By Marianne Calnan

3rd year BU student, BA (Hons) English

My name’s Marianne Calnan and I’m currently a third year student at Bournemouth University studying English within the Media School.  There’re so many things about Bournemouth to love and it’s not just the uni’s fantastic reputation with many professional industries, a lively night out and the best beach in the UK.

Bournemouth is well-known as one of the South coast’s hottest tourist hotspots and buzzes with tourism throughout the summer months. But as a permanent resident, you’ll want to know more about what goes on here all year round, and I’m here to tell you that Bournemouth has everything you want and need in a home away from home.

If you’re up for splashing out on some new clothes, posters for your room or some CDs or DVDs to pass the time between endless hours studying, then look no further than the Bournemouth town centre. It’s got everything you could want from big high street names such as Topshop and Cath Kidston, to local shops from places for piercing and tattoos to homeware essentials. It is also home to supermarkets such as Tesco, Co-Op and a huge Asda conveniently placed next to the train station. There are a fantastic range of restaurants to try whatever your budget, from your fast food favourites to more up-market places for a classy evening out. Whether home is a large city or a remote village, it’s stress-free to settle into Bournemouth- it’s got the best of both worlds with the feel of a small town on a large scale.

The world-famous Bournemouth Gardens are situated directly in front of the spectacular beach and make for a stunning view on a sunny day for a picnic. It also plays host to favourites with tourists and locals alike like crazy golf and the Bournemouth Eye– a hug tethered hot air balloon (which costs just over £10 for a student).

Bournemouth’s night scene is both vibrant and diverse and caters to all your wants and needs. Whether you love a quiet chat in a cosy pub, a bustling night out or a cocktail or two at a bar, Bournemouth has everything your heart desires for a perfect night out. Namely, Vodka Revolution, BU’s own The Old Fire Station and Aruba set right on the beach front. There’s even a Night Bus service, which is a really affordable way to get home after a night out as they cost just £3 for a single fare.

If you’re more into entertainment, both the Pavillion Theatre and the Bournemouth International Centre (B.I.C.) hold concerts on a regular basis, along with comedy performances, theatre productions and musicals. Music fanatic? Gigs take place all over the town, from the Bournemouth O2 Academy, to The Old Fire Station and even the B.I.C. for the world-famous gig names.

And that’s just the start. Whatever you’re into and whatever your budget, Bournemouth, the most stunning, friendly and varied town on the South coast, has it all.