Seeking to spend a weekend in Bournemouth together with your younger baby? I used to be there a number of weeks in the past, to indicate you what we got here up with…
Reggie and I went to Bournemouth for the weekend to benefit from the seaside, limitless ice cream choices and all of the several types of automobiles we may discover.
We had been invited to remain on the tremendous cool and stylish Shell Home, just some minutes from the seaside. It was an exquisite base for exploring the Bournemouth space and I’d advocate it to anybody. Try the images beneath.
Bournemouth had been nice. TBH I am fairly smitten with that a part of the UK in the meanwhile and have been trying out RightMove choices since I acquired again. I at present dwell in Hampshire, completely doable. However sufficient of my limitless fascinated about the place I ought to dwell, here is what me and my infant did in Bournemouth for an exquisite and memorable weekend.
What to do with younger kids in Bournemouth
Effectively, that is what we loved there anyway.
1. West Cliff Lifts / Funicular
The West Cliff Cable Automotive was only some minutes stroll from the place we had been staying at The Shell Home. My 2 and a half 12 months previous son beloved it.
Climb as much as the highest (or down alongside the seaside) and you will be driving alongside the cliff for a couple of minute. You will note a fantastic view of the sandy seaside, and it’s also fairly helpful for motion. It was inbuilt 1908, ‘earlier than the Titanic!’ the man working the elevator advised me proudly.
It was marked as an elevator, however the identical man was telling me that it was truly a funicular. Effectively, since that phrase is extra enjoyable to say, let’s keep it up.
The 2 carriages of the West Cliff Funicular work in tandem, offering a quick and scenic path to the place you wish to be. It runs seasonally and was £2.75 once I was there – underneath 5s had been free.
2. Playground in Alum Chine
Clearly there are many playgrounds within the Bournemouth space however this one is on the seaside WITH SAND to cushion the falls. Excellent.
It was additionally subsequent to a restaurant, which I did not attempt however appeared in style with households. It was additionally on the land practice route, that is how we discovered it. The land practice, which was adorned with Pepa the Pig on our journey, stops and turns round there, so the go to is straightforward.
Along with the pirate ship in the midst of the playground, there have been water and sand play stations, a big slide, swings, and plenty of poles that popped out of the bottom for stability. Nice little park!
Reggie and I stayed on the stunning Shell Home Bournemouth Seashore Hideaways. It was solely a brief stroll to the West Cliffs funicular and never removed from city. It was additionally proper across the nook from one of many Hop On Hop Off stations. Nice location!
But it surely’s the inside that actually amazes – simply have a look at the images beneath.
With 5 bedrooms with a big mattress (one with a bunk mattress), a big lounge, a big eating room and an open kitchen, 4 bogs and an out of doors space, good for households.
We stayed for 2 nights and beloved having this backyard to loosen up in. We had breakfast on the market and I loved a G+T open air at nap time (nice location to get again on a sleep schedule).
how you can ebook
Home of shells
The decor right here made me rethink my entire home – I really like the pastel vibes. It will even be an incredible venue for a bachelorette celebration, in case you’re wanting. Apart from the rooms right here, there are three extra on the highest flooring!
3. Metropolis sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour
Bournemouth Metropolis Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour was Nice. I used to be feeling fairly exhausted from single parenting and maintaining with Reggie’s fantastic pleasure about every part, alongside along with his 10 second consideration span. So he sat within the bus for an hour, the place he was blocked within the seat solely which I wanted for a visit to Bournemouth with a younger baby.
He was delighted to take a seat on high of the open high bus and wave to all of the little individuals who handed by. I loved the breeze on a sizzling day and appreciated the guided tour. I additionally beloved being so excessive up that we may see into the gardens and homes of the wealthy from our seat.
It took us by way of Westbourne, the Carlton Cliffs space, round Sandbanks, and ended up in Poole. We acquired off at Poole Quay, as did many of the bus clientele.
We had a beautiful two hours sightseeing and a little bit of a (disappointing) lunch, then headed again on the bus for Reggie’s nap. He dropped us off proper close to The Shell Home at West Cliff station.
When you have time, I’d positively advocate spending longer at Poole Quay and occurring some form of boat journey. I’d go to Brownsea Island subsequent time!
4. Bournemouth Seashore
Bournemouth Seashore is without doubt one of the greatest days out within the UK. It has seven miles of golden sand, lined with patisseries, cafes, eating places and beautiful coastal promenades.
One in every of my favourite moments of this journey was having dinner with Reggie on the West Seashore Restaurant subsequent to Bournemouth Pier. We managed to bag a few sunbeds with a giant signal saying it’s a must to pay however nobody appeared to thoughts and we laid there with a rooster burger and chips and orange squash to share. Excellent. It was so sunny and delightful, the entire expertise was an absolute festive ambiance!
We additionally spent a really good night enjoying within the sand and paddling on the shore after going to the Rockwater restaurant. I am going again to Bournemouth, simply to do that after dinner.
5. Bournemouth Oceanarium
One in every of my NCT pals advised me how nice Bournemouth Oceanarium is for the little ones, and I’ve needed to take Reggie ever since. I can say with the voice of expertise that it’s so is nice for the little ones, even those who appeared to fully ignore the animals and simply run after the elevators and stairs.
Little interest in feeding time within the lizard home, however all curiosity in going up and down the cable vehicles. It is Reggie!
Among the best issues about Bournemouth Oceanarium was the truth that you would go out and in all day when you had a ticket. It is proper on the seaside, so we saved going out to see what was occurring. And inside once more. And out. And in…
There are some actually attention-grabbing animals although – I’ve to go alone subsequent time.
6. Bournemouth Land Practice
It has been two weeks since an incredible weekend in Bournemouth with my toddler, and that is essentially the most I’ve heard about since then.
Land practice.
He beloved it.
We had a profitable begin on the primary day – we solely managed to catch the final day from Oceanarium to Branksome Chine. Nonetheless, we tried to pay money for him the subsequent day, however he didn’t seem.
That is Reggie’s favourite journey story: the time the practice did not come.
When it arrived, it was nice! The driving force and his assistant had been tremendous good and we had been capable of load the stroller simply. Reggie beloved all of the stops and waving at individuals as we went. We did a loop and went again to the Oceanarium once more, which took about an hour for £8.50.
Because it was the final of the day, we could not make it to Boscombe Pier – however you would. Full particulars of the Bournemouth overland practice may be discovered right here.
7. Bournemouth Massive Wheel
Sure, right here we go. Whether or not this is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Bournemouth with toddlers is dependent upon your toddler, however I loved it!
Reggie, not a lot. After desperately desirous to go up, he was prepared to return down after one rotation. Fortunate for us, we acquired three!
8. Poole Park and the Railway
Oh, Poole Park was Nice.
We had a good time driving the Poole Park Railway as quickly as we arrived. And the doorway to Google Maps led us to the final word playground for entertaining the little ones. It was subsequent to The Ark, which was a neighborhood middle with a restaurant and… a lightweight recreation.
It was the most effective comfortable reveals I have been to. My two and a half 12 months previous beloved it, and it was simple for me too. In Southsea the place I dwell now we have a giant one known as Exploria, and it is an enormous overstimulation (for me) each time we go.
The one at The Ark was huge for an hour’s leisure, and the cafe additionally served very nice potatoes in a wrapper!
Extra issues to do in Bournemouth for younger kids
See my Dorset weekend information if you wish to discover the county additional. Go to Bridport, Lyme Regis and West Bay with my insider information.
English Heritage and Nationwide Belief websites may be good outings for a younger baby – there’s typically loads of area to run round, and normally free. The closest to Bournemouth are Christchurch Fort and Kingston Lacy.
We had an incredible weekend in Bournemouth, and because it’s solely an hour away, I do know I will be again!