Bournemouth Beach & Pier
Bournemouth Pier
Eleven kilometers of continuous golden beach and a Victorian pier, with a high-wire zipline from the pier and a seafront promenade for walking and cycling.
Bournemouth has a continuous stretch of beach about 11 km long, running from Sandbanks at Poole to Hengistbury Head. Its fine sand and water quality have held Blue Flag status for years, making it one of Britain's most popular beaches. Bournemouth Pier was first built in 1856, and the surviving cast-iron pier was completed in 1880. At the end of the pier, the RockReef indoor climbing centre and the PierZip high-wire zipline run from the pier down to the shore (about 250 m, booking required). Along the seafront promenade you can walk or cycle to Boscombe Pier, passing colorful beach huts and cliff lifts. In summer, lifeguards patrol designated stretches of the beach. Parking is hard to find on peak-season weekends, so it's best to come by train or bus. There is a small fee to walk out on the pier.
Opening hours
Beach open all day; pier approx. 09:00 to sunset
Nearby sights
- Oceanarium Bournemouth
- Bournemouth Lower Gardens
- St Peter's Church, Bournemouth
- Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
- Alum Chine
- Boscombe Pier
- Compton Acres
- Sandbanks Beach