Martina Gardeva (Bulgaria)

I am Martina Gardeva from Bulgaria studying MSc Tourism Management and Marketing. As a student, you may be wondering how easy it is to balance your social life with all the studying you need to do. Let me assure you it is possible! As a postgraduate I do have free time and plenty of innovative ideas on how to spend it. Here are some of my favourite activities in Bournemouth.

Bonding through food

As a typical foodie, I like trying new meals. If you are looking for the perfect American burger, 7Bone Burger Co is the spot! It’s popular with both locals and international students. Plus, the food is tasty, and the prices are reasonable!

If you are interested in experiencing Bournemouth like a local, try out a full English Breakfast at a pub. Wetherspoons is a popular British pub that serves the traditional breakfast, which includes eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and toast. It is a perfect place for meeting locals and other students from the university.

Exploring ‘Bournemouthland’

As students, we have discounts for all ticket prices at the Odeon Cinema. It is one of the best movie theatres – the rooms are spacious and some of them have special reclining leather seats. It is the perfect chance to go out with your classmates and get to know each other better… especially during cold and rainy days. British weather can be a “mood-killer” sometimes, and the cinema the remedy!

If you crave a little excitement, ride the Zipline, located at the end of Bournemouth pier. Zip above the water to the beach! Even though I thought it wasn’t scary enough for me, I really enjoyed doing it and had so much fun!

Check if your course organizes social gatherings for students in the department. Mine did, and the whole idea and planning was done by our professors. We went to the Bournemouth “Christmas lights switch on” in November. We also had the chance to walk around the Christmas Market, watch many artist performances, and try typical British food and sweet treats. It was an amazing night and a great bonding opportunity!

Nightlife hot spots

As for the nightlife in Bournemouth, you can be sure it’s never boring! Whether you decide to go to the university’s night club (The Old Fire Station) or prefer some of the other popular choices like Halo or Cameo – the fun is guaranteed, and the party never stops! There are different events every week, as well as many concerts at the O2 Academy or the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC).

Quiz nights at Dylan’s Bar (located right on Talbot campus) quickly became a tradition for me and my British roommates. We go almost every Monday to play, chat, and have a drink. The topics of the games vary from movies, sports to news and music. It is full of students from BU and a terrific venue to socialize and meet new people!

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a cold beer watching the latest Premier league game in a pub, or walking on the beach, practicing a water sport like surfing or sailing, or spending the entire day at Castlepoint Shopping Centre – Bournemouth has something to offer for everyone! It is the perfect place for an international student to meet new friends, socialize with locals, and experience the best of the British culture all at once.

By Martina Gardeva, Bulgaria, MSc Tourism Management and Marketing, 2017/18