Bournemouth Pier anchors the seafront, and most visitors end up walking out onto it at some point. People have strolled out over the water here since Victorian times, and today it carries more attractions on and around it than at almost any point in its past.
Key facts
- The pier extends from the middle of the seafront, next to the main beach.
- Simply walking the deck costs nothing, though several activities do carry a charge.
- The headline attractions are the indoor climbing centre and the zip line running from the pier to the shore.
- The flat, level route makes it an easy outing for families and older visitors.
A long history on the water
Today's iron structure dates back to the early 1880s, built to replace a succession of wooden piers that the sea and shipworm repeatedly destroyed. A section was deliberately blown during the Second World War to prevent its use by an invading force, and later rebuilt. This blend of Victorian ambition and wartime repair explains why the pier feels so tied to the town's identity. Knowing even a little of that background changes the walk out: you are following a structure Bournemouth has worked to hold onto for well over a hundred years.
The walk out and the views it gives
The pier's best feature asks nothing of you but time. Walking to the far end and turning back delivers the classic Bournemouth outlook: tiered gardens, wooded cliffs and a long curve of sand stretching away in both directions. To the east you can make out Boscombe Pier and, on a clear day, the Isle of Wight, while to the west the Purbeck hills mark the edge of the bay. Anglers gather along the rails at the far end, and it is worth timing your walk for early evening light.
What there is to do
Toward the land end, the pier building contains an indoor activity centre with climbing walls and a high ropes course, good for keeping older children occupied for an hour or two. Its signature draw is the zip line, launching from the top of the pier and carrying riders back over the water to the beach, said to be the first of its type running from a British pier to the shore. Adventure golf is usually available here too. These are all paid attractions and may come with height or age restrictions, so verify what is on and what it costs before planning your day around them.
Suitable for families and easy access
Being flat, the deck ranks among the more manageable seaside walks in town, free of the steps and inclines that the clifftop paths involve. Both pushchairs and wheelchairs cope with it easily, and the level promenade on either side keeps things simple too. For a fuller day out with children, the pier combines well with the beach and the nearby gardens; our guide to Bournemouth with kids explains how to link them without excessive walking.
Close by
The pier puts you right at the centre of things. Once off it, Bournemouth beach spreads out on both sides, lifeguarded through summer and lined with kiosks, deckchairs and ice cream stands. Just west of the pier entrance sits the seafront aquarium, with the gardens leading back towards the town centre from there, so the pier fits neatly into a longer afternoon rather than standing as a stop by itself.
Building out your visit
As good as the pier is for anchoring a seafront trip, it represents only one section of the coast. Look through the complete list of things to do in the guide to find what else lies within easy walking distance, from the beaches up to the museums on the cliffs.