Lisa's Travels

Posts Tagged ‘england’

Bournemouth in Dorset is a great spot, one of England’s often unknown tourist resorts. Just because it’s touristy doesn’t mean it’s overpacked by holiday makers, in fact this town has a great mix to suit all types of travellers. Having spent 6 years living there it’s time to reflect on that all with a personal top 5 things to do in Bournemouth, Dorset, England.

1. Bournemouth’s beaches

Stating the obvious here, but Bournemouth’s award winning beach is probably the town’s most attractive tourist pull. I’ve worked on it, drank on it, played football on it and done a few other things on it…the beach stretches far and is split into many different “beaches” (West Beach, Southbourne Beach, Boscombe Beach, East Cliff etc.). The busiest part is the bit by Bournemouth Pier. On hot summer days this beach is honestly as good as England gets beachwise. You’d be a fool to spend any time in Bournemouth without even visiting the beach, even if it’s just to curb your curiosity and prove the fact that it’s a fantastic beach. It’s also very well kept.

2. Bar crawl in Bournemouth

I love pub crawls and I love my quirky bars, promotions and everything that goes with the madness of nights out drinking. In Bournemouth you will find an endless amount of bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants all meeting your required taste. The names of bars and pubs may change a lot and have done since I left there, but my favourites were the Dolphin (Springbourne), The Moon in the Square, The Goat and Tricycle and in the past Jumpin Jaks. These days Bournemouth attracts a lot of stag and hen nights and weekends especially in the summer and the party atmosphere and vibe at night is unrivalled in England.

3. Wave Balloon

The Wave balloon is a focal point in Bournemouth’s skyline, if you can call it that. This massive balloon is opened in Spring and Summer and allows you to go up high and get an immense view of Bournemouth and the surrounding area. It’s worth a trip!

4. The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery/Museum

A bit of a hidden gem here to be honest, this museum is unique in world terms, something a lot of the locals forget. For its quirkiness, history and “off the beaten track charm” it just had to make my list of top 5 things to do in Bournemouth. Featuring Japanese art and mixing Italian with Scottish architecture in design, this is a top spot. It’s down by the beach too.

5. Live Football: AFC Bournemouth

Dean Court stadium which is also known as the Goldstands is home to the local football team AFC Bournemouth. They attract good crowds, especially in the summer months and offer a great value for money standard of football. The Cherries are a great team to watch.

The Cherries are a great family friendly club and the stadium also holds regular events so it’s worth checking out while you’re in Bournemouth.

Getting to Bournemouth

From London you can get a bus or a train easily. They are regular and affordable and only take a few hours.

Bournemouth also has its own international airport which is worth checking out for flight schedules.

So that’s a top 5 for you to see and do in Bournemouth – it’s a great English town and you will love it.

To read more articles like things to do in Bournemouth head to Jonny Blair’s fabulous website Travelling Northern Irishman for tons more stories, tips and randomness.

If you are planning on traveling to Leeds in the nearby future then there’s a number of interesting things you can do to enjoy yourself. The following things to do in Leeds will entertain families, groups, young couples or individuals.

1. Elland Road – Home of the once mighty Leeds United! OK so you are almost certainly not going to come to Leeds to go to Elland Road unless there was a Football match on, in which case you do not need to read this article. Read on anyhow for several great stuff to see!

2. Kirkstall Abbey – One of the oldest and best preserved cistercian monasteries in the kingdom. Kirkstall Abbey is set in comfortable parkland on the bank of the river Aire. It’s free to enter and gaze around and discover the history of this amazing national treasure. The Kirkstall Abbey museum is across the road and contains Victorian streets with old stores such as Cobblers and Blacksmiths.

3. White Rose Shopping Centre – A beautiful and spacious shopping centre containing everybody’s most liked stores and shops. The White Rose Shopping Centre has a huge food court with many restaurants and places to have a meal.

4. Roundhay Park – Roundhay Park is enormous and has a lake, cycle paths, concert venue and the superb Tropical World where you can see lots of unique animals and plant life! The park is a a small number of miles outside the city centre and away from the hustle and bustle!

5. Victoria Arcade – Leeds has many arcades all emergent from Briggate the major shopping road. Nevertheless the most famed of these arcades is the Victoria Arcade. This is a compilation of streets that has been roofed and contains the pick of Leeds’ exclusive stores and cafes! It’s effortless to rest in Victoria Arcade by its brilliant fountain and of course, Harvey Nichols is attached onto it.

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