For those on a budget, a student budget in particular, there is plenty of affordable lodging by Bournemouth University and its sister school The Arts Institute of Bournemouth, which are located mainly in nearby Poole.
Sport nuts have a choice of places to unpack their bags. The football club, AFC Bournemouth, plays at the Fitness First Stadium in King’s Park by Boscombe. This is also a more reasonable option because it is a suburb of Bournemouth. There are also the Westover and Bournemouth Rowing Club locations and the Dorset Amateur Rowing Association on the West Beach. The Bournemouth Cricket Club, one of the largest in the area, calls Bournemouth Sports Club its home and is conveniently located next to the airport.
Shoppers rejoice. The pedestrian streets in Bournemouth boast a large variety of boutiques, store, jewelers, and accessory shops including major stores like Beales, Dingles, and Marks and Spencer. The ritzy Westbourne section is a bit more pricy to stay in but offers a major selection of designer garment and interior design shops.
In Boscombe there are also excellent street markets for antiquing. The Victorian Arcade also provides ample shopping as well as bars, clubs, cafes, and a vibrant collegiate atmosphere for those who want to burn the midnight oil. For those that want the best of both worlds, the Square provides lots of shopping as well as easy beach access.
Recommended hotels:
1. Avalon Beach Hotel
2. Marlins Hotel
3. Blue Palms hotel
4. The Claremont Hotel
5. Cransley Hotel
6. East Cliff Cottage Hotel
7. Wyvern Hotel
8. The Hostel Inn
9. Ramada Encore Bournemouth
10. The Orchid Hotel
Read more in our Bournemouth Guide.