Bournemouth Landmarks and Monuments
(Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK)

The Victorian grandeur of Bournemouth is easy to imagine and a stroll along the pier will reveal many display boards with interesting black and white photographs, clearly showing exactly how the town's seafront landmarks appeared more than 100 years ago.
The very first Bournemouth pier was a simple, short wooden jetty that was constructed in 1856. Due to the popularity of the pier, this jetty was soon replaced by a longer wooden pier in 1861, and shortly afterwards, cast iron was used instead of the wooden piles. Soon after, part of the landing stage was swept away and the pier was closed while repairs took place, and the new and improved version reopened in 1880, at a cost of almost GBP 22,000.

Bournemouth Pier
In 1909, Bournemouth Pier was extended to 305 metres / 100 feet in length and in 1940, much was demolished as a precaution against German invasion during the Second World War. The pier was soon repaired and strengthened, to allow the addition of the popular Pier Theatre, which now stands towards the end. In 1979, a redevelopment programme, costing over GBP 1.7 million, saw much reconstruction work and the famous octagonal leisure complex was added.
The Bournemouth Pier remains one of the most important and historic landmarks along this coastline and the town has grown up around this traditional seaside structure, which remains at the heart of local tourism. These days, attractions here include one of the best indoor amusement arcades in the area, featuring many modern video games and seaside slot-machine amusements, as well as sheltered seating areas on the pier itself, and a theatre which shows regular comedies and traditional farces throughout the summer season. Many people simply like to stroll up and down, or enjoy some fish and chips purchased from nearby Harry Ramsdens, while families will likely head to the small funfair situated at the end during the holiday season, complete with helter skelter. Keen surfers can often be observed battling the waves alongside the pier.
Admission: seasonal charges usually apply
Other interesting landmarks within reach of Bournemouth include:
- Appuldurcombe House
Address: Appuldurcombe Road, West of Wroxall, Isle of Wight, England
58 km / 36 miles
- Arundel Castle
Address: Arundel, Arundel, BN18 9AB , England
127 km / 79 miles
- Athelhampton House and Gardens
Address: Athelhampton, Dorchester, DT2 7LG, England
41 km / 25 miles
- Bembridge Windmill
Address: Bembridge, Isle of Wight, England
63 km / 39 miles
- Bowood House and Gardens
Address: The Estate Office Bowood, Calne, SN11 0LZ, England
103 km / 64 miles
- Breamore House and Countryside Museum
Address: Breamore, Fordingbridge, SP6 2DF, England
34 km / 21 miles
- Broadlands
Address: Broadlands Estate Office Broadlands Park, Romsey, SO51 9ZE, England
49 km / 30 miles
- Carisbrooke Castle
Address: Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, PO30 1XY, England
45 km / 28 miles
- Corfe Castle
Address: The Square Corfe Castle, Wareham, BH20 5EZ, England
25 km / 15 miles
- Dolebury Warren
Address: Near Churchill, Bristol, BS18, England
118 km / 73 miles
- Fort Brockenhurst
Address: Gunner's Way Elson, Gosport, PO12 4DS, England
82 km / 51 miles
- Frome Market Cross (Boyle Cross)
Address: Market Place, Frome, Somerset, England
91 km / 56 miles
- Guildhall and Banqueting Room
Address: High Street, Bath, North-East Somerset, BA1 5AQ, England
121 km / 75 miles
- Highcliffe Castle
Address: Rothsay Drive Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 4LE, England
14 km / 9 miles
- Hurst Castle
Address: 28 Park Road Milford On Sea, Lymington, SO41 9QU, England
28 km / 17 miles
- Isle of Wight Needles
Address: near Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, England
36 km / 23 miles
- King John's Hunting Lodge
Address: The Square, Axbridge, Bristol, BS26 2AP, England
119 km / 74 miles
- Lulworth Castle and Park
Address: East Lulworth, Wareham, BH20 5QS, England
34 km / 21 miles
- Needles Old Battery
Address: West High Down, Needles Headland, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, England
36 km / 23 miles
- Newport Roman Villa
Address: Cypress Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, England
46 km / 29 miles
- Nunwell House
Address: Coach Lane, Brading, Isle of Wight, England
58 km / 36 miles
- Old Sarum Castle (English Heritage)
Address: Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3SD, England
48 km / 30 miles
- Old Wardour Castle
Address: English Heritage, near Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6RR, England
65 km / 41 miles
- Osborne House
Address: East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
48 km / 30 miles
- Poole Harbour
Address: Poole Quayside, Poole, Dorset, England
9 km / 6 miles
- Portchester Castle
Address: Castle Street Porchester, Fareham, PO16 9QW, England
84 km / 52 miles
- Portland Castle
Address: Castleton, Portland, DT5 1AZ, England
62 km / 38 miles
- Pulteney Bridge
Address: Pulteney Bridge, Bath, North-East Somerset, BA1 1EE, England
121 km / 75 miles
- Rockbourne Roman Villa
Address: Rockbourne, Fordingbridge, SP6 3PG, England
34 km / 21 miles
- Roman Baths
Address: Abbey Churchyard, Bath, North East Somerset, BA1 1LZ, England
121 km / 75 miles
- Rook Lane Chapel
Address: Bath Street, Frome, Somerset, England
91 km / 56 miles
- Royal Armouries Fort Nelson
Address: Down End Road, Fareham, PO17 6AN, England
76 km / 47 miles
- Royal Crescent
Address: Royal Crescent, Bath, BA1 2LR, England
117 km / 73 miles
- Sherbourne Castle
Address: Sherborne Castle, Sherborne, DT9 5NR, England
64 km / 40 miles
- Spitbank Fort
Address: The Solent PO Box 129, Portsmouth, PO12 2XY, England
84 km / 52 miles
- St. Catherine's Lighthouse
Address: Niton, Isle of Wight, England
56 km / 35 miles
- The Circus
Address: North of Queen Square, Bath, North-East Somerset, BA1 1EE, England
121 km / 75 miles
- Yarmouth Castle
Address: Quay Street, Yarmouth, PO14 0PB, England
70 km / 43 miles
Bath Landmarks
Bristol Landmarks
Isle of Wight Landmarks
Poole Landmarks
Salisbury Landmarks