Bournemouth Beach Verified listing

Bournemouth Beach is the best beach in the UK and 20th in Europe for the 2024 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards.

The beach is soft sand and very family friendly. The beaches at Bournemouth are some of the safest beaches in the UK with RNLI Lifeguards based there between April and September.

Cliff Lifts are located at West Cliff and East Cliff. For a small charge, the lifts will transport you up or down the cliffs. If you are feeling energetic, you can use the zigzag paths next to the lifts (for free).

From 1 April until 31 October, there is a Land Train running along the promenade which will take you (for a small charge) from Bournemouth Pier to either Boscombe Pier or Branksome Chine.

Beach type: Sandy beach.

Parking: Parking is available at a variety of locations along the seafront. Visit BCP council website for car park locations and further information including parking charges and how to pay.

Toilets: Toilets on the promenade, including baby changing.

Accessibility: There are accessible toilets with RADAR key access at Bournemouth West (between Happyland Amusements and West Beach restaurant), Bournemouth Pier (on the east side of the building near the entrance to Bournemouth Pier) and Bournemouth East (next to Harry Ramsden’s Fish & Chip shop). A beach wheelchair is available between 9:30am to 4:30pm, from May to September, these are loaned on a first come, first served basis in return for a refundable £50 cash deposit. The nearest car park is at Bath Road South car park which has 11 accessible parking spaces - there is a downhill walk from the car park to the beach.

Dogs: Dogs allowed all year to the west of Bournemouth Pier between Middle Chine and Durley Chine. For the rest of the beach, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs are allowed off lead on all sections of Bournemouth Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, Pier, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times. Download the Dogs on Beach leaflet for further information.

Lifeguards: Lifeguard patrols at Bournemouth Beach from 29 March until 29 September 2024, between 10am and 6 pm. Visit the RNLI website for information about Bournemouth East Beach and Bournemouth West Beach.

Cycling, skating and skateboarding on the promenade: These activities are permitted between Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers at any time of the year. In July and August, cycling, skating and skateboarding are not permitted on the seafront promenades or paths between 10am and 6pm.

Electric scooters on the promenade: Private e-scooters are not allowed on the promenade. Only Beryl e-scooters are allowed. E-scooters are not allowed from 10am until 6pm in July and August.

Barbecues: Barbecues are only permitted at the beach between 6pm and 10:30pm. Gas barbecues are not permitted at any time. Use your barbecue responsibly, safely and respectfully, ensuring that they do not cause a nuisance to others. When you’ve finished with your barbecue, please extinguish it carefully with water and (if it is a disposable one) leave it next to the bins on the promenade for collection. Do not bury or put hot BBQs into bins. Open fires, fire pits and fire bowls are not permitted at any time on our beaches or promenades. Read the beach guidelines for more information.

Source: Bournemouth Beach - Visit Dorset (visit-dorset.com)