Sugandha Bhandari (India)

Hi! I am Sugandha Bhandari from India, currently doing my Masters in Corporate Communication at Bournemouth University. Bournemouth is famous for its seven miles of sandy beaches and have recently won the Travellers’ Choice Beach Awards for 2018. However there is much more to do here than just get a good tan! Whether you like books or a good ping-pong match, Bournemouth has it all. Here are some of my favourite hidden gems of Bournemouth:

Wimborne Minster Chained Library

This is heaven for book lovers! Although Wimborne is a different town, it is just one hour away from Bournemouth Square by bus. This town is home to the second largest surviving chained library, which is housed in a 12th century church. The library has a 600 year old staircase, which makes it one of the rare surviving chained libraries dating back to the time when books were considered exceptional and only available to few people. Fun fact: the books in the library were chained so they wouldn’t get stolen…

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Interested in seeing some art collections from the Victorian era? The Russell-Cotes Museum is filled with fascinating art! This is also one of the last remaining Victorian villas in Bournemouth. The museum offers souvenir collection from different countries. In the early 1900’s the owners of this beautiful villa, Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cote, decided to donate their home with all the artefacts to the people of Bournemouth.

Free ping-pong tables

Did someone say free ping-pong tables!? Bournemouth and Poole have collectively set up over 20 ping-pong tables and you can find them at places such as AFC Bournemouth, Art Café at Boscombe High Street, Boscombe Beach, Redhill Park, Tennis Centre at Central Gardens, and many more places!

Tree Trail

Not fond of long hikes but still want a gentle stroll? Bournemouth offers a tree trail right in the centre of town. This trail will give you the opportunity to see rare and exotic trees, which were planted when 30 acres of the marshy valley of the Bourne Stream were transformed into a Pleasure Gardens in 1873-74 by Bournemouth Borough Council.

I hope you will check out some of these suggestions to get to know Bournemouth beyond the beach!

Sugandha Bhandari, India, MA Corporate Communication, 2017/18