Bournemouth

Bournemouth beside the seaside - 7 miles of fabulous golden beaches!

Winners of Britain in Bloom! Dorset's premier seaside holiday resort, Bournemouth has so much to offer - starting with a year round climate which attracts more than five and a half million visitors a year.

Sandy beaches with facilities to provide a safe holiday for the children, two seaside piers, 2,000 acres of parks and landscaped gardens, enough shops to rival any large town, theatres, cinemas, clubs and nightlife, cafes, restaurants, hotels, pubs and amusements.

All the attractions of the greater Dorset Riviera Coast too. Pleasure boat trips from the Pier, ply about Bournemouth Bay, into Poole Harbour and the Dorset Lakes, to Brownsea Island and Westward along the Dorset sunshine coast past dramatic cliff scenery. Visit Dorset's traditional seaside towns of Swanage and Weymouth.

In August, Bournemouth is host to the biggest Free Air Festival in Dorset, with spectacular views from the cliff tops and beaches. During the summer there may be awe inspiring fireworks displays above the seafront - view from the promenade or the clifftop.

There are excellent golf courses and tennis courts, and 2009 welcomes the Surf Reef at Boscombe!

The Pavilion and Bournemouth Pier Theatre throw some of the most popular shows, and of course there is the exciting Christmas Pantomime and New Year festivities. Bournemouth is an all year round centre of excitement with so many thrilling tourist attractions - so much to see and do. Bournemouth has it all!

Britain in Bloom Winners: Bournemouth (Southern England).

The Bournemouth theme was Growing for Gold: the Royal Horticultural Society judges toured the city and found it was ablaze with colour. The standard of plant material and bedding design was of the highest quality.

The commitment to sustainability was clear with all new business premises featuring permanent landscaping, again of a very high standard. The plans to revitalise Boscombe Gardens excited the judges who were impressed by the way local residents were involved in the consultation process, with their ideas and aspirations incorporated into the final designs. A great deal of work is also being carried out in connection with nature conservation projects, involving both volunteers and selected community groups.

Bournemouth (Silver Gilt Award): Large City Category.

More than 1,400 communities participated in the campaign, of which 61 finalists were selected to represent their region/nation in the 2002 finals.

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