Bournemouth

Bournemouth has spent most of the previous 200 years as a popular seaside town and beach resort. It is a town of contradictions with traditional guesthouses and walks on the seafront to a heavy clubbing and bar scene. Away from the sea, Bournemouth is a typical English shopping town and has many high street and back street shops to enjoy. An artificial reef to improve wave consistency and size was introduced here in 2003 for surfers and Bournemouth beach has in the past been voted as the most popular place for an outdoor sexual experience in Britain.

Bournemouth spreads along the coast with Christchurch to the east and Poole to the west. The central seafront area is marked by the pier the town centre and train station is located northeast from there. The Tourist Information Centre (www.bournemouth.co.uk) can be contacted on 0906-802 0234 and is located on Westover Rd, open 9.30am-5.30pm most days. You can find several Internet cafes around including Cyber Place on St Peter's Rd and Charminster Rd, charging around £2 an hour.

Bournemouth is noted for its beautiful sharp-sided valleys running down to the sea called 'chines'. The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum provides Victorian paintings and changing exhibitions as well as an exquisite Japanese collection, and is a fascinating mix of Scottish baronial pile and Italianate villa looking out to sea near the Bournemouth Pier.
A cluster of 12 gardens can be found at Compton Acres in a sheltered chine at Canford Cliffs designed in varying global styles.
The Oceanarium (www.oceanarium.co.uk) located next to Bournemouth Pier is a themed aquarium with areas housing a variation of sea and river life from the Amazon to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Vistarama tethered balloon offers views up to 500ft above Bournemouth.

Head away from the fish-and-chip shops up Old Christchurch Rd and you will find more interesting places to eat including the Retro, a bright and lively spot with a huge range of grilled meats. Sal E Pepe offers fresh fish and steak in a smart Italian restaurant and for Swiss food such as fondues and schnitzels head on to the Helvetia.

Wander along Firvale Rd, St Peter's Rd or Old Christchurch Rd for the decent nighlife if you prefer to avoid chain boozers and large nightclubs.
The Green Room is a mellow little bar just north of the college serving up chilled tunes, tapas and plenty of saucy cocktails. Head to cafe-bar Heat for house, r'n'b, disco and funk.

www.bournemouth.co.uk