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"Bird-watching colonels on the old sea wall"

Bournemouth East Cliff Beach

Dorset, England


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Bournemouth East Cliff Beach is a popular sandy beach located on the Dorset coast, between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.

East Cliff beach is situated between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers, making it easily accessible by car, bus, or on foot. There is a road running parallel to the beach with local parking available, as well as a café, cliff lift, and toilet facilities. The Bournemouth land train also stops nearby, providing transport along the shoreline.

The beach is approximately one and a half miles long and offers an excellent expanse of fine, pale-coloured sand which slopes gently into the sea. Behind the beach is a promenade and behind that, Bournemouth East Cliff itself, with its many hotels, dominates the skyline. The bay is said to benefit from its own microclimate with a reputation for mild weather, and the beach has a reputation for being one of the cleanest along this section of the Dorset coast.

There are excellent facilities of all kinds on and around the beach, including beach huts available for rent from Bournemouth Council and deck chairs for hire. A lift operates in the summer months to transport visitors up and down the cliffs, and there are two car parks next to the beach. Busses run frequently between Bournemouth railway station and the beach. The town of Bournemouth offers an excellent range of seaside and other activities, including boat trips, restaurants, and pier attractions.

At the end of August/start of September, the Bournemouth Air Festival takes place, offering four days of spectacular flying displays as well as various entertainments. The nearby town of Bournemouth provides a range of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Bournemouth East Cliff Beach is adjacent to the Bournemouth Coast Path.

Bay Sand

Weather and tides for Sunday 20 July

Tonight
Chance of rain 13%
Min temp. 15°C
(feels like 16°C)
Wind 7mph
Tomorrow (Monday)
Chance of rain 50%
Max temp. 22°C
(feels like 19°C)
Wind 11mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Bournemouth East Cliff Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 9:01 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 12:56 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   18.5°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Litter bins
  • Popular Activities

    Canoeing Jet-skiing Sailing Sunbathing Swimming Volleyball Wind surfing
  • Features

    Pier
  • Parking

    Parking on seafront (accessed via car park entrance at Boscombe Pier). Pay parking also available on overcliff road.

  • Dogs

    Dogs allowed between 1st October - 30th April. Other sites on seafront available during summer months.

  • Beach Cleaning

    Cleaned daily during the summer and weekly the rest of the year.

  • Lifeguard

    Daily - 9th July - 4th September

  • Water Quality

    Water quality not measured here

    Water quality not measured here

Recommended holiday cottages near Bournemouth East Cliff Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Oceana Day Spa (0.2 miles)
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum (0.3 miles)
The MacGuffin Project (0.4 miles)
Dorset Day Trips (0.6 miles)
Be At One Cocktail Bar (0.7 miles)
Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth (0.9 miles)
U-Escape (1.1 miles)
Jetski Safaris (3.8 miles)
Christchurch Priory Church (3.9 miles)
Land & Wave (4.1 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: East Cliff, Bournemouth

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: SZ097909

Country: England

Local Authority: Bournemouth

Nearest postcode: BH1 3AN

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

(Or après-beach. Or pre-beach. Or, just because you might want stuff)

Visitor information for Bournemouth East Cliff Beach, Dorset, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.14.83 Sun, 20 Jul 2025 20:14:28 +0100