Bournemouth Seafront

The stretch of beach and promenade running through Bournemouth is one of those places that actually lives up to the hype, which is rarer than you'd think. Seven miles of golden sand, proper Victorian architecture, and the kind of seafront you can spend a full day on without running out of things to do.

You've got the pier - the old Victorian sort with arcades and fish and chips - then the gardens that roll back from the shore, dotted with flowerbeds and walking paths. The beach itself is wide and well-maintained, sloping gently into the water. Families do genuinely get a lot out of it. The promenade is flat enough for pushchairs, there are plenty of cafes and ice cream stops, and the water sports operators keep things entertaining if the kids need more than just paddling.

Walkers will find the whole stretch manageable in an easy afternoon stroll, though you can easily spend longer if you veer inland through the formal gardens. History types won't find dramatic ruins, but the Victorian and Edwardian buildings tell their own story about British seaside culture at its peak.

It's free to wander the beach and promenade. Summer can get rammed - weekday mornings are more pleasant. If you're staying at Meadowbank Holidays or Haven Rockley Park, both within easy reach, the seafront makes a proper day out without needing a car once you're there. The beach here gets busy but not oppressively so, and the sheer length means you can always find a quieter stretch.