There are so many things that make Bournemouth a great place to be a student. Here, we've narrowed down to our top 10 reasons to study here.
1 The perfect size
With a population of around 180,000, Bournemouth is the perfect size for students who want to live and study in a relaxed, friendly city where they will quickly get to know the way around and feel at home.
As well as a number of language schools and international colleges, Bournemouth is also home to two universities — Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth — making it a great place to be a student and make new friends easily.
2 Amazing beaches
Bournemouth is home to 7 miles of award-winning golden sand beaches, which are often voted to be the best in the country!
People from all over the UK have been flocking to Bournemouth since the 19th century to enjoy it’s well-kept beaches, shallow waters, and array of colourful beach huts.
3 Exciting local food scene
Bournemouth has a wide variety of cafes, restaurants and bars serving fresh seafood, local produce and many international cuisine options to suit all budgets.
For a traditional ‘British’ experience, go for an ‘Afternoon Tea’ at one of the city’s tearooms, or try a seaside classic such as ‘fish and chips’ at the beach.
4 Endless opportunities to stay active
People in Bournemouth love to keep active! There are a wealth of options for sports and outdoor activities in the local area.
You could learn to sail, windsurf or kite-surf at a local water sports academy, or hire a beach volleyball court with some friends. There are many gyms and fitness centres that you can visit, and also lots of local sports teams who are always open to new members.
If watching sport is more up your street, local football club, AFC Bournemouth, regularly host other well-known British football teams throughout the year at the Vitality Stadium.
5 Lively local entertainment scene
Whilst Bournemouth is relaxed and relatively small city, it still boasts a lively entertainment scene. You can go to a live music concert at one of Bournemouth’s popular venues such as the Bournemouth International Centre or O2 Academy, or head to a comedy night at a local pub or comedy club.
Catch a blockbuster film at the Odeon multiplex, or the Regent Cinema in Christchurch or the Lighthouse in Poole offer a choice of classic and art house films.
For something a little different, you can also experience immersive virtual reality gaming at the Centre VR in the BH2 Leisure Complex.
6 Great base for exploring other parts of the UK
Bournemouth is a great base for exploring other parts of the UK. It’s home to a major train station with direct links to London which take just 2 hours. You can change trains in London for routes to other major UK cities. Cities such as Southampton, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Bath are accessible directly from Bournemouth via train or coach within a couple of hours.
Alternatively, head West down the coast to visit the picturesque English counties of Devon and Cornwall — home to quaint fishing villages, pretty coves and stunning countryside.
7 Enjoy arts and culture
There are plenty of opportunities to experience arts and culture in Bournemouth.
Head to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum — an Italian-style seaside villa perched on a cliff top — to enjoy year-round art exhibitions, a permanent collection spread across 4 galleries, and explore the sculpture filled gardens.
8 Surrounded by beautiful scenery and national parks
Bournemouth is surrounded by amazing scenery and countryside — the perfect place to escape to and explore on the weekends.
The dramatic coastline surrounding Bournemouth, known as the Jurassic Coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching for 95 miles. It’s famous for containing many fossils from the Jurassic era 250 million years ago, and is home to unique beaches and rock formations.
The New Forest National Park covers 556 square kilometres of woodland, heathland and river valleys, and home to wild ponies and a variety of other wildlife. It’s the perfect destination for walking, cycling or horse riding, and is easily accessible from Bournemouth.
9 Great options for shopping
Bournemouth has lots of great options for shopping. Browse independent boutiques in the town centre to find unique gifts to take home to your friends and family, or head to the pedestrianised high street for a range of well-known high street brands.
Bournemouth is also home to the UK’s largest shopping park — Castlepoint — where you can find everything you need, from supermarkets to banks, and bookshops to homeware stores.
For vintage and unusual finds, head to the coastal suburbs of Boscombe, Southbourne and Westbourne for retro shops, a Victorian Arcade, and an open air market.
10 Host to unique events throughout the year
Although some of these events are temporarily on pause for 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis, Bournemouth is normally home to a variety of exciting events throughout the year that bring the city to life and foster a sense of community among its residents.
Popular events include:
- Bournemouth Air Show - annual air show held each August over the Bournemouth coastline featuring a variety of aircraft and other activities.
- Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival art exhibitions and events around the city showcasing local and national artists each September.
- Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland and Christmas Market - a unique festive Christmas tree trail as well as a Christmas market and pop-up ice rink comes to town every November – January.
- Camp Bestival - established music festival hosting well-known international acts takes place close to Bournemouth each July.
Get in touch today to learn more about the range of English language programmes that are available year-round at Kings Bournemouth.
