly recommnend this site.

The following photograph has been used with permission from
REAL BOURNEMOUTH - HISTORY IN PHOTOS

Bournemouth - East Cliff Zig Zag Path

Photographs of Bournemouth's Cliffs 

Here are a selection of great photographs of Bournemouth's splendid cliffs. Along the East Cliff and West Cliff close to Bournemouth Pier there are lifts that take passengers up the cliff, as well as zig-zag paths that wind their way down to the promenade below.

The Bournemouth East Cliff Lift by JustABoy

Cliff Lift by Dave Hamster

Bournemouth

100_3373 by focalpunkt

Love the shadows and textures.Would make for a very challenging jigsaw puzzle.

curated content from Flickr

The Chines 

WHAT IS A CHINE?

The word chine means a deep, narrow ravine cut through soft rocks by a water course descending steeply to the sea. The word is peculiar to Dorset and the Isle of Wight, chines being very much a feature of this part of the British coast.

There are various chines, the most notable being Alum Chine in the east and Branksome Chine in the west.

ALUM CHINE

Alum Chine has a number of family oriented hotels on the cliffs, and of interest are the Tropical Gardens that were first planted in the 1920's. These have a number of tropical plants, palms, yucca's etc, and make for a great evening walk.

To the west of Alum Chine is a suspension bridge that was built in 1903 and that crosses a ravine between two sections of the cliff top and makes an interesting diversion when taking a walk along the West Cliff. It was on a bridge across this chine (now gone) from which Winston Churchill fell when he was a child, breaking both legs and damaging his kidneys.

There is a plaque between the two bridges near the top of Alum Chine that commemorates Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island and Kidnapped) who came to Bournemouth sufering from Tuberculosis in 1884 and lived there until 1887. His house was called Skerryvore after a lighthouse built by his family's company. The house was destroyed during the Second World War and the site in Alumhurst Road is now a commemoritive garden.

BRANKSOME CHINE

Branksome Chine is said to have been a regular route for smugglers in the 18th century as they headed inland to the Kinson area.

The Avenue is a straight road that runs south from County Gates in Westbourne down to Branksome Chine, and provides a great first view of the sea for many visitors on their way from Bournemouth to Sandbanks. The Avenue does a U-turn when it reaches the shore at Branksome Chine, the road then turning west and climbing up into the village of Canford Cliffs. Until the 1960's the Avenue used to be lined with lovely large homes and rhodedendron bushes, but sadly most of those houses have been replaced by blocks of flats.

Like Alum Chine, it also has a link with a great literary character, John Betjeman. This former Poet Laureate once wrote - walk the asphalt paths of Branksome Chine, in resin scented air like strong Greek wine.

The chine has numerous tree species such as pines, maples and beech as well as a variety of shrubs. many different kinds of birds can be seen throughout the year, including jays, woodpeckers, thrushes, tits and summer warblers. During the summer many insects can be seen including butterflies and dragonflies, the latter being attracted by the stream.

THE CHINES OF BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE has wonderful details of the various chines, what to see, and detailed walks along the many pathways. I truly recommend a visit.

The following photograph has been used with permission from
REAL BOURNEMOUTH - HISTORY IN PHOTOS

Bournemouth - Durley Chine 1930

Photos Of Bournemouth's Chines 

While the towering cliffs at Bournemouth provide a great backdrop to the beach, it is the chines that provide regular access to the beach. There is so much to see in these dry valleys, especially Alum Chine with it's tropical gardens.

Alum Chine Tropical Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset, England. by Jim Linwood

The Tropical Gardens were first planted in the early-1920s and, after deteriorat...

curated content from Flickr

Bournemouth Pier 

Promenades And Piers

With the Victorian era came a desire to spent time at the seaside, and along with this a love of promenades and piers. These allowed the visitors to stroll along the water front without having to walk on the sand, and to walk far out into the sea, enjoying wonderful views back towards the shore. In the latter half of the 19th century, these structures appeared in many of the seaside resorts around the coast of the British Isles.

Both Bournemouth and Boscombe, several miles to the easy, have piers, and these are just as popular today as they were back in the Victorian era when the concept was born.

The First Pier

The first pier in Bournemouth was a short wooden jetty that was completed in 1856. This was replaced by a much longer wooden pier, which opened in 1861 amid much pomp and ceremony, including a 21 gun salute.

The new pier cost the Bournemouth Board of Commissioners £3,418 to construct, and it was decided to charge an annual admission fee, based on residents rateable values, to try and recover the cost.

Because of attacks by Teredo Worms the wooden piles were replaced by cast iron ones in 1866, but even with this improvement, the life of the pier was short lived. Just a year later it was rendered unusable when the 'T' shaped landing stage was swept away in a gale.

The Second Pier

The remaining part of the pier was repaired, and it continued in use for a further ten years until November 1876 when another severe storm caused further collapse making it too short for steamboat traffic. The pier was demolished, and replaced in 1877 by a temporary one. During the next three years a new pier was completed.

The new Bournemouth Pier was opened by the Lord Mayor of London on 11th August 1880. It featured an open promenade and with the addition of a bandstand in 1885, military band concerts took place three times a day in summer and twice daily throughout the winter. Covered shelters were also provided at this time. Two extensions, in 1894 and 1909 respectively, took the pier's overall length to more than 1000ft (304.8m).

In common with most other piers in the south and east of the country, Bournemouth Pier was split into two sections by an army demolition team in the spring of 1940 as a precaution against German invasion during the Second World War. The pier was repaired and re-opened in August 1946.

Refurbishment of the pier head was carried out in 1950, and ten years' later the structure was reinforced with concrete to take the weight of a new pier theatre.

The Current Pier

A structural survey in 1976 found major corrosion, and in 1979 much of the pier was demolished and rebuilt in concrete, giving it the 'bridge' like appearance that it retains today, the work being completed in two years.

The new pier has a new theatre as well as other entertainments, and it ranks amongst the best piers in the country.

Pleasure Cruises

In 1868 the first recorded pleasure excursion from Bournemouth Pier was by the steamer 'Fawn'. She was chartered for a trip to Spithead, where a review of the fleet was being held in honour of the Shah of Persia.

Since 1871 there has been a long association between Bournemouth Pier and pleasure steamers.

Even now the tradition continues with regular seasonal visits by the paddle steamer 'Waverley', and her motorised companion the 'Balmoral'.

Many other local boats offer day trips along the lovely Dorset coast from Bournemouth Pier to Poole Quay and to Swanage.

With thanks to The Heritage Trail - English Seaside Piers for a history of Bournemouth Pier

The following photograph has been used with permission from
REAL BOURNEMOUTH - HISTORY IN PHOTOS

Bournemouth Pier Approach in 1910

Bournemouth Beaches 

Bournemouth is renowned for its excellent tourist attractions, none more so than its beaches. Bournemouth boasts seven miles of golden sands and clear blue water, stretching from Hengistbury Head in the east all the way to Sandbanks and the mouth of Poole harbour in the west.

Bournemouth beaches have consistently won Blue Flag awards. These are only given to those beaches in the UK that have achieved the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management. CLICK HERE for more information about Blue Flag Awards.

The prevailing wind constantly strives to drive the sand westwards, so at regular intervals along the beach you will find groynes or breakwaters, designed to slow the erosion of the sand. These make for interesting views as well as bathing, since on the eastern side of a groyne you will find the sand much higher than on the west. The water level and depth is often many feet different between the two sides of a groyne.

The stretch of beach from Southbourne and Boscombe in the east all the way to Bournemouth, and beyond as far as Shore Road at Sandbanks is almost entirely walkable on the promenade.

Bathers At Bournemouth - Old Photograph 

You can purchase a copy of this great picture from Allposters.com by clicking on the image.

Bathers at Bournemouth Wait Their Turn for a Go on the Water Chute




Buy at AllPosters.com

Bournemouth Beach Huts 

Much of the Promenade is also lined with beach huts. The original huts were made of wood and for intended for changing out of cumbersome Victorian or Edwardian clothing. Nowadays many of them are made of brick and serve to hold a family's beach acoutrements - chairs, towels, beach toys, and many also have electricity, so you can cook and have a refrigerator.

Beach huts are a typical feature at many English seaside resorts and are not usually found in other countries. The origin probably stemmed from the late 1800's when most beaches had little to offer in the way of facilities for changing etc, and regular beach-goers could have somewhere to keep their necessities, to make their day at the beach more comfortable.

In recent years the cost of renting or leasing a beach hut has shot up enormously, in line with the price of other property close to the beach.

If you are interested in more information about beach huts, or in renting a beach hut in Bournemouth, the following sites have more information:
Beach-Huts.Com
Beach Huts for Hire in Bournemouth.
Beach Hut Hire 2008
Information about Beach Hut Hire.
Beach Huts - Seaside History
Brightly coloured beach huts are an essential part of the British coast. They go together with ice creams, sandcastles and the unreliable British weather to form part of our experience of summer by the seaside.
Beach huts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beach huts From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beach Huts At Bournemouth 

You can purchase a copy of this great picture from Allposters.com by clicking on the image.

Beach Huts at Bournemouth, Dorset, England




Buy at AllPosters.com

The Old And The Young In Bournemouth 

Bournemouth is a great place to retire, and so the town has traditionally over the years had a higher than average population of older or retired people than most of the country.

However, since the 1970's and the growth of international language schools, Bournemouth has become renowned for it's language schools, and for much of the year has a high population of foreign language students from all over the world.

The video below from The EF International School Of English gives an overview of one of the language schools, plus it provides an additional video guide to the town and it's beaches.

EF Bournemouth - EF International Language Schools

http://www.ef.com Best Beaches...and Much More! Bournemouth boasts a lively student population and some of Britain's best beaches. Stretching for 22 km, the golden beaches are clean and unspoiled. Bournemouth is one of Europe's premier seaside resorts, attracting more than 5.5 million visitors each year. Explore the Bournemouth Oceanarium for a glimpse into the underwater world or see the town from a different perspective -- in a hot air balloon! Peruse Bournemouth's exclusive shops, and in the evening, check out the theaters, concert halls and student night clubs like the Opera House or Alcatraz. Friendly School, Many Amenities Study in Bournemouth and you're just a ten-minute walk from the beach and the town center. This small Victorian school makes for an intimate environment where you receive individual attention and meet new friends quickly. Take a break in the private garden or play some table tennis. Have lunch on the patio or relax in the residence lounge, which features free Internet access. You can also choose to live on-site with our convenient residence option.

Runtime: 280
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curated content from YouTube

Bournemouth Nightlife 

With it's many pubs, bars and nightclubs, plus other places to gather, and a thriving younger generation, Bournemouth has become a popular place to go for a great night out.

The concert venues, which include The BIC and The Pavilion hold regular concerts for major bands and musicians and are included on many national tours.

A great resource for finding out what to do in Bournemouth at night is www.bournemouthbynight.com. This site maintains a list of the Nightclubs, Pubs and Bars and also has an up to date list of the events.

Upcoming Concerts In Bournemouth 

Bournemouth has a number of concert venues, as well as the many bars and nightclubs that also feature live music and entertainment. These include the Bournemouth Pavilion, the BIC, and the Pier Theatre.

Below is a selection of the concerts and live entertainment that you can see in the next week.

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Personalised Items from Amazon.co.uk 


Bournemouth Personalised Waterproof Dog Coat Size XL
(26" 65cm)



The doggie coats are made of tough nylon and are lined with a thick polar fleece with adjustable velcro straps. Both waterproof and washable they're just what your pet needs this winter. They come complete with your personalised name printed along either side of the coat and any numbers/pets name/other text added for free! Click the link for other sizes.

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery And Museum 

Sir Merton Russell-Cotes was a Mayor of Bournemouth and also a local philanthropist who helped establish the town's first library and museum. The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum was created in his mansion and after his death it was given to the town.

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is one of the most fascinating and unique museums in the world. It comprises art galleries and a museum as well as a children's area and is an ideal place for learning, exploring and socialising.

The museum is situated on the east cliff in the centre of Bournemouth, over-looking seven miles of award-winning beaches and is housed in one of the last Victorian villas in Bournemouth, East Cliff Hall.

The museum is open most days throughout the year, and is somewhere that every visitor to Bournemouth should see.

For more information, visit the official web site for the museum - CLICK HERE

Books from AMAZON.CO.UK 

The following books about Bournemouth are available from Amazon in the UK and are priced in Pounds. See the next section for books available from Amazon in the USA
















Books from AMAZON.COM 

The following books about Bournemouth are available from Amazon in the USA and are priced in US Dollars. The previous section has books from Amazon in the UK.




The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra 



The Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra was founded in 1893 by Sir Dan Godfrey as a small group of wind players. The band quickly expanded to become a full orchestra, gaining a reputation for championing contemporary British music. Elgar and Holst (among others) conducted the orchestra in their own works. The Bournemouth Municipal Choir, founded by Godfrey in 1911,sang regularly with the orchestra.

The orchestra changed to its present name in 1954,and developed its present role of giving concerts at more venues in the south west of England. The choir was re-named The Bournemouth Symphony Chorus in 1979, when it entered into a closer relationship with the orchestra.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra currently gives around 150 concerts a year. An up to date list of these is given on their web site (click on the orchestra image above)



Parts of the above were taken from Wikipedia



Bournemouth AFC News 


Bournemouth AFC "The Cherries", founded in 1899, are the local Bournemouth Football Team and play in Division Two. Their ground, "Dean Court" is in Kings Park, a large park on the east side of the town. In February 2008 the team went into voluntary administration due to lack of funds, but has managed to stay alive to start what is hoped will be a good 2008 season. Thanks to The Daily Echo for the news feed.

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Bournemouth Area Hotels And Accomodation 

HOTEL INFO - SEARCH FOR HOTELS IN BOURNEMOUTH



www.hotel.info - online hotel reservations
Being a seaside resort as well as a commercial and finance centre, Bournemouth has a good range of hotels, ranging in price from the cheaper family hotels to the more exclusive five star hotels. There are also a number of properties to rent, from houses and flats to mobile homes, which are ideal for families that plan to spend a week or more in the area, as well as for those travelling to Bournemouth on business.

Up to the 1970's the East Cliff area (east of Bournemouth Pier) had more up-market hotels than on the West Cliff, but with recent growth and the redevelopment of many of the older hotels, this is not as marked as it once was. Still, the West Cliff does have more budget family friendly hotels.

Whether you are going to be staying in Bournemouth for business, on holiday or just passing through, Hotel Info has a list of the main hotels in the area and discounted prices.

PROPERTY RENTALS IN BOURNEMOUTH



Self Property Rentals - Holiday Properties for rent in Bournemouth, Dorset and other counties in England
Self Property Rental is the one stop shop for Holiday Rentals,
Vacation Rentals
, Property Rentals and Apartment Rentals. All their Holiday Rental properties are available to view online and you can find the perfect vacation homes wherever you decide to go in the world. They are long and short term holiday rentals, direct from the owner.


HOTELS IN BOURNEMOUTH



Britannia Bournemouth
The Britannia Bournemouth Hotel Is A Four-storey Seaside Hotel Situated 500 Metres From East Cliff Beach And A Half-mile From The Town Centre. Bournemouth Airport (Boh) Is Seven Miles Away And Takes Approximately 15 Minutes To Reach By Car.
Hotel Features. Complimentary Wireless Internet Is Available In The Lounge Bar Where Freshly- Ground Coffee, Traditional Cream Teas And A Choice Of Alcoholic Drinks Are Served Until Around 9 Pm. Guests Wake Up To A Complimentary Full English Breakfast Each Day. Further Amenities Include Fitness Equipment And Free Parking.

Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel
The Bournemouth Marriott Highcliff Hotel Is A Victorian Seafront Hotel Located High Up On The West Cliff Overlooking The Sweeping Dorset Coastline Adjacent To The Bournemouth International Centre; The Beach And Pier Are 300 Metres Away. Bournemouth Airport Is 7 Miles Away With An Approximate Driving Time To Bournemouth Marriott Highcliff Hotel Of Ten Miles.
Hotel Features. This Hotel's Facilities Include A Health Club With Heated Indoor Pool, Spa Tub And Gym. Other Relaxing Facilities Include A Sauna And Steam Room. Fitness Classes Include Yoga And Pilates. In The Summer Months The Sun Terraces And Heated Outdoor Pool Provide A Retreat For Guests, While Steps Lead Down From Outside The Hotel Directly To The Beach Below. The Hotel Has 18 Meeting Rooms, The Largest Able To Accommodate 500 People. Parking Is Available On Site (Surcharge Applies).

Marriott Highcliff Hotel's Highcliff Grill Features Relaxed, Contemporary Decor Overlooking The Sea And Cliffs. Guests Can Also Dine In The Stylish Highcliff Lounge And Bar And In Old Harry's Piano Bar, An Informal Sports Bar With Pool Tables And Big-screen Tv, Open Evenings And Weekends.

Ramada Encore Bournemouth
The Ramada Encore Bournemouth Is A Contemporary Hotel, Located In Bournemouth Town Centre; The Shopping Centre, Beach And Pier Are All Less Than Half A Mile Away. Bournemouth Airport Is Eight Miles Away, An Approximate Driving Time Of 15 Minutes.
Hotel Features.This City-centre Hotel's Facilities Include A Coffee Bar Where A Buffet Breakfast Is Served Each Morning, And A Range Of Hot And Cold Beverages Are Available Throughout The Day. Wireless Internet Access Is Available In The Lounge Area Of The Bar, And Other Practical Amenities Include A Business Centre, Dry Cleaning Services, And Free Car Parking On Site.

Guestrooms.Ramada Encore Bournemouth Offers 114 Bold Stylish Guestrooms, All Of Which Have Bright Contemporary Decor With Wooden Floors And Modern Furnishings, And Include Interactive Satellite Television With Pay Movies, Direct-dial Phones, Internet Access, Safes, Hair Dryers And Tea And Coffee Making Facilities.

The Belvedere Hotel
The Belvedere Hotel Is Located In The Seaside Resort Of Bournemouth, England, Within 450 Metres Of The Town Centre And The Beach. Bournemouth Train Station Is One Mile From The Hotel.
Hotel Features. The Belvedere Hotel Is Built In A Traditional Style With White-painted Walls And Grey Tiled Roofs. The Hotel Features A Private Garden And Offers An Indoor Leisure Complex With A Heated Swimming Pool, Hot Tub, Sauna And Cardiovascular Gym Equipment. This Is A Smoke-free Property

The Four Season's Restaurant Serves Breakfast (Complimentary) And Dinner Daily, As Well As Sunday Lunches. Manfred's Pub Offers Ales And Fine Wines Accompanied By Live Music At The Weekend. There Are Two Additional Private Dining Rooms For Groups Or Parties.

The Belvedere Hotel Can Host Conferences And Exhibitions For Up To 7,000 Delegates. There Are Four Halls And A Number Of Break Out And Reception Areas. Wireless Internet Access Is Available Throughout The Hotel.

Famous People From Bournemouth 

The following people were either born in Bournemouth, or had a special connection with the town.

I never realised until I researched just how many Rock Musicians came from Bournemouth. I grew up thinking that there was a dearth of good local musical talent. Seems I was wrong...

You can click on any of the names for more information from Wikipedia...



Adrian Havill - Author of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Colin Allen - Drummer with Focus, Donovan, Bob Dylan and more
Jayne Atkinson - Actress, best known for the role of Karen Hayes on 24
Sir Anthony Blunt - Spy and Art Historian
Tony Brock - Drummer with Spontanious Combustion
Vera Chapman - Founder of The Tolkein Society
Leilani Dowding - Page 3 Girl and Glamour Model
Michael Giles - Drummer and co-founder of King Crimson
Peter Giles - Bas Player and Vocalist with Giles, Giles and Fripp and King Crimson
Lawrence Grant - Actor, The Mask Of Fu Manchu, Bulldog Drummond
Charles Gray - Actor, "Blofeld" in the James Bond movies
Karen Hardy - Dancer, Strictly Come Dancing
Gordon Haskell - Basist and Vocalist with King Crimson
John Hawken - Keyboard player with the Nashville Teens, The Strawbs and Vinegar Joe
Amanda Holden - Actress, and wife of Les Dennis
The Inciders - Hardcore Punk band from Bournemouth
Alex James - Bass player with alternative rock band Blur
Ben Jones - DJ and Television presenter
Lee Kerslake - Drummer with Uriah Heep and Ozzie Osbourne
Ray Lonnen - Actor
Richard Frewen Martin - Decorated WWII pilot and early Jet test pilot
Freddie Mills - British Boxing Champion
Zoot Money - Singer, Pianist and Actor
Cecil Reginald Noble - Awarded the Victoria Cross in WWI
Melita Norwood - Spy for the KGB
Richard Palmer-James - Lyricist for King Crimson and founder of Supertramp
Hubert Parry - English Composer, best known for Jerusalem
Don Partridge - Busker, found fame with his self-penned song "Rosie"
Frederick Charles Riggs - Awarded Victoria Cross for gallantry in WWI
Sir Rocco Forte - British Hotelier
Derek Anthony Seagrim - Recipient of the Victoria Cross in WWII
Stuart Semple - Contemporary British Artist
Russell Spencer - Television presenter and singer
Ken Sprague - Political Cartoonist
Amy Studt - Singer, Songwriter, Musician
Matt Tong - Drummer for Art Rock band Bloc Party
Virginia Wade - Professional Tennis Player
Barbara West - the second to last remaining survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic

More Famous People from Bournemouth

Lenses About Bournemouth Residents 

Benny Hill lived in Bournemouth during WWII, Tolkein lived here in his later years. Just a couple of famous residents. Tony Blackburn, veteran DJ of Radio Caroline and BBC Radio One grew up here, actually in the street next to where I grew up.

MORE 4 DORSET 

More4dorset.com is a simple way of bringing people together. It's mission statement is "TO ADVERTISE LOCAL CONCERNS TO LOCAL PEOPLE, ENCOURAGING BUSINESS TO BUSINESS NETWORKING & TRADE". This is a free service to all who use it.

My Other Lenses About Southern England 

These are lenses I created that are about Places in Southern England in the Bournemouth area.
Sandbanks - Britain's Malibu
Sandbanks is a sandy peninsula in the county of Dorset, bang in the middle of the South Coast of England. It forms the southern part of the entrance to Poole Harbour, which is the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney in Australia.
Poole - Dorset
Poole Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world, after Sydney in Australia.
Christchurch UK
Christchurch is a historic town in Hampshire, in the middle of the South Coast of England. It is well known for it's famous Priory church and historic old buildings.
The New Forest
The New Forest is one of Englands newest National Parks. It was created as a royal forest in 1079 by William the Conqueror for the hunting of deer and was first recorded as 'Nova Foresta' in the Domesday Book in 1086.
Swanage - I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside
Swanage is a beautiful seaside resort tucked away in the Purbeck Hills, close to Poole, Sandbanks and Bournemouth.

Some Other Great Lenses On England 

These are some great lenses by other lensmasters about England and English Traditions. If you have the time, please take a look and enjoy these other splendid lenses.

 

News Headlines from The Daily Echo 


The above image is copyrighted and has been used with permission from The Daily Echo - the premier local newspaper for Dorset. The Daily Echo web site is a great resource for local news and events.

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Holidays Honeymoons And Weddings Abroad 

If you live in the UK and are looking to book a special holiday, maybe going to an exotic location, or thinking about a honeymoon or even a wedding abroad, let Holidays Please be your advisor and provide the perfect trip for your special occasion.

To ensure the perfect holiday abroad, each of the Holidays Please expert travel advisors has already booked an average of £5m holiday packages in their career. By choosing Holidays Please you will get unrivalled holiday advice on the latest luxury holidays at the best value.

The Guestbook 

I hope you enjoyed your tour of Bournemouth. If so, please let me know by leaving a comment in the guestbook.

retweetPlease let me know if you liked this lens (or not). It's always good to know what visitors think, so if you have a few moments, a comment from you would be much appreciated. When another lensmaster leaves a comment for me, I always try and return the favor by visiting their lenses, which is only fair.

visit the poddys lensmaster page on squidoo to learn about poddys and all the lenses created by poddysJOIN SQUIDOO - If you are not a member of Squidoo and would like to know more about creating your own lenses, join Squidoo and start today. What to make a lens about? How about YOU! A short biography of yourself is always a good way to start as a lensmaster. It should take about 5 minutes to get started. Why create a lens? Do you enjoy writing? Would you love to be able to create your own web pages but don't know how to program? Would you like to earn some extra income by creating lenses like this one? Join Squidoo and find out more.

The Laughline has some of the best daily jokes, funny pictures and funny video clips on the internetDo you feel like a good laugh? If so, then having left a comment here, I invite you to visit to THE LAUGHLINE. This site has the archives from the mailing list that I have run on Yahoo Groups since 2001, plus many more Jokes, Funny Pictures and Video Clips. You won't be disappointed.


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References 

Although a lot of information contained in this lens has come from my own personal knowledge, this lens would not be complete without giving credit to my other sources, allowing me to include a detailed history of Bournemouth as well as the splendid photographs and news items that I have been able to use.

Please show your appreciation for the following by visiting their web sites.
Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch news,sports,and jobs
The Bournemouth Echo is the definitive site for Bournemouth news ,Poole news, Christchurch news and Dorset news, plus sports, jobs, homes, cars & more.
Real Bournemouth - history in photos
Real Bournemouth - A photographic history of Bournemouth. See how Bournemouth has changed since Victorian times. 100's of photos and images of Bournemouth, Westbourne, Boscombe and other areas.
Bournemouth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bournemouth From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Heritage Trail
The Heritage Trail - home of Britain's heritage on the web
Welcome to Bournemouth Borough Council Online
A guide to Bournemouth Borough Council and its services. Bournemouth Borough Council, Town Hall, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth BH2 6DY.
Bournemouth Tourism - official website!
BOURNEMOUTH TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE. With seven miles of golden sands and sparkling sea, the vibrant cosmopolitan town of Bournemouth has it all - a vast variety of shops and restaurants, buzzing nightlife and endles countryside with beautiful award-winning gardens and water sports galore.

About Poddys 

Lensmaster poddys has been a member since January 15 2008, has rated 2,541 lenses, favorited 1,551, and has created 78 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Bournemouth - Seaside Beaches Holidays Sunshine". See all my lenses

My Bio


Off The Record - My Blog
Lots More About Me
The Laughline
The Daily Joke Collection
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I am an English guy who moved to the USA in 1994, spent 12 years in Indiana, then moved to South Florida in 2005. I have a background in computers, have run my own web sites since 1998, and spend more time working than I would like (as do we all)...

I enjoy travel, spent a year in New Zealand, followed by 12 years of travel for work, mostly to Central and South America and the Caribbean. I love meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures and experiencing different ways of life. I have met some wonderful people on my travels, and one of thing I have found is that laughter is one of the best ways to make friends.

I love humour, and have run a jokes mailing list for the last 8 years, helping make thousands of people laugh around the world. A lot of my humour also shows through in my lenses and blogs.

Please come visit my other blogs at:
Off The Record With Debbie And Tony
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Squidtop

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My Listings On eBay 

This is a selection of the items that I have for sale on eBay at this time. I hope you find something of interest.

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Off The Record - My Blog
Lots More About Me
The Laughline
The Daily Joke Collection
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I am an English guy who moved to the USA in 1994, spent 12 years in... (more)

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