Luxury holidays in Bournemouth
Popular with students, stags and septuagenarians alike, sunny Bournemouth is the closest the UK gets to a riviera. People may scorn the idea of the great British seaside, but there’s nothing faded about these charms – in fact, Bournemouth’s seven miles of sandy beaches have been ranked in the top five in Europe (no offence, stunning Mediterranean shorelines). The Unesco-approved Jurassic Coast is within a short drive, as are spectacular Studland, the real-estate excess of Sandbanks and the second-biggest harbour in the world in Poole. It’s even home to Percy Shelley’s heart.
When to go
The British summer months are busiest, as any heatwave shot in the national papers can attest – but the beach can still be enjoyed (and without the crowds) in winter.