So, you’ve decided to go to university in Bournemouth, have you? Good – you won’t be disappointed.
Updated: 09 Mar 2025
To give you a taste of what’s in store, we’ve made the following top ten list, which covers things like clubbing, beach-going, sandwich-eating, laser-shooting and more clubbing (to name just a few).
Have a read and start getting excited. That’s an order.
Good for: Seeing a theatre show.
What it is: A concert hall in Bournemouth that originally opened in 1929. Today, it hosts a range of theatre shows.
Why you should go:Â Who doesn't enjoy live entertainment? Whether it's a musical, comedy show, dance show or play, there's plenty going on at the Bournemouth Pavilion, so we're sure you'll find something that catches your attention.
Good for:Â Trampling on the sandcastles of small children (not that we recommend this).
What it is:Â You can probably work that one out for yourself.
Why you should go: Well you can’t beat a nice trip to the beach. There are plenty of long, sandy beaches round Bournemouth, and although it’s never a guarantee that the sun will make an appearance, you can always take a ball down with you, have a dip in the sea or even try your hand at a spot of surfing.
Good for: Pelting down water slides at back-scrapingly high speeds.
What it is: A ridiculously fun day out, that’s what. If you like water, slides, or a fast-paced combination of the two, we just can’t recommend it enough.
Why you should go: It’s the perfect place to go with a big group. Okay, so you might find you and your friends are bringing up the average age slightly, but you’ll be far too busy hurling yourselves down water slides to care.
Good for:Â Chomping your way through a huge selection of doughy goodness.
What it is: The KING of sandwich shops in Bournemouth. And that’s a fact.
Why you should go: Everyone likes a good sandwich, and they don’t come much better than the ones served in Lord Sandwich. The sandwich shop is also just round the corner from the local Shakeaway, so you can wash down your ham and cheese baguette with a cream egg flavoured milkshake.
Good for:Â Top quality seaside partying.
What it is:Â A bar and restaurant by the beach, and a great place to go for a night out.
Why you should go: Not only is Aruba a lovely spot for a bite to eat, but it also plays host to some top-quality DJs at night. If you feel like heading into town for a bit of a dance and some cocktails, you could do a lot worse.
Good for: Clinging shakily to the side rails, falling flat on your face and knocking over pensioners.
What it is: An ice skating rink that makes an appearance at Bournemouth International Centre every year.
Why you should go: Whether you can ice skate like or pro or you’ve never done it before, you’re still GUARANTEED to have fun. If you’re feeling confident, you can even try doing a 360 degree spin, or skating at a crouch between someone’s legs (not a trick we’d recommend doing to strangers).
Good for:Â A weekend night on the town.
What it is: A club in Bournemouth that’s a popular choice among students.
Why you should go: Vault offers a range of different themed nights to cater to different music interests and has three rooms spread across three floors, and yes, each floor has its own bar.
Good for: Exploring the beaches that surround Bournemouth and getting a good bit of exercise into the bargain.
What it is: It’s all in the name, really.Â
Why you should go: Hiring some bikes and going for a ride with a group of friends is a great way to spend the afternoon, especially when you’re surrounded by miles of beautiful coastline. You can even try cycling all the way from Bournemouth Pier to Hengistbury Head and back, if you’re feeling up to it (and there’s a café at Hengistbury Head you can stop off at for a rest half way).
Good for:Â Feeling like Rambo (but without the fear of injury or death).
What it is: A series of games in which you shoot your friends with lasers in an indoor arena.
Why you should go: If anyone’s had a look at the website and thinks it looks suspiciously like it’s aimed primarily at young children, then you’ve got a point. But they have adult games too! And trust us, it’s addictive.
Good for: Getting the old adrenaline going.
What it is: It’s basically a treetop course complete with zip wires, ropes, obstacles, ladders, etc. (don’t worry, you’ll have a harness).
Why you should go: If you fancy doing something a bit different with your weekend, Go Ape is only a short drive from Bournemouth. Oh, and in case you don’t feel like taking to the trees, they also have Forest Segways. That’s right, off-road Segways (and don’t pretend you’ve never had the urge to go on one, because everyone loves Segways).
A global tourist destination, Bournemouth attracts more than five million visitors a year to its sandy beaches, parks and gardens. With Victorian architecture and several Grade I listed buildings, Bournemouth has all the trappings of a traditional seaside resort, as well as boasting a modern town centre which is known for its nightlife. Bournemouth is right next door to Poole, home to the largest natural harbour in Europe, and is only a short drive from the countryside and the New Forest.