Seven miles of sand, and the details that decide where you stay
Hotels, parking and beaches in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, compared from the hotels, council and operators themselves.
Where to stay
Hotels and places to stay, compared on the details that decide a booking.
Where to stay in Bournemouth: the areas comparedDurley Chine and Fisherman's Walk hold 2026 Blue Flags; 11 areas from the West Cliff to Highcliffe compared on distance to the Square and beaches.
Dog-friendly hotels in Bournemouth: fees and rules comparedDog fees at 11 Bournemouth hotels run from £5 to £30 a night on the hotels' own websites. Size and number limits, where dogs may go, excluded rooms.
Hotels in Poole: Old Town, Holes Bay and Sandbanks comparedTwelve Poole hotels by area: two in the Old Town 4 minutes' walk from the quay, five budget chains with on-site parking, three on Sandbanks.
Hotels near the BIC Bournemouth: walking times and parkingThe Hermitage faces the BIC; 13 hotels within a 20-minute walk compared on minutes to the BIC and Pavilion, and parking from free to £28 a night.
Dog-friendly hotels in Poole and Sandbanks: fees comparedPoole hotel dog fees run from £10 a night at The Antelope to £25 at Hotel du Vin, The Canford and both Travelodges. Haven Hotel takes dogs on Sandbanks.
Hotels near Poole Quay: walking times and parking comparedHotel du Vin and The Antelope are about 4 minutes' walk from Poole Quay. RNLI College, 14 minutes away, has 60 harbour-view rooms. Parking compared.
Hotels in Sandbanks, Poole: beach access and rooms comparedSandbanks has three hotels, all FJB: Sandbanks Hotel and Haven Hotel open onto the beach, Harbour Heights faces the harbour. Nearby Studland also compared.
Seafront hotels in Bournemouth: sea-view rooms and balconiesAt most Bournemouth seafront hotels only rooms named Sea View face the sea. Room names to book at 11 hotels, which have balconies, and cliff lift status.
Family hotels in Bournemouth: room sizes, kids' clubs, cotsSuncliff's largest family room sleeps 6, The Riviera's sleep 3 to 5 and THE NICI charges nothing extra for children. Kids’ clubs and cots at 11 hotels.
Hotels with pools in Bournemouth: indoor, outdoor and hours9 of 12 Bournemouth and Sandbanks hotel pools checked are indoors; The Cumberland heats its outdoor pool late spring to summer only. Kids’ swim times.
Spa hotels in Bournemouth: facilities, hours and age rulesThe Connaught, Queens and Christchurch Harbour include spa use in the room; West Cliff charges £15 a stay. Thermal rooms, hours, age limits at 10 hotels.
Bournemouth Airport hotels: drive times and park-and-flyNo hotel sits on the airport site. The Avon Causeway in Hurn is 1.5 miles away and lets guests park for £50 a week; 6 hotels within 6 miles compared.
Bournemouth hotels with parking: charges and termsEight Bournemouth hotels park guests free only if booked direct, and most spaces are first come, first served. Charges at 22 hotels run up to £28 a day.
Holiday parks in Bournemouth and Poole: pools, dogs, beachesHoburne Park and Sandhills sit a short walk from Christchurch beaches; Rockley Park is on Poole Harbour. 15 holiday parks compared on pools and dogs.
Camping near Bournemouth: tents, tourers and beach distanceMeadowbank in Christchurch says it is the closest touring site to Bournemouth beach but takes no tents or dogs. 15 campsites compared on pitches.
Holiday cottages in Bournemouth: agency fees and termsBournecoast adds a £25 to £65 booking fee; Classic Cottages charges £42 per pet. Ten agencies listing Bournemouth holiday lets compared on fees and terms.
Glamping near Bournemouth: pods, yurts and huts comparedSopley Lake charges £60 a night for an adults-only shepherd’s hut; South Lytchett Manor pods start at £75. 15 glamping sites compared on price and dogs.
Getting here and parking
Airport, station and car park costs, with current tariffs.
Bournemouth Airport parking: 2026 prices for every car parkA week in Car Park 2 cost £102.38 booked direct for 26 Nov to 3 Dec 2026, against £400 at the £50-a-day drive-up rate. All 4 official car parks compared.- Bournemouth Airport parking promo code: offers checkedCode PROMO26 took 12% off Car Park 2 and 3 on Holiday Extras: £90.09 for a late-November week, against £102.38 direct. Offers checked 1 November 2026.
Bournemouth Airport drop-off: £8 for 30 minutes in 2026Dropping off or collecting at Bournemouth Airport costs £8 for up to 30 minutes in Car Park 1, then £15 to an hour. There is no free kerbside drop-off.
Bournemouth town centre parking: 2026 car park prices£6.40 buys 24 hours at four Bournemouth town centre car parks; most others charge £12.90. 12 BCP car parks, free evening bays and height limits.
Bournemouth beach parking: seafront prices by seasonA day at most Bournemouth beach car parks costs £5.30 until 14 March 2027 (£20.90 by the pier), then £23.60 to £28 from 15 March. 11 car parks compared.
Sandbanks parking: car parks, roads and prices by seasonSandbanks surface car park charges £3.90 a day until 14 March 2027, then £25 for 14 hours, and six roads are free all winter. 12 options compared.
Bournemouth Airport bus to town: 737 times and taxisThe 737 is the only bus from Bournemouth Airport to town: weekdays only, at 13:35, 16:20 and 18:00, none at weekends. Taxis and transfers too.
BIC Bournemouth parking: show rates and nearby car parksThe BIC car park charges a flat £12 from 5pm to the end of a show; 9 car parks near the BIC and Pavilion compared on 4-hour and 24-hour prices.
Poole ferry terminal: routes, parking and nearby hotelsPoole to Cherbourg ended in October 2026. Voyager reaches Guernsey in 3 hours and St Malo in 6; Jersey restarts in 2027. Port parking is £15 per 24 hours.
Beaches and days out
Beaches, boat trips and attractions, with the rules and prices that change by season.
- Things to do in Bournemouth: prices and opening timesOceanarium tickets from £13.99 online, Russell-Cotes £12.50, Highcliffe Castle £10. Free: the gardens, Hengistbury Head, Red House Museum. Hours checked.
Things to do in Bournemouth in the rain: indoor pricesPoole Museum and the Red House Museum in Christchurch are free; the Oceanarium is from £13.99 online and Splashdown £20 for 2 hours. Hours checked.
Dog-friendly beaches in Bournemouth and Poole: 2026 rulesDogs can use every Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch beach until 30 April 2027. The award-beach ban returns 1 May; 10 stretches take dogs all year.- Afternoon tea in Bournemouth: prices and where to bookAfternoon tea in Bournemouth runs from £18.50 at the Hermitage to £32.50 at THE NICI. Prices, times, fizz upgrades and dietary notice at 12 venues.
- Spa days in Bournemouth: prices and what's includedSpa days in Bournemouth run from £29 at the West Cliff and Collingwood to £245 at THE NICI. Treatments, food, spa hours and age limits at 8 hotel spas.
- Sandbanks beach: lifeguards, dogs, facilities, getting thereDogs can use all of Sandbanks beach until 30 April 2027, then not the main beach from 1 May to 30 September. 39th Blue Flag. Nearby beaches compared.
Sandbanks ferry: times, prices and the 2026 refitThe Sandbanks ferry is off for refit from 2 November 2026, return due in December. When running: £6.26 a car, £1.18 on foot, every 20 minutes.- Boat trips from Poole: harbour, Jurassic Coast and SwanagePoole Quay boat trips start at £13 for an hour round the harbour. Jurassic Coast and Swanage sailings are £23.50, Wareham by river £23. Times, ages, dogs.
- Bournemouth Christmas market 2026: dates, ice rinks, lightsBournemouth Christmas Market runs 12 November to 31 December 2026 in the Square; the Lower Gardens ice rink and light trail stay open to 3 January 2027.
Mudeford beach huts: hire, sale fees and getting thereAll 346 Mudeford Sandbank huts are privately owned and can be slept in 1 March to 31 October. Hire rules, £24,255 transfer fee and ferry fares compared.
Beach hut hire in Bournemouth: 2026 prices and how to bookBCP Council hires out 284 huts and 19 pods. Winter hire to 19 March 2027 from £675; 2026 season £25 to £30 a day walk-in, £119 to £389 a week.- Brownsea Island ferry: 2026 fares, times and entry pricesThe Brownsea ferry from Poole Quay was £14.50 return for adults and £6 for children in 2026, plus £12 island entry. Island closed for winter.
Monkey World tickets: 2026 prices, offers and opening timesMonkey World adult tickets are £18 online or £19 at the gate, children 3 to 15 £12. Family tickets, carer entry, the Autism Friendly Day and opening times.
Bournemouth Oceanarium tickets: 2026 prices and discountsOceanarium adult tickets are from £13.99 online or £17.50 at the gate, children 3 to 15 from £8.75. Family tickets, discounts and memberships compared.