111 Places in Bournemouth That You Shouldn't Miss

by Katherine Bebo

Overview

Bournemouth isn’t just the beach. It’s also a town brimming with history, art, beauty, nature and fun. Oh, and afternoon tea on a bus.

The number of ice creams bought along Bournemouth’s seafront each year: 750,000. The number of deckchairs hired out on a busy weekend: 3,000. The number of trees standing proud in the town: 47,000. Having long since shrugged off its reputation as God’s waiting room, Bournemouth and its surrounding areas have a boundless number of places to discover, explore and relish.

Whether you’re a curious local, a seasoned traveler or a one-time visitor, these 111 places will surprise, delight and astonish you. Amble over the bridge that won World War II, get whisked off on an Asian adventure, learn about Charlie Chaplin’s connection to the town, visit Florence Nightingale’s grave, order a Żubrówka, gaze into the real Alice in Wonderland’s mirror, make friends with an Egyptian mummy, stand beneath the lamppost AFC Bournemouth was formed under, and walk in the footsteps of the Fab Four, as well as the woman who brought the British government to its knees.

As you explore, take your time, take photos and take advantage of everything this extraordinary, astounding, fascinating area has to offer. The number of times you’ll gasp as you discover something new: countless.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783740826468
Publisher:	Emons Verlag GmbH
Publication date:	12/09/2025
Series:	111 Places
Edition description:	2nd Edition, Revised
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.32(w) x 8.07(h) x (d)

About the Author

Katherine Bebo is a professional freelance writer. She has written a number of books, on topics ranging from films to food, cocktails to outer space. She is also the author of 111 Places in Poole That You Shouldn’t Miss.

Table of Contents

1 Adventure Wonderland Maze: Hedge your bets 10

2 AFC Bournemouth Trophies: Back of the net! 12

3 AIDS Tile Tributes: I want to break free 14

4 Airfields Memorial: We have lift-off 16

5 The Alice Lisle: She lost her head 18

6 Alice's Mirror: We're all mad here 20

7 Anne Frank's Tree: Branches of hope 22

8 Amiss Equestrian: Drifting along 24

9 Artcetera: Been there, done that…framed the T-shirt 26

10 The Ashleigh Hotel: The height of his fame 28

11 Ashley Walk: A hanging place 30

12 Aubrey Beardsley Mosaic: Shockingly talented 32

13 Bailey Bridge: Flat-pack victory 34

14 Balmer Lawn Hotel: Flooring it 36

15 Beach Hut 2359: Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside 38

16 Bobby's Balconies: Reuse, revive, recycle 40

17 Bolton's Bench: Dragon's den 42

18 Bookends: Piece it all together 44

19 Boscombe Devil: Giving revellers the evil eye 46

20 Bournemouth School: An education for heroes and villains 48

21 Bournemouth Scout Museum: Be prepared 50

22 Bronze Age Barrow: How do you like them apples? 52

23 Centre VR: A whole new world 54

24 Chaplin's: A melting pot of eccentricity 56

25 Charles Bennett's Grave: Golden boy 58

26 Chewton Glen Beehives: Positively buzzing 60

27 The Chine Hotel: Remembering the variety pack 62

28 Christine Keeler's Pad: Painting the town pink 64

29 Conker Spirit Tour: Find your gin-spiration 66

30 The Cookie Shack: Hundreds and thousands of biscuits 68

31 Coty: Are you ready for your close-up? 70

32 A Coven of Witches: Double, double, toil and trouble 72

33 The Cricketers: Howzat! 74

34 Dome Skylight: Looking shipshape 76

35 Donkey Trekking: Seek sanctuary in the woods 78

36 The Ducking Stool: This is torture 80

37 The Echo Building: Read all about it! 82

38 Egyptian Mummy: That's ancient history 84

39 Ejector Seat: Winging it 86

40 Elephant Mural: With a trumpety trump! 88

41 Faces in the Garderobe: Monks behaving badly 90

42 Florence Nightingale's Grave: Humble pie 92

43 Former Free Age Press: Found in translation 94

44 Fossilised Ammonite: Rock on 96

45 Fred Abberline's Home: Bloody good at his job 98

46 Freddie Mills Memorial: Was this boxing legend 'hit'? 100

47 Frieda's Tearoom: Crumbs! 102

48 The Fusee Building: Ticking over nicely 104

49 Gas Street Lamps: Flaming lovely 106

50 GIANT Gallery: Larger than life 108

51 Gravity Mural: Houston, we have a painting 110

52 Grazing Goats: Kidding around 112

53 Highcliffe Castle: Where the 'king of retail' resided 114

54 Hotel Celebrity: Lights… camera… action! 116

55 Isaac Gulliver Tree: He carved out a life of crime 118

56 Jane Goodall's Tree: A champion for chimps 120

57 Joseph Cutler Tiles: The face of Bournemouth 122

58 La Fosse's Cheeseboard: Exceedingly good cheese 124

59 The Library of Liquor: Read (and drink) the room 126

60 MacPennys Woodland Walk: Family trees 128

61 Mary Shelley's Grave: Her husband is all heart 130

62 Millhams Splash: No good deed goes unpunished 132

63 The Miraculous Beam: Leading a splinter group 134

64 Moose Kitchen: Settle into a pontine 136

65 Mudeford Postbox: Pushing the envelope 138

66 The Mystery Tomb: There were 10 in the bed… maybe 140

67 Napoléon's Wine Cooler: So much to 'pour' over 142

68 NHS Grotesque: Carve for carers 144

69 Norwegian Wood Cafe: Baked beans and Beatlemania 146

70 Old Pier Theatre: Anything to declare? 148

71 The Old Station Holmsley Tea Rooms: From choo-choo to chew-chew 150

72 Orchard Street: The one and only 152

73 Pause Cat Cafe: Feline it 154

74 Picnic Park Deli: Sandwiched between the trees 156

75 Pine Walk: A breath of fresh air 158

76 Poole Hill Brewery: On the hop 160

77 The Potting Shed: Blooming delicious 162

78 Priory Bell Tower: Ring the changes 164

79 Pug's Hole: The smuggle is real 166

80 'Red Joan's' Birthplace: Playing I spy 168

81 Regent Centre: Reeling the audiences in 170

82 Rolls Drive: Tragedy in the air 172

83 Roma Italian Delicatessen: Mamma mia (*chef's kiss*) 174

84 Rustic Treats Bakery: Arrested development 176

85 San Remo Towers: Up on the roof 178

86 Seagull & the Windbreak: Access all areas 180

87 Setley Ridge Vineyard: The grape outdoors 182

88 Shell Christchurch Priory: All washed up 184

89 Silent Yoga UK: The pursuit of peacefulness 186

90 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Grave: Put that in your pipe 188

91 The Smugglers Wain: On the wagon 190

92 SRDE Platform: Giving off the right signals 192

93 St Andrew's Church Tower: At the end of their rope 194

94 St Catherine's Hill: The grass is greener 196

95 Take a Tuk Tuk: Living the Thai life 198

96 Talbot Heath Bunker: Taking cover 200

97 Talbot Village Almshouses: Sister act 202

98 Tank Track Marks: Hitting a brick wall 204

99 Thomas Johnson's Grave: His life mattered 206

100 Throop Mill: Flour power 208

101 Tibetan Buddhist Centre: Keep karma and carry on 210

102 Town Hall: A spirited place 212

103 Tregonwell/Creeke Statue: Pulling the councils chain 214

104 Trolleybus Turntable: The wheels on the bus go round and round 216

105 Tutton's Well: Deep and meaningful 218

106 Upper Gardens Water Tower: Once upon a time… 220

107 The Upside Gallery: Pillars of the community 222

108 Vereley Hill: Seeing red 224

109 Walton House: Home of the ultimate paperman 226

110 West Cliff Drains: Party time 228

111 Whale Tail: Moby sick 230