Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, United Kingdom

Places to visit near Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a city in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, United Kingdom, home to about 163,600 people. Within 50 km by road there are 97 places to visit — 32 forts & heritage, 27 churches, 9 hill stations & viewpoints and 9 parks. The must-see places are Bournemouth Islamic Centre & Central Mosque (1 km), St Stephen's Church (1 km) and East Cliff Lift Top (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Bournemouth on the map

Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, United Kingdom. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Bournemouth at a glance

Location
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, United Kingdom
Population
about 163,600
Coordinates
50.7205° N, 1.8795° W
Places within 50 km
97 (97 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and parks

Top places to visit near Bournemouth

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Bournemouth: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Bournemouth

Things to see near Bournemouth, by type

Forts & heritage near Bournemouth

101 forts & heritage within 100 km of Bournemouth. The closest is Brownsea Castle (8 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →

Churches near Bournemouth

78 churches within 100 km of Bournemouth. The closest is St Stephen's Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Bournemouth

33 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Bournemouth. The closest is St Catherine's Hill (9 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • St Catherine's Hill · viewpoint · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~9 km · Must-see
  • Warren Hill · viewpoint · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Tennyson Down · viewpoint · Isle of Wight · ~31 km · Must-see
  • Hambury Tout · viewpoint · Dorset · ~36 km · Must-see
  • Winfrith Hill · viewpoint · Dorset · ~37 km · Must-see
  • Scratchy Bottom · viewpoint · Dorset · ~38 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →

Parks near Bournemouth

23 parks within 100 km of Bournemouth. The closest is Kings Park (5 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

  • Kings Park · park · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~5 km · Must-see
  • Alexandra Park · park · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~5 km · Must-see
  • Poole Park · park · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~8 km · Must-see
  • Ferndown Common · park · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Avon Heath Country Park · park · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~16 km · Must-see
  • Hartland Moor · park · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~18 km · Must-see

All parks in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →

Museums near Bournemouth

15 museums within 100 km of Bournemouth. The closest is Red House Museum (9 km). Best time: year-round.

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Beaches & coast near Bournemouth

14 beaches & coast within 100 km of Bournemouth. The closest is Bournemouth East Beach (1 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →

A one-day trip from Bournemouth

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 8 km on the road.

  1. Start in Bournemouth
  2. 1 km Bournemouth East Beach · beach, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  3. 1 km East Cliff Lift Top · church, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  4. 1 km Bournemouth Islamic Centre & Central Mosque · mosque, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  5. 1 km St Stephen's Church · church, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  6. 2 km Our Lady Immaculate Church · church, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  7. 2 km Back to Bournemouth

Plan a longer trip from Bournemouth — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Bournemouth

No traveller has reported from around Bournemouth yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Bournemouth

    All places near Bournemouth by distance

    Within 15 km of Bournemouth

    • Saint James Church · church · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~10 km · Must-see
    • Warren Hill · viewpoint · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~11 km · Must-see
    • Ferndown Common · park · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~11 km · Must-see
    • Christchurch Harbour · beach · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~11 km · Must-see
    • Studland Bay · beach · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~11 km · Must-see
    • Canford Church · church · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~12 km · Must-see
    • Ham Common · sanctuary · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~13 km · Must-see
    • Highcliffe Castle · fort · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · ~15 km · Must-see

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Bournemouth by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Forts & heritage32101Brownsea Castle (8 km)
    Churches2778St Stephen's Church (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints933St Catherine's Hill (9 km)
    Parks923Kings Park (5 km)
    Museums215Red House Museum (9 km)
    Beaches & coast914Bournemouth East Beach (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens414Ham Common (13 km)
    Treks29Stour Valley Way (29 km)
    Other attractions14Anvil Point Lighthouse (19 km)
    Mosques & dargahs12Bournemouth Islamic Centre & Central Mosque (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Poole Quay (Ferries for Brownsea Island) (9 km)
    Temples01Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar (53 km)
    Buddhist sites01Mottisfont Abbey (54 km)

    Bournemouth: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Bournemouth?

    Bournemouth Islamic Centre & Central Mosque (mosque, about 1 km), St Stephen's Church (church, about 1 km), East Cliff Lift Top (church, about 1 km), Bournemouth East Beach (beach, about 1 km), Our Lady Immaculate Church (church, about 2 km), Christ Church (church, about 2 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Bournemouth?

    97 places on Spotwander: 32 forts & heritage, 27 churches, 9 hill stations & viewpoints, 9 parks, 2 museums.

    Which is the nearest fort to Bournemouth?

    Brownsea Castle, about 8 km by road; Dudsbury Camp (8 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Bournemouth?

    St Stephen's Church, about 1 km by road; East Cliff Lift Top (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Bournemouth?

    St Catherine's Hill, about 9 km by road; Warren Hill (11 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Bournemouth?

    Start in Bournemouth, visit Bournemouth East Beach, then East Cliff Lift Top, then Bournemouth Islamic Centre & Central Mosque, then St Stephen's Church, then Our Lady Immaculate Church, and drive back — about 8 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Bournemouth?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and parks.

    Towns near Bournemouth

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Bournemouth’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Bournemouth on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.