Fancy a weekend in Bournemouth together with your toddler? I went just a few weeks in the past, let me present you what we acquired as much as…
Reggie and I took off to Bournemouth for the weekend to benefit from the seashore, the infinite prospects for ice cream, and all of the several types of automobiles we may presumably discover.
We’d been invited to remain within the tremendous cool and stylish Shell Home, only a few minutes from the seashore. It was a stupendous base to discover the Bournemouth neighborhood, and I’d advocate it to all. Try the pics beneath.
Bournemouth was nice. TBH I’m fairly smitten with that a part of the UK proper now, and have been testing the RightMove prospects since I returned. I at the moment reside in Hampshire, it’s completely doable. However, sufficient about my by no means ending deliberation about the place I ought to reside, right here’s what me and my toddler did in Bournemouth for an exquisite and memorable weekend.
What to Do With Toddlers in Bournemouth
Effectively, it’s what we loved there anyway.
1. West Cliff Lifts / Funicular
The West Cliff Funicular was only some minutes’ stroll from the place we had been staying at The Shell Home. My 2 and a half yr previous son beloved it.
Get on on the prime (or backside by the seashore) and also you’ll trip a few minute up or down the cliff. You’ll get to see nice views throughout the sandy seashore, and it’s fairly helpful for getting round too. It was in-built 1908, ‘earlier than the Titanic!’ the man working the elevate proudly informed me.
It’s signposted as a elevate, however the identical man was telling me how actually, it’s a funicular. Effectively, seeing as that phrase is extra enjoyable to say, let’s keep on with that.
The West Cliff’s Funicular’s two automobiles function in tandem, offering a fast and picturesque path to get to the place you wish to be. It operates seasonally and was £2.75 after I was there – beneath 5s had been free.
2. Playground at Alum Chine
Clearly there are a lot of playgrounds within the Bournemouth space, however this one is on the seashore WITH SAND to cushion the tumbles. Excellent.
It was additionally subsequent to a restaurant, which I didn’t attempt however appeared in style for households. It was additionally on the Land Practice’s route, which is how we discovered it within the first place. The Land Practice, which was adorned with Peppa Pig on our journey, makes a cease there and turns round, so it’s a simple go to.
In addition to a pirate ship in the course of the playground, there have been additionally stations for water play and sand play, an enormous slide, swings and many posts popping up from the bottom to steadiness on. Nice little park!
Reggie and I stayed at Bournemouth Seashore Hideaways’ gorgeous Shell Home. It was only a few minutes stroll to the West Cliffs Funicular and never removed from city. It was additionally simply not far away from one of many Hop On Hop Off stops. Nice location!
It’s the within that basically stuns although – simply take a look at the photographs beneath.
With 5 king bedrooms (one with a bunk mattress too), a big lounge, huge eating space and open plan kitchen, 4 loos and out of doors house, it’s excellent for households.
We stayed for 2 nights and beloved having this backyard to loosen up in. We ate our breakfast on the market, and I loved an al fresco G+T in nap time (nice location to get again for the nap schedule).
methods to guide
The Shell Home
The decor right here has acquired me rethinking my complete home – beloved the pastel vibes. It’d even be an important house for a hen occasion, in case you’re trying. In addition to the rooms right here, there are one other three on the highest flooring too!
3. Metropolis Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour
The Bournemouth Metropolis Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour was nice. I used to be feeling fairly burned out on the solo parenting and maintaining with Reggie’s great pleasure for the whole lot, together with the ten second consideration span. So, sitting on a bus for an hour, the place he was blocked in on the seat, was simply what I wanted for my journey to Bournemouth with a toddler.
He was thrilled sitting on the highest of the open prime bus, and waving in any respect the little folks going by. I used to be having fun with the breeze on a sizzling day, and appreciated the guided tour. I additionally beloved being so excessive that we may see into the wealthy folks’s gardens and homes from our seat.
It took us by means of Westbourne, the Carlton Cliffs space, round Sandbanks, and we ended up in Poole. We acquired off at Poole Quay, like many of the bus clientele.
We had a stunning two-hour look spherical and a little bit of (disappointing) lunch, after which rode the bus again once more for Reggie’s nap. It dropped us proper close to The Shell Home on the West Cliff cease.
When you have the time, I’d positively advocate spending longer at Poole Quay and doing a ship journey of some kind. I’d go to Brownsea Island subsequent time!
4. Bournemouth Seashore
Bournemouth Seashore makes for among the best free days out within the UK. It has seven miles of golden sands, lined with ice cream parlours, cafes, eating places and gorgeous coastal walks.
One among my favorite moments of this journey was Reggie and I sharing a dinner at West Seashore Restaurant by Bournemouth Pier. We’d managed to bag some solar loungers that had an enormous signal saying you needed to pay, however nobody appeared bothered, and lay there with a rooster burger and chips, and an orange squash to share. Excellent. It was so sunny and beautiful, the entire expertise was absolute vacation vibes!
We additionally had a very pretty night simply taking part in within the sand, and paddling on the shore after going to Rockwater Restaurant. I’ll return to Bournemouth, simply to do that after dinner.
5. Bournemouth Oceanarium
One among my NCT associates informed me how nice Bournemouth Oceanarium was for little ones, and ever since I’ve needed to take Reggie. I can say with the voice of expertise that it is nice for little ones, even those that appeared to completely ignore the animals and simply make a beeline for the lifts and stairs.
No real interest in feeding time within the lizard home, however all of the curiosity for going up and down within the lifts. That’s Reggie!
The most effective issues concerning the Bournemouth Oceanarium was the very fact you’ll be able to go out and in all day after you have your ticket. It’s proper on the seashore, so we saved coming out to see what was occurring. And in once more. And out. And in…
Some actually attention-grabbing animals in there although – need to go on my own subsequent time.
6. Bournemouth Land Practice
It’s now two weeks for the reason that nice weekend in Bournemouth with my toddler, and that is what I’ve heard about most since.
The Land Practice.
He beloved it.
We went on it efficiently the primary day – simply managing to catch the final one of many day from the Oceanarium as much as Branksome Chine. However, the subsequent day we tried to get it, and it didn’t flip up.
This, is Reggie’s favorite story from the journey: The Time The Practice Didn’t Flip Up.
When it did arrive, it was nice! The driving force and his assistant had been tremendous pleasant and we managed to get the buggy on simply sufficient. Reggie beloved all of the stops, and waving at folks as we went alongside. We did the loop and got here again once more to the Oceanarium, which handed about an hour for £8.50.
Because it was the final one of many day, we couldn’t take all of it the best way to Boscombe Pier – however you can. You will discover all the main points of the Bournemouth Land Practice right here.
7. Bournemouth Huge Wheel
Yep, up we went. Whether or not this is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Bournemouth with toddlers is right down to your toddler, however I loved it!
Reggie, not a lot. After being determined to go up he was able to get off after one rotation. Fortunate for us, we acquired three!
8. Poole Park and Railway
Oh Poole Park was nice.
We had a stunning time using the Poole Park Railway as quickly as we arrived. And the doorway on Google Maps led us to an excellent playground for some toddler enjoyable. It was subsequent to The Ark, which was a group centre with a restaurant and… gentle play.
It was among the best gentle performs I’ve been to truly. My two and a half yr previous beloved it, and it was straightforward for me too. In Southsea the place I reside we have now this large one referred to as Exploria, and it’s only a large overstimulation (for me) each time we go.
The one in The Ark was an important measurement for an hour’s leisure, and the cafe served very nice jacket potatoes too!
Extra issues to do in Bournemouth for toddlers
Try my information to a weekend in Dorset if you wish to discover the county additional afield. Go to Bridport, Lyme Regis and West Bay with my insider information.
English Heritage and Nationwide Belief websites could make for a very good journey out for a toddler – there’s usually plenty of house for a run round, and so they often get in totally free too. The closest ones to Bournemouth embody Christchurch Citadel and Kingston Lacy.
We had an important weekend in Bournemouth, and because it’s solely an hour or so from us, I do know I’ll be again!