Fancy a weekend in Bournemouth along with your toddler? I went a couple of weeks in the past, let me present you what we obtained as much as…
Reggie and I took off to Bournemouth for the weekend to benefit from the seaside, the limitless prospects for ice cream, and all of the several types of automobiles we might probably discover.
We’d been invited to remain within the tremendous cool and stylish Shell Home, just some minutes from the seaside. It was an exquisite base to discover the Bournemouth neighborhood, and I’d advocate it to all. Try the pics under.
Bournemouth was nice. TBH I’m fairly smitten with that a part of the UK proper now, and have been trying out the RightMove prospects since I returned. I at present dwell in Hampshire, it’s completely doable. However, sufficient about my by no means ending deliberation about the place I ought to dwell, right here’s what me and my toddler did in Bournemouth for a beautiful and memorable weekend.
What to Do With Toddlers in Bournemouth
Properly, it’s what we loved there anyway.
1. West Cliff Lifts / Funicular
The West Cliff Funicular was just a few minutes’ stroll from the place we had been staying at The Shell Home. My 2 and a half yr previous son cherished it.
Get on on the high (or backside by the seaside) and also you’ll journey a few minute up or down the cliff. You’ll get to see nice views throughout the sandy seaside, and it’s fairly helpful for getting round too. It was in-built 1908, ‘earlier than the Titanic!’ the man working the elevate proudly advised me.
It’s signposted as a elevate, however the identical man was telling me how actually, it’s a funicular. Properly, seeing as that phrase is extra enjoyable to say, let’s follow that.
The West Cliff’s Funicular’s two vehicles 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 – underneath 5s had been free.
2. Playground at Alum Chine
Clearly there are lots of playgrounds within the Bournemouth space, however this one is on the seaside WITH SAND to cushion the tumbles. Good.
It was additionally subsequent to a restaurant, which I didn’t attempt however seemed widespread 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 embellished with Peppa Pig on our journey, makes a cease there and turns round, so it’s a straightforward 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, a giant slide, swings and plenty of posts popping up from the bottom to steadiness on. Nice little park!
Reggie and I stayed at Bournemouth Seashore Hideaways’ beautiful Shell Home. It was just some 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 actually stuns although – simply have a look at the photographs under.
With 5 king bedrooms (one with a bunk mattress too), a big lounge, huge eating space and open plan kitchen, 4 bogs and out of doors house, it’s excellent for households.
We stayed for 2 nights and cherished 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).
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The Shell Home
The decor right here has obtained me rethinking my entire home – cherished the pastel vibes. It’d even be a fantastic house for a hen occasion, if you happen to’re wanting. In addition to the rooms right here, there are one other three on the highest ground 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 fantastic pleasure for all the things, 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 high bus, and waving in any respect the little individuals going by. I used to be having fun with the breeze on a scorching day, and appreciated the guided tour. I additionally cherished being so excessive that we might see into the wealthy individuals’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 obtained off at Poole Quay, like many of the bus clientele.
We had a beautiful 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 undoubtedly 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 beautiful coastal walks.
Certainly one of 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 a giant 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. Good. It was so sunny and beautiful, the entire expertise was absolute vacation vibes!
We additionally had a very beautiful 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
Certainly one of my NCT associates advised me how nice Bournemouth Oceanarium was for little ones, and ever since I’ve wished to take Reggie. I can say with the voice of expertise that it’s nice for little ones, even those that appeared to completely ignore the animals and simply make a beeline for the lifts and stairs.
Little interest in feeding time within the lizard home, however all of the curiosity for going up and down within the lifts. That’s Reggie!
Among the best issues concerning the Bournemouth Oceanarium was the actual fact you may go out and in all day after you have your ticket. It’s proper on the seaside, so we stored coming out to see what was occurring. And in once more. And out. And in…
Some actually fascinating animals in there although – must go on my own subsequent time.
6. Bournemouth Land Practice
It’s now two weeks because the nice weekend in Bournemouth with my toddler, and that is what I’ve heard about most since.
The Land Practice.
He cherished 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 cherished all of the stops, and waving at individuals 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 way in which to Boscombe Pier – however you would. You could find all the main points of the Bournemouth Land Practice right here.
7. Bournemouth Massive Wheel
Yep, up we went. Whether or not this is among 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 obtained three!
8. Poole Park and Railway
Oh Poole Park was nice.
We had a beautiful time driving 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 neighborhood centre with a restaurant and… gentle play.
It was among the best gentle performs I’ve been to really. My two and a half yr previous cherished it, and it was straightforward for me too. In Southsea the place I dwell we have now this huge one referred to as Exploria, and it’s only a huge overstimulation (for me) each time we go.
The one in The Ark was a fantastic dimension 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 superb journey out for a toddler – there’s typically a lot of house for a run round, and so they often get in free of charge too. The closest ones to Bournemouth embrace Christchurch Citadel and Kingston Lacy.
We had a fantastic weekend in Bournemouth, and because it’s solely an hour or so from us, I do know I’ll be again!