![\"Bournemouth](\"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/Bournemouthe-300x151.jpg\")
Image: ian woolcock\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Here at Five Minutes Spare we have many local guides taking tours of many towns; it is always the beach towns we find most fun. With holiday attractions scattered throughout town, this place has some of the most expensive buildings in the south of England. Let\u2019s take a closer look to find out how this seaside sanctuary measures up with our other English treasures\u2026<\/p>\n
The Origin Story<\/h2>\n
Bournemouth, unlike a thousand, thousand, other English towns, has its very own origin story. Much like Wolverine, the birth of Bournemouth can be pinpointed to a specific time, date, and household. In terms of English towns this isn\u2019t just flipping remarkable \u2013 it\u2019s unheard of! Anyway, let\u2019s get on with it\u2026<\/p>\n
Bournemouth was in the hundred of Holdenhurst, back before it technically existed. The area was repeatedly noted throughout historical records \u2013 but always in passing comment as to how beautiful it was, and yet how barren. Even in the 12th<\/sup> century when it is first mentioned as \u2018Bourne\u2019 it was described as an empty heathland. Basically, it belonged to someone, there was just nothing in it.<\/p>\n In 1932 Bronze Age burial sites were uncovered in the surrounding areas of the town. So at some point people lived there long enough to give it a name. We were curious about the misty past of Bournemouth so we checked for entries in the Domesday Survey<\/a> of 1086. There are 338 entries under Dorset but nothing for Bournemouth. We can only assume that people lived there, died, and nobody else moved in until the 18th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n But what happened in the 18th<\/sup> century? We hear you\u2026 This is when the town was \u2018officially\u2019 established. According to the fountain of information that is Local Histories, Bournemouth was officially begun in 1810. A man who went by the name of Tregonwell took his wife to the beaches in the area. We presume this is because sea bathing had just become popular. Much like in the TV show \u2018Sandition<\/em>\u2019, around the Victorian era and just before, the city dwellers believed that salt water had beneficial effects on the body. At that point the land belonged to the Tapps-Gervis family.<\/p>\n Anyway\u2026 This dude and his wife went there to spend time on the beaches, and she fell in love with it. She asked her husband to build her a house there and he, the poor fool, did as he was told. 8 and a half acres later he had built his country dwelling (he must have been rich, most people back then struggled to afford one house, never mind two) and his misses was happy with the results.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t just build his own home, either. Apparently, he built cottages to contain his staff, too. In those times a good householder would make provisions for everyone that worked for him. The houses weren\u2019t lonely for long. He soon bought more of Bournemouth\u2026 why? To build a pub, of course.<\/p>\n It took another 17 years for people to pick up that baton and move into the area. The house became known as Exeter House and was later sold to the Marchioness of Exeter. By the end of the century, however, Queen Vic was on the throne. The streets filled up with holiday homes. The rich flocked to the seaside\u2026Bournemouth became incredibly popular among the ruling classes.<\/p>\n In 1838 the Bath Hotel was opened. The son of the Tapps-Gervis who originally owned the land went on to build a seaside resort in the town. Villas were added in 1840 and a small post office was run from the pub. By 1840 the resort was a small village, ready and waiting for all those summer visitors.<\/p>\n We interrupt this historical review to bring you some fun (or at least interesting) facts about Bournemouth. That\u2019s right! We dug up the best facts about Bournemouth to give it the Five Minutes Spare flare. Some of the best things we know about Bournemouth include:<\/p>\n So you see; Bournemouth is actually really interesting. Even if the history of the place doesn\u2019t stretch back to Neolithic times, the town is still an exciting place. Best of all, it is filled with tourists every summer, which sees local businesses thrive. As a holiday destination it has always been successful\u2026 but that doesn\u2019t mean that the Industrial Revolution didn\u2019t touch the town.<\/p>\n The ten years between 1850 and 1860 saw the population of the town nearly double. In 1851 it was around 600, by 1865 it was over the 1,700 mark. It just goes to show how big an influence the Queen\u2019s habits had on the country in those times.<\/p>\n 1856 saw the first Act passed to give rights to the town. It needed street cleaners, pavements and gas lamps. It also received its own police force, which is nice. By \u201964 gas street lighting was everywhere, and fresh water was being piped to homes. A pier was built in 1880 around the same time as a mayor was appointed to make sure the seaside resort ran smoothly.<\/p>\n 1870 brought the railway line, which brought both people and business. There was fresh demand for seaside access as the trains brought even the poorest families to the coast. If you think about it; the train lines and the canals opened up the whole country for rich and poor alike. Before they arrived, there was no way for a poor person to get out of the city \u2013 never mind for a single day. It was unheard of. Horse and carriage would take you but nobody except the very rich would have had access to wagons or cars.<\/p>\n The introduction of the trainline would have pushed Bournemouth from village to large town almost overnight. So much so that the 1,700 population of the 1860\u2019s turned to 37,000 by the 1890\u2019s. Like every other industrial town it grew exponentially over the course of the Industrial Revolution\u2026 but we will get to that. It\u2019s time to look at some famous faces from Bournemouth\u2026 we are pretty sure you will know a few.<\/p>\n So who are these famous people from Bournemouth? Are there any? As usual, we found out on your behalf and, as usual, you are likely to be pleasantly surprised. Our Five Minutes Spare<\/a> favourite famous faces from Bournemouth include:<\/p>\n Is there anything the people of Bournemouth can\u2019t turn their hand to? Answers on a postcard featuring sunny Bournemouth Beach please! Incidentally, somewhere along the course of exploring Bournemouth we learned that they get 7.7 hours of sunshine a day. That\u2019s pretty good for a country where some places don\u2019t even get a single hour\u2026<\/p>\n In a really weird twist, the Prince of Wales came to Bournemouth in 1877 and ordered the building of a house. This house wasn\u2019t for himself, but was for the profoundly beautiful actress and performer: Lillie Langtry<\/a>. She was to the 19th<\/sup> century what Beyonc\u00e9 was to the 00\u2019s. Everyone gossiped about her relationships \u2013 particularly with the Prince, the Earl of Shrewsbury, and later with Prince Louis of Battenberg. She lived in Bournemouth for a while, in a custom-built home\u2026 what an inspiration.<\/p>\n Hotels, the winter gardens and even pleasure gardens were opened here over the next few years. As well as making seaside towns fashionable, the Victorians also loved to produce a good park. They would draft in expensive architects to build lovely gardens. They finally worked out that being outdoors was good for you. After hundreds of years of nobles hiding indoors from the sunlight, we can only admire their bravery.<\/p>\n A theatre was added in 1882 \u2013 probably overseen by Lillie at some point \u2013 followed by St. Cl\u00e9ment\u2019s Church which was erected in 1873 and St Catharine\u2019s joined it ten years later. By this point, the town had grown so big that it completed absorbed both Boscombe and Springbourne. A few years later Westbourne joined the party. These village names are still retained in streets and sectors of the town to this day.<\/p>\n A children\u2019s home for orphans emerged in the 1890\u2019s and was shortly followed by the total domination of the town of Pokesdown. Several cemeteries were added in the end of the 19th<\/sup> century, presumably in response to Cholera outbreaks that riddled the whole country. Since Bournemouth was a new town it would have escaped the Bubonic plague outbreaks of the 14th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> centuries. Unfortunately, the rapid expansion of the town in the 19th<\/sup> century would not have been pain free.<\/p>\n Before the turn of the century there would have been sewerage pipes laid down at the insistence of local government. It was the roll out of sewer lines across the UK that ended the smallpox\/typhoid\/cholera epidemics. You get the idea. Still, it would take until the 1920\u2019s before council housing was added. Trams and electric lighting arrived in the beginning of the 20th<\/sup> century\u2026 just before the World War called all the young men away from home.<\/p>\n In 2015, Bournemouth held a reverent celebration of the centenary of the First World War<\/a>. The people took to the streets to commemorate the men who so bravely gave up their lives to go and fight.<\/p>\n The town itself escaped the majority of the bombings by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War. Unfortunately, the seafront was extensively damaged by defensive efforts. Bournemouth was quickly nominated as a good place to send the displaced children who needed to be evacuated from the bigger cities. There is a sweet account of one local who remembers playing in the frozen fields and having snowball fights when they couldn\u2019t get to school.<\/p>\n They recall that the local children were nice to them, but that they called them \u2018Vakies\u2019 because they were outsiders and the children were used to \u2018Vakies\u2019 coming and invading their town every summer. There is nothing so innocent as the mind of a child. The government and council sites have some really interesting information on both of the World Wars in Bournemouth here<\/a>, if you are curious.<\/p>\n Now that we know what the history of the town is, who all the famous faces from Bournemouth are, and what the fun facts could be; let\u2019s talk attractions. Exactly what is it about this vacation spot that keeps people returning here, year after year? Let\u2019s go under the Five Minutes Spare<\/a> microscope to find out.<\/p>\n The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery<\/a> is a must-see Bournemouth sight for art lovers. This gallery is situated inside a stunning Art-Nouveau style villa. On the outside it is gorgeous, on the inside the art is there to dazzle you. As well as a museum-come-art-gallery, you have the Bournemouth Aviation Museum<\/a> in town. This one is renowned for keeping the kids happy for an afternoon.<\/p>\n A final, but exhilarating, choice in museums is the Bournemouth Natural Science Society<\/a>. The BNSS have been welcoming explorers since 1921, in their own words. It tells you all about land, history, and biological discoveries to a certain extent. Educational as well as fun.<\/p>\n We recommend that you take a trip to the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre<\/a> to make sure you see a show. The crew are a lovely bunch, or so we are led to believe. One of the best known landmarks around town is the Bournemouth Big Wheel<\/a>\u2026 you shouldn\u2019t even need directions for that one, but it\u2019s on the sea front.<\/p>\n St Peter\u2019s Church<\/a> is still standing from a few hundred years ago. The Science Zone<\/a> is a final offering for historic sights. OK, so it\u2019s not a manor house \u2013 but it\u2019s still fun!<\/p>\n The biggest attraction in Bournemouth is the Beach, everyone knows it and there\u2019s no denying it. Second to that is the Hengistbury Beach outside of town, which is a little quieter. If you can\u2019t pronounce that one, don\u2019t worry. Just go to Alum Chine Beach, instead. No? What about Southbourne? We\u2019ll stop there. There\u2019s a good guide to them all, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Lower Gardens<\/a> are situated only a few minutes away from the main retail centre in town. They are the self-same gardens established by the Victorians when they were throwing parks around like spare change. Go and visit when you get sick of beaches, they\u2019re stunning. Alternatively, stroll along one of the many, many piers<\/a> in the area. They ae filled with pretty cafes, nice walks, and picturesque sea views without the sand getting everywhere. If you are looking for Instagram worthy holiday pictures, this is where you will find them.<\/p>\n The Oceanarium<\/a> is one of the best things to do in Bournemouth with kids. It\u2019s an aquarium filled with animals you can feed and learn about. They have penguins, turtles, crocodiles \u2013 and loads more creatures. You even get to join in with the feedings if you are there at the right time of day. You can spot Nemo too\u2026 they keep Clownfish!<\/p>\n AFC Bournemouth<\/a>, the local football club, is currently in the Premier league. These guys are famous throughout the UK as a top-notch-team. You can visit their stadium if you are in town and either catch a game or enjoy a guided tour\u2026 the choice is yours!<\/p>\n Thirdly, if you are looking at visiting Bournemouth for a music festival, gig, or other event, there is a high chance it will be held in the Bournemouth International Centre<\/a>. It\u2019s always worth checking out while you are in town, at any rate.<\/p>\n There are so many attractions in sunny seaside Bournemouth that we couldn\u2019t fit them all in! The southern coast is filled with sights. So if you are in town longer than the obligatory 5 minutes, try to check out some of these other attractions:<\/p>\n Bournemouth has a range of options, all related to what you want to eat. For a good, healthy family meal check out the Twelve Eatery<\/a>. The food is really colourful and fresh. The Westbourne Grill House<\/a> is brilliant for steak and the Coconut Tree is some lovely\u00a0 fine dining in a Sri Lankan style setting.<\/p>\n For cocktails mixed with great food, Koh Thai Tapas<\/a> is awesome. Chaplin\u2019s and the Cellar Bar<\/a> reputedly have a great venue with a good pint. If you want a good late night and room to dance, Sixty Million Postcards<\/a> is a sound place to start. Be safe out there and feel free to party the night away.<\/p>\n Now you know everything there is to know about beautiful Bournemouth \u2013 except how you are going to get there. Don\u2019t worry. We got you\u2026<\/p>\n Take the M3 out of London and follow it south west out of London. Alternatively, driving south east of Bristol will get you there.<\/p>\n Bournemouth Station<\/a> can be reached from both Bristol and London.<\/p>\n Bournemouth has its own Airport<\/a>, probably because it is a holiday destination in its own right.<\/p>\n Bournemouth is a port town and you can get there if you have a boat.<\/p>\n If you had fun reading through this little entry, you can find a full range of travel tips and tricks over at Five Minutes Spare<\/a>. We have local guides from just about every town in the UK \u2013 or at least from somewhere nearby. We can take you through all the best bits and save you a whole bunch of time on your next trip. Go see for yourself. Before you know it you will have joined the forum<\/a> and will be arguing about an attraction in a country you have never been to.<\/p>\n What\u2019s not to love?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nFun Facts About Bournemouth!<\/h2>\n
\n
The 1840\u2019s Onwards<\/h2>\n
Famous People from Bournemouth<\/h2>\n
\n
Bournemouth in the Industrial Age<\/h2>\n
Bournemouth Gets a Theatre<\/h3>\n
Bournemouth During the Wars<\/h2>\n
Bournemouth Attractions<\/h2>\n
Galleries and Museums<\/h3>\n
Historic sights and Landmarks<\/h3>\n
Nature and Outdoors<\/h3>\n
Sports, Parks, and Recreation<\/h3>\n
Other Notable Attractions<\/h2>\n
\n
Where to Eat, Drink, and Party in Bournemouth?<\/h2>\n
How to Get There?<\/h2>\n
By Road<\/h3>\n
By Rail<\/h3>\n
By Air<\/h3>\n
By Sea<\/h3>\n
Got Five Minutes?<\/h2>\n