Bournemouth ~ BH2

Bournemouth set in the heart of the Dorset countryside, renowned for its seven miles of golden beaches and beautiful parks and gardens and excellent shopping centre, thronged with hedonistic holiday-makers in summer, and strikingly sedate in the off season, Bournemouth seems to be the last place you would connect with smuggling. Just a few hundred years ago this little fishing village was synonymous with smuggling brandy, silk and gin. The land from Hengisbury Head to Poole was a deserted wilderness,a vast heath, coming down from the wooded ridges of the New Forest to the east and Cranborne Chase to the west. Around 1796 Napoleon was expected to invade, at that time the bay was patrolled by units of the Dorset Yeomanry under the command of Captain Louis Tregonwell. He and his wife stayed for a holiday in Bournemouth's first inn, they loved the area so much in 1812 they built the first of many houses, the first house became the Royal Exeter Hotel. The first properly constructed bridge was built in 1849, By 1870 the first train with passengers arrived, and Bournemouth was granted the status of Borough by Queen Victoria.

Places of Interest

Bournemouth gardens

The centre of Bournemouth is dominated by 2,000 acres of formal gardens and has a stream running through it to the sea, a lovely place to sit and enjoy the breathtaking views all around.

Corfe Castle

On the Isle of Purbeck, in Dorset. The ruins of the old castle tower over the picturesque village. The Normans built a wooden castle back in the 9th century, this was destroyed and rebuilt in the 11th century using local Purbeck stone.

The Swanage Railway operates a steam train service to and from Corfe Castle.

The Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum and the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) conference and entertainment venue are well worth a visit. Two fun and adventurous attractions are the Bournemouth Eye fabulous views Soaring 500ft into the air and there is plenty to see at the Oceanarium from exhibits, fully interactive touch screens to feeding demonstrations and fascinating talks on how the ninety percent of the planets inhabitants live.

Living in Bournemouth-Education Shopping and Travel Links

There are a total of 40 schools in Bournemouth 28 Primary Schools, 10 Secondary Schools, 2 Special schools and 1 Learning Support Centre. Bournemouth University is a modern institution with six distinctive Schools of study.

Bournemouth has excellent sporting facilities that cater for all ages and abilities they include: The Littledown Centre, Stokewood Leisure Centre and Kinson Leisure Centre.

There is a good rail, coach and bus service. Bournemouth Airport services routes from Glasgow and Belfast and many routes from international destinations. Southampton Airport also has many domestic flight routes and a direct rail link from the airport to Bournemouth.

Estate and Letting Agents for Bournemouth BH2