In the southwest of England there is a region called Dorsetshire or County of Dorset in which the municipality of Bournemouth is located. A coastal city of the same name is the largest city there. This resort town is located between Southampton and Plymouth. In the northeast is the settlement of Ferndown, while Wimborne lies to the northwest. To the east, the city of Bournemouth borders that of Christchurch.
This city receives millions of tourists from all over the world every year, mainly between the months of July and September, when the temperatures are warmer.
The city was founded in the year 1810 by a man named Lewis Tregonwell. However, it only became a recognized city in 1870. In the intervening 60 years, it grew, but the arrival of the railway in 1870 is the only factor attributed to the rapid growth of the city. This development ushered in an era of mass summer visits by Londoners and people from the Midlands.
The Central Gardens, dubbed the ‘Pleasure Gardens’, is a public city park that runs for miles along the Bourne River and ends gently sloping down to the waterfront. The area boasts seven kilometers of sandy beaches and its promenade overlooks Poole Bay and the Isle of Wight.
The city has an estimated 170,000 inhabitants. Historically, it was a retirement town, but that has changed in recent years due to a variety of factors.
The area is home to uniquely attractive ridges (steep river valleys) where several streams descend to the sea. This is a common feature of the Bournemouth coastline. The streets have been made very pedestrian-friendly, while the shopping centers are located just behind the promenade along the banks of the river, thus receiving the pleasant sea breeze.
Bournemouth city center is a popular destination for business tourists with its conference facilities. To the east of the Central Gardens is the Russell-Cotes Museum, a favorite with art lovers. It is named after the man who founded it in his mansion and later donated it to the city after his death. It contains many paintings from the 19th century.
Every August, the city hosts an airshow that lasts for four days. All kinds of aircraft are featured and the event attracts over a million tourists. Also, the ‘Bournemouth Eye’ is a famous landmark of the city. It is a spherical helium balloon with a gondola for passengers and it travels along a steel cable. It rises to 190 meters to give an aerial view of the region. This is in addition to the long sandy beaches and the kind of waters that are a surfer’s paradise.
The Pavilion Theater presents many plays and attracts many theater goers. In addition, the town has all kinds of restaurants, from English to Italian and Asian. Indian, Mexican, French and many other restaurants are also available. In addition, there are endless fast food outlets, pizzerias and bars, some with unique traditions.
Therefore, Bournemouth is an exciting place to visit or vacation.
