Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Bournemouth, Dorset

Bournemouth is a popular tourist destination on the South Coast of England because of its fine, seven-mile long beach that runs from Christchurch in the east to the border of Poole in the west. The climate is mild and there is easy access to the New Forest, the Jurassic Coast, and the Dorset and Hampshire countryside. This section of the English coast enjoys some of the warmest, driest and sunniest weather in Britain. Traditionally a retirement town, Bournemouth and surrounding areas are now home to many students who attend Bournemouth University and the numerous English language schools. The town is an important venue for major conferences and the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), which stands on the cliff-tops near the middle of town, hosts large events including both Labour and Conservative Party conferences.

Houses for sale in Bournemouth are incredibly varied and range from modest terraced cottages to substantial detached houses in their own grounds. As a guide, the average price for a three-bedroom house is approaching £250,000. But you will find good properties such as a four-bedroom Victorian house, within a mile of Bournemouth train station, for under £200,000. The price set by Bournemouth Estate agents really does depend on the area, on a street by street basis. A five-bedroom detached house in Sandbanks, on the western fringes of Bournemouth, will be on the market for approaching £4M. Flats for sale in Bournemouth can be found for under £100,000 for one bedroom and from £150,000 for two. Flats to rent in Bournemouth, near the town centre and offering two bedrooms, are available for £650 per month

Amenities for Bournemouth properties

It was Sir Merton Russell Cotes, one of Bournemouth's most prominent Victorians, who successfully campaigned to have a promenade built, which now runs along the Bournemouth and Poole shoreline. The Royal Bath Hotel, located near the sea, has attracted many important visitors over the years, including Oscar Wilde, H. G. Wells, Gladstone, Asquith, Lloyd George; and several royal guests.

A new £9.5 million Bournemouth Library was completed in 2003, winning the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award. The main shopping streets in the centre of town are mostly pedestrianised and lined with a wide range of boutiques, stores, jewellers and accessory shops. There are major stores such as Debenhams, Beales, Marks & Spencer, Bhs, and Dingles; modern shopping malls, Victorian arcades, and a large selection of bars, clubs and cafés. Bournemouth is rich in theatres, cinemas and various forms of live entertainment and the area is well-served with primary, comprehensive, Church of England and independent schools.

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Transport in Bournemouth

There is no motorway within the county of Dorset, although there is a dual carriageway from Bournemouth town centre to the A31 dual carriageway, which leads to the M27 and London. Coaches run by National Express serve Bournemouth Travel Interchange, Boscombe and Westbourne with frequent departures to London Victoria Coach Station. There are also direct services to the West Country, Sussex coast, Bristol, Birmingham and the Midlands; the North West, and to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Two bus companies serve the local populace.

Bournemouth has good rail links with stations in Bournemouth town and Pokesdown to the east. Parts of western Bournemouth can also be reached from the station in Branksome. South West Trains operates a comprehensive service to London Waterloo with a journey time of as little as 1 hour 40 minutes. This line also serves Southampton, Winchester and Basingstoke to the east, and Poole, Wareham, Dorchester and Weymouth to the west.

Bournemouth International Airport is a short journey from the town centre - enabling passengers and freight to be flown directly to destinations in the UK and abroad. Bournemouth does not have its own harbour, but there are extensive ferry services to the Channel Islands and France, available from the Port of Poole.

Surrounding areas

While searching for property to buy or property to rent in Bournemouth, which is covered by the postcode BH, you may also like to consider neighbouring areas such as Poole, Christchurch and Wimborne.