Things To Do In Bournemouth | 10 Activities For Students
Students living in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth have endless possibilities when it comes to things to do. Check out our top 10 activities here.
With an option for everyone and a choice for every weather, you really don’t want to miss out on this guide.
There’s almost 20,000 students living here so there’s plenty of chance to meet new people, carry on reading to find out!
1. Experience The PierZip
Nothing says Bournemouth quite like it’s iconic pier, does it? There’s so much to see and do within the pier from the amusement arcade to the array of shops to the tasty restaurants.
Word on the street is there’s also some exciting events happening at the pier for Christmas!
The newest attraction to hit Bournemouth Pier is the zip wire ride.
If you’re feeling adventurous, take a ride on The PierZip, the world’s first pier to shore zip wire. It runs across 250 metres from the pier all the way down to the beachfront – eeek.
Don’t worry, the zip wire is still open during the winter months and tickets are discounted too so for just £17 you can take in the amazing views.
This unique experience is something well worth trying if you’re someone who likes a challenge.
Ask your friends to get involved too as you can zip down with another person!
View this post on Instagram
Address: Pier Approach, Bournemouth BH2 5AA
2. Visit Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
If you’re a student searching for a cultural activity to do in Bournemouth when you’ve got some free time, then we urge you to take a visit to The Russell-Cotes House.
This must-see attraction is a museum and art gallery located in a Grade-II listed building on the sea front, so you can enjoy picturesque views of the South Coast.
Situated just a 5-minutes’ walk from the town centre, this fascinating place was one of the last Victorian houses built in England.
It’s filled with paintings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics and world-wide collections to discover.
Once you’ve finished having a look around, there’s a cute café which has light lunch bites, teas, coffees and cakes for you to tempt yourself with. We recommend the freshly baked scones!
If you’re interested in taking a trip here, they offer discounted tickets for students for just £4.50, which is well worth it in our opinion.
View this post on Instagram
Address: East, W Cliff Promenade, Bournemouth BH1 3AA
3. Watch A Show At Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Bournemouth’s theatre scene is just the best, and as a student it’s something you should experience at least once whilst studying here.
The Pavilion Theatre is a vintage theatre built in the 1920 which is rich in history and showcases year-round West End productions, opera, ballet, pantomime, comedy and concerts.
Why not arrange a night at the theatre with your besties or when your family come to visit?
There’s a great programme of events for Autumn including The Addams Family Musical, Whitney Queen Of The Night, The Magical Music Of Harry Potter and Beauty & The Beast.
The best part is, you can watch a performance and then head out into town afterwards due to the convenient location of the art-décor theatre!
View this post on Instagram
Address: Westover Rd, Bournemouth BH1 2BU
4. Take A Trip To Bh2 Leisure
Bh2 Leisure Centre is the top place to go for a bite to eat, to watch a film or to have some fun in the heart of the town centre.
Inside is a 10 screen Odeon cinema where you can watch the latest film releases (just in time for Halloween showings) or go for a bite to eat at delicious retreatants including Nando’s, Slim Chicken’s, The Real Greek and Five Guys and more.
If a leisurely activity is what you’re after, then there’s Mr Mulligans miniature golf course where you can have a few drinks and putt your shot with your pals.
If escape rooms are more your style, then Escape Hunt offers highly immersive escape games to try out.
New to the leisure centre for 2022 is Boom Battle Bar, a new gaming bar which has axe-throwing, shuffleboard, digital darts, beer pong and loads of other activities to get involved with. You can also expect some great tasting bevvies too.
With all of this and student discount being offered at a ton of the venues, Bh2 is certainly somewhere to take a trip to!
View this post on Instagram
Address: Bh2 Leisure, Exeter Cres, Bournemouth BH2 5DD
5. Go To A Match At Vitality Stadium
Cheer on AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League at Vitality Stadium which is just a 30-minute walk away or a short bus from The Square.
The stadium, which is more commonly known as Dean Park, may be small in size but the views and crowd atmosphere are amazing on match days.
Even if you’re not a regular support of The Cherries, you should experience a match at the stadium whilst studying in the town.
You can even attend the annual Christmas Wonderland event at the stadium which is taking place in December.
Stroll around the variety of stalls with local traders offering a range of items or get involved in a tour of the stadium for just £1.
View this post on Instagram
Address: Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH7 7AF
6. Get Some Shopping Done At Castlepoint Shopping Centre
Did someone say shopping therapy? They sure did. Castlepoint is the UK’s largest shopping park and it’s right here in Bournemouth – woo!
Based just a 12-minute drive or a short bus journey from the town centre in Strouden Park, Castlepoint is a retail heaven with 41-acres of shops.
Within the outdoor shopping centre there’s loads of well-known brands to shop around such as JD Sports, H&M, Footlocker, Boots and Accessorise.
Once you’ve treated yourself to some new clothes for your next night out or for your uni wardrobe, there’s some dining options to choose from to grab a bite to eat including Nandos, Costa, Café Nero and Starbucks.
View this post on Instagram
Address: East mall, Management Suite, Unit Z, Castle Ln W, Bournemouth BH8 9UZ
7. Soak Up The Views From LEVEL8IGHT The Sky Bar
A few drinks and a chat with friends has never been better than at the LEVEL8IGHT The Sky Bar.
Located on the eight floors of the Hilton Hotel, this stylish rooftop bar is the highest in the Southwest.
You can enjoy something to drink whether it’s a wine, premium spirit or a cocktail as you soak in the views of the English Channel and Bournemouth town centre.
Our fave tipple is the ‘Beyond The Clouds’ cocktail with Tanqueray Gin, Kwai Feh Lychee, Lemon, Raspberries, Cranberry and Sugar.
On the weekends you can party it up until late with DJs blasting some great tunes!
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, they also Afternoon Tea’s which are on each day, tuck into some tasty treats like giant profiteroles and macarons as well as a range of alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.
View this post on Instagram
Address: Terrace Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5EL
8. Stroll Through The Lower Gardens
The Lower Gardens stretch from the town centre to the seafront and are the perfect place to go for a relaxing walk.
Within this award-winning green space built during the Victorian era, you can take in the stunning views of the surroundings or perch yourself on a park bench with your headphones in, or even get your head into a book.
Although there’s a lot more activities on during the summer months such as art exhibitions, bandstand concerts and cinema nights, there’s still something to be enjoyed during the Wintertime.
Our absolute favourite annual event that takes place in the gardens is the Christmas Tree Wonderland, which features an amazing trail of up to 60 Christmas trees and festive-themed illuminations.
You have to get in the festive season and experience it this year!
View this post on Instagram
Address: Westover Road, Bournemouth BH2 5AH
9. Attend An Event At Bournemouth International Centre
The Bournemouth International Centre is the largest events venue in the town with a capacity of 10,000.
It’s situated in the centre of town so you won’t be far from all the action if you want to make a night of it, or just head back to your student accommodation.
Within this award-winning entertainment hub there’s 4 halls which stage a variety of shows all year round.
It really is the ultimate place to go to watch a gig, dance or comedy performance with your pals.
The programme of events for the remainder of the year has something for everyone with N-Dubz, Biffy Clyro, Kaiser Cheifs, Florence and The Machine and Fat Boy Slim being amongst some of the big names set to perform.
There’s also plenty of options for having a few drinks or something to line your stomach before a show!
View this post on Instagram
Address: Exeter Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5BH
10. Get Out In The Fresh Air At Bournemouth Beach
We know, sandy beaches don’t really spring to mind as much during the Autumn months but trust us, Bournemouth Beach is a fabulous place to visit no matter if it’s freezing cold.
After all, it’s labelled as one of the best beaches not only in Dorset but the UK.
If you’ve just finished a busy day at uni, wrap up warm with a hot chocolate and take a walk down the miles of sand with views across Poole Bay.
The sunset is something else here so be prepared to snap up some pictures.
There’s some great bars and pubs nearby like the Urban Reef or The Harvester too if you want to make an evening out of it with your flatmates!
View this post on Instagram
Address: Undercliff Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 3NZ
So, that’s it from us everyone. With all of the buckets of activity in Bournemouth and thanks to our help, you won’t be short of things to do to make your student experience the best it can be!
Wanting a big night out in Bournemouth but unsure where to go? That’s where we come in handy with our blog on the 10 Best Places In 2022.
Table of Contents