British Beaches

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"Who hath desired the Sea?, the sight of salt wind-hounded"

Bournemouth Southbourne Beach

Dorset, England


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Bournemouth is a popular resort on the south coast of England, offering a range of attractions and facilities for holidaymakers, including several beautiful beaches.

Bournemouth has several beaches that cater to different tastes and preferences. Two of its notable beaches are Southbourne Beach and Durley Chine Beach.

Southbourne Beach is one of Bournemouth's quieter beaches, popular with bathers due to its gentle slope and absence of sudden shelves or rip currents. The beach offers a range of facilities, including a restaurant, cafe, and kiosks on the seafront. There are also dog exercise areas, making it an ideal spot for families and dog owners. The beach office provides free LV= Kidzone children's safety wristbands.

The beach can be reached directly from Southbourne High Street via the Fisherman's Walk nature trail, which offers stunning views of the beach and Hengistbury Head. On a clear day, visitors can even see the Needles cliffs on the Isle of Wight. The cliff lift operates daily from Easter to late October. The beach is especially popular with families, and its sandy shore with some shingle slopes gently into the sea.

There are certain rules and regulations in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. Dogs are only allowed in designated dog-friendly areas during the season. Restrictions apply to cycling, skating, skateboarding, and e-scooters on the promenade in the summer. Only certain types of barbecues are permitted and must be disposed of properly.

Southbourne Beach has received the Blue Flag award, a testament to its high standards of water quality, safety, and environmental management.

Durley Chine Beach, located between Bournemouth Pier and Alum Chine, is a popular family summer holiday destination. The beach offers ideal swimming conditions and is patrolled by RNLI lifeguards during the holiday season. Visitors can enjoy an excellent range of children's play area facilities and disabled access.

The beach is surrounded by a selection of hotels, holiday apartments, and B&Bs to rent. There are also plenty of facilities close to the beach, including the Durley Inn Harvester, which serves family-friendly pub grub with ocean views. A row of brightly coloured beach huts is available for rent along the promenade.

Bournemouth Southbourne Beach is adjacent to the Bournemouth Coast Path.

Sand Shingle

Weather and tides for Thursday 17 July

Today
Chance of rain 9%
Max temp. 23°C
(feels like 21°C)
Wind 13mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 5%
Min temp. 17°C
(feels like 17°C)
Wind 7mph

The tide at Bournemouth Southbourne Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 6:35 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 11:03 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   18.3°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Shops Litter bins
  • Popular Activities

    Fishing Sailing Sunbathing Swimming Water skiing
  • Features

    Promenade
  • Parking

    Roadside parking along the overcliff drive. Various pay and display car parks.

  • Dogs

    Dogs allowed on the beach but restrictions apply in places.

  • Beach Cleaning

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

  • Lifeguard

    Daily - 30th April - 25th September

  • Awards

    Blue Flag Beach

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Excellent water quality

    Excellent water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Bournemouth Southbourne Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre (1.1 miles)
Christchurch Priory Church (1.1 miles)
Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth (2.9 miles)
Oceana Day Spa (3 miles)
The MacGuffin Project (3.4 miles)
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum (3.5 miles)
Dorset Day Trips (3.7 miles)
Be At One Cocktail Bar (3.8 miles)
U-Escape (4.2 miles)

Places to eat near Bournemouth Southbourne Beach

Restaurant Roots ltd (360 yards)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Southbourne, Bournemouth

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: SZ148910

Country: England

Local Authority: Bournemouth

Nearest postcode: BH6 4BE

(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.

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

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18.97.9.170 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:38:51 +0100