Bournemouth is one of the easiest places in the UK to actually enjoy student life: beach, parks, walkable town, and loads of day trips nearby. This guide is built for international students so you can plan your free time after class, on weekends, and on those classic UK rainy days.
SPORTS AND GAMES
- Play beach volleyball
- Swimming at the Stokewood Leisure Centre
- Play tennis at Winton Tennis Club
- Visit the spa and swimming pool at the Littledown Centre
- Play golf at Meyrick Park Golf Club
- Aerobics at Stokewood Leisure Centre
- Watch a football match at Bournemouth Football Club
- Take Surfing lessons at Boscombe Pier
- Take Windsurfing Lessons in Poole
- Hire a Bike and go cycling in the New Forest National Park
- Go Horse Riding in the New Forest National Park
- Play pool Sharkey’s Sports Bar
FUN ACTIVITIES
- Go on the Pier Zip Wire at the end of Bournemouth Pier
- Rent a Beach Hut for the day
- Go Sea Fishing from Poole Quay
- Take a Speed Boat ride from Bournemouth
- Play Crazy Golf in Bournemouth Pleasure Gardens
- Visit Laser Quest Bournemouth
- Watch banger racing or go Go-Karting at Matchams
- Visit Poole Speedway
- Take dance lessons at Pavilion Dance
- Take helicopter or aeroplane flying lessons with Bliss Aviation
- Take Cuban Salsa classes
- Have fun at Splashdown Water Park at Tower Park
- Visit Buzz Bingo at Tower Park
- Have fun at Tower Park complex where you can go to the Cinema or do Ten Pin Bowling
- Visit the New Forest Water Park
- Go Ape at Moors Valley Country Park
- Visit Max Events where you can do Quad bike riding or Clay Pigeon shooting
- Go Ice Skating
- Visit Dream Machines at Poole Quay (weekly event)
- Take an Aerial Sightseeing Tour of Bournemouth
MUSEUMS AND HISTORY
- Pay a visit to the Red House Museum and Gardens
- Visit the Russell-Cotes Museum
- Visit the Bovington Tank Museum
- Visit the Museum of Electricity at Christchurch
- Visit the Bournemouth Aviation Museum
- Visit the Sammy Miller Motorcycle museum in New Milton (Hampshire)
- See the ruins of Corfe Castle
- Visit St Peters Church in Bournemouth
- Visit Christchurch Priory
SHOPPING
- Shopping at Castlepoint Shopping Centre
- Visit Boscombe Market
- Shopping in Bournemouth
- Shopping at the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole
- Visit Wimborne town
- Christmas shopping at the traditional German Market in Bournemouth
- Go to a car boot sale at Ashley Heath or Wimborne
- Go shopping at Southampton’s West Quay where there are also many places to eat
WALKS AND PLACES TO VISIT
- Take a bus trip to Swanage and enjoy a typical English coastal town
- Take a Steam Train trip from Swanage to Corfe Castle
- Take the Sandbanks Chain Ferry to Studland
- Do Horse riding in Studland
- Walk along Bournemouth Promenade and enjoy Bournemouth Amusements
- Take a bus to Wimborne and visit the Model Town
- Walk the Jurassic Coast Heritage site
- Visit Durlston Country Park
- Take a Bus to Hengistbury Head
- Take a Boat trip to Brownsea Island
- Visit the Oceanarium on Bournemouth Pier
- Ride the Land Train along Bournemouth promenade
- Pay a visit to Monkey World
- Visit Liberty’s Raptor Centre
- Visit Durdle Door
- Visit Highcliffe Castle
PARKS AND GARDENS
- Walk in Bournemouth’s Pleasure Gardens and see the lovely Aviary
- Walk in Boscombe Gardens
- Visit Poole Park
- Visit Winton Recreation Ground
- Feed the Ducks at Christchurch Priory
- Visit Compton Acres
THINGS TO DO IN THE EVENING
- See a show at the Bournemouth Pavilion or Bournemouth International Centre
- Experience the Camel Bar
- Go to a Drive In movie
- Fireworks at Poole Quay (Summertime)
- Fireworks at Bournemouth Pier (Summertime)
- Candle illuminations in Bournemouth Pleasure Gardens
- Visit the Thomas Tripp – a traditional English pub
- Visit Pubs on the Quay in Poole
- Watch the Flotilla of Lights at Poole Quay (December)
CULTURAL AND CREATIVE
- Watch a show or pantomime at the Bournemouth Pavilion or the Lighthouse
- Get creative at All Fired Up (Cafe and ceramic painting)
- Attend a cookery class at Flavours School of Cookery
- Listen to live music at Mr Kyps
- Visit Museums in Dorset
- Catch a show on Bournemouth Bandstand
- Go to a concert at Meyrick Park
- Visit The Winchester Pub to listen to live music
- Visit the Library
FOOD AND DRINK
- Enjoy Fish and Chips on Bournemouth Pier
- Have Afternoon Tea at the Miramar Hotel
- Have a Sunday Roast at the Toby Carvery
- Go out for dinner in Bournemouth at the many lovely restaurants
- Visit the award winning West Beach Restaurant
- Have a BBQ on the Beach