You may be visiting London to see its many tourist attractions but if you have a spare day or two while here, why not do some sightseeing in England.

From the seaside to the countryside, lots of England is easy to visit on a day tour from London. Or you could extend your tour and book a hotel for overnight using EasyToBook.com. They offer a wide range of hotels throughout England.


This section includes some free self-guided sightseeing tours of England that can be easily done in a day from London. All you need is your train fare.

Bournemouth - A popular seaside resort

Things to See in Bournemouth

Surprisingly for a British town, Bournemouth dates only from Victorian times, when it was settled as a summer holiday destination. Before that, it was a wild heathland where the Bourne stream met the sea.

Its main appeal is still probably its seaside and sandy beaches : in summer, they are packed with sunseekers and surfers. However, its also a charming place to visit during the winter months, when it is probably less crowded.

In addition to beaches, there are also various public gardens and parks, piers, museums and Victorian villas. All making Bournemouth a pleasant and inexpensive day's outing from the chaos of London.



Beaches

Bournemouth beaches

Bournemouth has seven miles of beaches, and the best is claimed to be Sandbanks. Surfers have been coming here since the 1960's, especially to Boscombe Pier, Southbourne Beach, Highcliffe and Kimmeridge Bay. Bournemouth Bay has always been known as a safe surfing location and for its clean beaches.

The sea front is lined with various restaurants and shops, including a branch of the famous Harry Ramsden's fish and chips restaurant.

place map and aerial view



Bournemouth Pier

Bournemouth pier

Bournemouth Pier has existed in its present location at the heart of the beachfront since 1856. It has been re-built or strengthened several times, most recently in the 1980's.

In 1868 the first recorded pleasure excursion from Bournemouth Pier was by the steamer 'Fawn'.

Since 1871 there has been a long association between Bournemouth Pier and pleasure steamers. To this day the tradition continues with regular seasonal visits by the paddle steamer 'Waverley'.




Oceanarium

oceanarium

Bournemouth's oceanarium is a fun place to visit, especially with kids.

Through different viewing windows you can see examples of marine life from around the world including the Amazon, the Mediterranean, the Nile, the Caribbean, the Ganges and the Great Barrier Reef.

Daily shark feedings are also held, above an underwater tunnel where visitors can watch from.