Boscombe hotels

Hotels in Boscombe

Boscombe is a seaside resort in Dorset, a county in south west England. Historically a part of Bournemouth, the town has always been a spot for pleasure seekers and its fun-loving nature hasn't changed. Visit a Boscombe hotel for a healthy dose of English seaside charm.

Boscombe Beach

Of course, what has kept drawing visitors to Boscombe over the years is the town's sweeping sandy beach. Part of Bournemouth's famous seven miles of sand, which has often been called Britain's best beach, Boscombe is more secluded than its neighbours. A walk down the beach is a wonderful thing at any time of year and there are plenty of places to stop off and get a hotdog or an ice cream.

Fans of English seaside resorts will know that the architectural appeal of such places can be dubious at best. The 1950s-built Boscombe Overstrand beach complex, long considered an eyesore, is now hailed as a modernist design classic and is a lovely place to while away a summer's afternoon. After a dip in the sea, warm your cockles at the Urban Reef restaurant, which serves up lovely seafood to many hungry mouths.

However, Boscombe is not just a summer destination. Many come here in winter for the excellent water sports on offer. The surf on Boscombe beach is good and the local council has tried to improve it by laying down the Boscombe Surf Reef. The debate as to whether the reef has improved on the 70 days of optimal surfing a year is still ongoing, so find out for yourself. If you're new to the world of water sports, the Sorted Surf School has all bases covered. The school offers lessons in surfing, paddle board, kitesurfing, windsurfing as well as surfboard, wetsuit and kayak hire.

Pier-less

Surf reefs are all well and good but if all you want from a seaside holiday is relaxation and sugar, then you could do a lot worse than an evening walk down Boscombe Pier. From its humble origins in 1888, through to its destruction during WWII, and finally its full restoration in 2008, the pier has had an interesting history.

Its quirkiness is one of its defining features and in 2010, it one the ‘Best Pier in Britain' award thanks to its ‘unusually pointy design'. Whether or not you like pointy piers, there is no way you will not enjoy watching the sunset from Boscombe Pier, with some candyfloss in one hand and your partner in the other.

Bournemouth

If you've tired of the beach, if that's possible, it is just a short walk in to Bournemouth, a bustling and thriving south coast town. While here, make sure you visit the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum. The museum was the former home of extensive travelers Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and his wife Lady Annie. The two scoured the globe for rare artefacts and the collection includes pre-Raphaelite paintings, Japanese swords and much more in between.

After a trip around the world courtesy of the Russell-Cotes', pop into Espresso Kitchen, a lovely little café in the middle of town, with the best hot chocolate this side of Paris.

All in all, Boscombe offers everything you would hope for in an English seaside holiday; surf, sand and seafood. However, there is more to this town than meets the eye and you'll quickly see why visitors keep coming back year after year.