Bournemouth's famous and beautiful  sandy beaches, excellent shopping centre and wide variety of theatres, clubs and casinos, as well as the Bournemouth International Centre only a few minutes walk away. Positioned in a sheltered bay on the South Coast, Bournemouth hotels benefit from a year round mild climate with more than average sunshine.

We hope you will find our accommodation in Bournemouth to your satisfaction and that you will keep returning as most of our guests do. Bournemouth is huge on entertainment. Be it Club, House or 70’s music there will be a venue for you to indulge and enjoy.

Transport

Bournemouth University subsidised buses
During term-time, Bournemouth University runs a regular and frequent subsidised bus service between campuses and to other areas of Bournemouth. Books of tickets can be bought on both campuses. There is also a limited service running during the vacation period. Students should be aware that the buses currently run until approximately 9pm in the evening. After this time only public buses or taxis are available.

Public Buses
There are two major bus companies in Bournemouth; Yellow buses and Wiltshire and Dorset (Red buses!) and it is quite easy to get around Bournemouth by public bus during the day. It is also possible to travel to Parkstone, Poole and other local towns, for example Wimborne. Early in the morning and late at night there are fewer buses available. Always check timetables carefully, make sure that the bus you are waiting for runs all week, not just Monday to Friday, and check that you are waiting on the right side of the road for the direction you want to go in!

There are many bus stops on the Wimborne Rd in Winton, Charminster Rd in Charminster, Old Christchurch Rd and the bus station in Boscombe, at the Travel Interchange (railway station and National Express bus station) on Holdenhurst Rd, at the Triangle and at Bournemouth Square in the Town Centre.

The numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 take you from Winton into the Town Centre and back.

Numbers 69 and 9a take you from the University's Talbot Campus to the Square and back.

Numbers 6 and 18 go through Charminster and to the Square.

Numbers 22 and 23 take you along the Old Christchurch Rd into Boscombe and Southbourne and back to the Square.

Except for the Boscombe buses, most buses stop at the Travel Interchange (railway station) on route.

Buses to Parkstone and Poole run from outside the University's Talbot Campus. You can also take a train to Parkstone, Branksome or Poole from Pokesdown Station or Bournemouth Station (approximately £3.00 day return).

You will need to spend some time experimenting with reading (and understanding) bus timetables, and working out distances, prices and connections.

Please note: Some stops are only ‘Request stops' which means you need to put your hand out as the bus approaches to ask it to stop. Remember to have your money ready. Make sure you know the street name or a landmark where you want to get off (for example, a supermarket, or garage or church). If you are not sure, or you don't know where you are, ask the bus driver, or ask the person sitting next to you.

Typical stops that you might ask for are:

• 'Winton Banks' (the crossroads in Winton where you can find NatWest Bank and Pizza Hut on the corner). This stop is about ten minutes walk from the University Talbot Campus.
• 'Lansdowne' for The Old Firestation, the University nightclub. This stop is also quite close to Hurn House and Cranborne House, two of the University residences and the University's Lansdowne Campus.
• 'The Richmond Pub', right in the centre of all the bars and restaurants on the Charminster Road .
• 'The Square', Bournemouth Town Centre.
• 'Boscombe Bus Station', for Sainsburys, the shopping precinct and The Opera House (nightclub).
• 'The Triangle', for shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, including gay bars and clubs.

Keep your ticket. Sometimes bus inspectors get on the bus and will want to see that you have bought a ticket.

Average fares:
Winton - Town Centre (approx 15 minutes) £1.30
Boscombe - Town Centre (approx 10 minutes) £1.10
Charminster - Town Centre (approx 10 minutes) £1.10
Talbot Campus - Town Centre (approx 15 minutes) £1.30

It is possible to block buy journeys for a discount. eg, you can buy a bus card for 1 week at £17.00, 4 weeks at £60.00 and 13 weeks at £91.00. You would need to calculate how many journeys you make per week and whether this would be cheaper than buying a return ticket.

Taxi culture
If it is very late and you are alone, take a taxi. There are taxi ranks all over town (big ones at the station, on the Lansdowne Roundabout, in the Square, opposite the cinemas in Westover Rd ). A good idea is also to make sure you have the number of a taxi company with you, preferably in your mobile phone if you have one. Choose one of the larger more well known companies. If you order a taxi, tell them your name. Make sure when the taxi arrives they tell you who they are picking up. Make sure that it is either a yellow taxi, or there is an obvious taxi sign in the window, or on the door. Do not get into a car with anyone unless you are sure they are working for an official taxi company. You can 'flag down' a taxi by putting out your hand. You will know if a taxi is free when the light at the front is on.

Typical fares:
Travel Interchange - Winton/Charminster £5.00
Town Centre - Winton/Charminster £6.50
Town Centre - University Talbot Campus £7.00

Please note: after midnight, taxi prices get much more expensive. Remember to save enough money! Also, there is often an expensive 'callout' charge if you phone a taxi company and ask them to pick you up. Ask if they offer student discounts. Most of the bigger companies do. They will charge you according to a meter, so the price should be fair.

Bicycles
Many students buy a second hand bicycle to get around. There are enclosed bike parks at the University to ensure that you can leave your bike safely while you are in lectures. It is important to consider road safety issues if you wish to get a bike. International students seem to be particularly vulnerable, maybe because they are used to driving on the other side of the road, in different conditions or because their expectations of drivers are different. The UK is not the most bike-friendly country; we don't have enough cycle lanes and drivers aren't always as aware and respectful of cyclists as they should be. For more information about cycling and other road safety issues, including specific advice for overseas visitors, please visit the following link:www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk

Shopping

Supermarkets
Most people in the UK do their food shopping in the big supermarkets because they stock everything, are often cheaper than smaller shops and are very convenient. Most supermarkets open from approximately 8.30am and close at 8pm. Some stay open 24 hours a day!

The main supermarkets in the UK are:

• Sainsburys
• Tesco
• ASDA
• Waitrose

Other smaller (and often cheaper) supermarkets stocking European produce:

• Lidl
• ALDI

Many students prefer ASDA because it is cheap and conveniently located close to the train station and the Lansdowne Campus.

In order to save money when you go to the supermarket, look out for special promotions, for example '3 for 2' offers (buy two get one free),'buy one get one free', or temporary discounts on full price items. Another way to save money is to look for items that are at the 'sell-by' date and are often significantly reduced in price in order to obtain a quick sale. Most supermarkets sell their own brand products. These are often cheaper than branded products and the quality is in many cases comparable. Sainsburys, Tesco and ASDA also have an economy range of products; look out for the simple 'no-frills' packaging. Supermarkets (and other shops) have loyalty cards too. These cards allow you to collect points every time you shop. The points have a cash value and may be deducted from your shopping bill in the future, or you may receive vouchers for free meals or cinema tickets, for example.

Supermarket vegetables are often quite expensive, in particular the pre-washed pre prepared variety. If you have time, you may wish to find a greengrocer close to where you live. Greengrocers often have a good selection of seasonal vegetables for a much cheaper price.

If you are looking for more specialized ingredients there are several shops in Bournemouth selling foodstuffs from different parts of the world. Please see below for the list of shops as at March 2004.

Specialised supermarkets:

Boscombe
Wah Hing: (Sea Rd , off the Old Christchurch Rd ) sells mostly Chinese and Thai products and utensils, cooking equipment.
Asian Trades: Filipino and other products.

Springbourne (Holdenhurst Rd)
Thai Market: sells mostly Thai products.

Charminster (on Charminster Rd )
Makkah Oriental Food Store: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladesh , Middle East , Chinese, African, Venezuelan, Columbian.

Asia Food Store: mainly Indian.

Ahmed Food Store: Middle Eastern products, South East Asian, Indian. Cheap rice and Halal meat, poultry, fish. Exotic fruits.
www.cuisinenet.co.uk/ahmed-food-store

Korea Plaza : Korean foodstuffs and cheap hairdressing next door!

Town Centre ( St Michael's Rd , The Triangle)
Europe Mini Market: Brazilian and other products.

Winton/Moordown (on the Wimborne Rd )
Muang Thai Market: Thai and Oriental food products.

Household items (eg, furniture, appliances, dishes, towels and sheets)
There are many discount shops in Boscombe and in Poole where you can buy budget items. G&T's Warehouses is very well known; there are branches in both Boscombe (The Old Christchurch Rd) and Winton (Wimborne Rd ). Similarly, Wilkinson Department Store is cheap; there is a branch in the Sovereign Centre in Boscombe and one in Winton (Wimborne Rd). Argos in Post Office Rd in the town centre has a wide range of items at reasonable prices. Argos prices are useful as a general guide if you are unsure about how much things should cost.

Like many larger towns in the UK, Bournemouth does not really have a big market. There is one in Boscombe on a Thursday and Saturday 9am - 5pm open all year and selling fruit, vegetables, footwear, clothes and other items. The biggest market in the area is Wimborne market on a Friday and Saturday morning and then on Sundays until about 4pm. Wimborne is seven miles from Bournemouth and you would need to get a lift with somebody in their car, or take a bus. They sell everything from antiques and clothes to bread and cheeses.

Clothes shopping
Clothes in the UK are quite expensive compared to what you may be used to. However there are many budget shops all over Bournemouth and charity shops which sell secondhand (used) goods. Below are some average prices for clothes items you may wish to buy when you are here:

Waterproof boots/shoes from £40
Raincoat (light) from £40
Warm coat from £60
Warm jumper (sweatshirt/fleece) from £25
Umbrella from £5
Slippers (house shoes) from £10

Bournemouth has a good selection of shops in the town centre and a large new shopping complex 'Castlepoint' on the edge of town. It is possible to find most of the major brands. If, however, you want a change of scene, it is very easy to visit Southampton by National Express coach, or by train. Both the coach and train stations drop passengers within easy walking distance of the large shopping centre 'WestQuay'.

Mobile phones and phonecards
It is not always easy for international students to get contracts with mobile phone companies, particularly in the first few weeks when you don't have your accommodation and your bank account set up. "Pay as you go" phones offer you the option to buy a mobile phone immediately and have greater control of how much you are spending! Currently, and to give you an idea of prices, 'Pay as you go' phones offered by companies such as Orange and Vodafone can be bought from £40 + , including a SIM worth £15.00 on average. It is always worth checking the market place for special offers as competition is high. Students have recommended both The Link and phones4u as places to go and buy a phone. Top up cards for phones cost £10, £20 and £50 and are available in most supermarkets and newsagents. A cheap way to phone home is to use an international phone card. Again, you will need to ask current students which are the best deals and 'shop around'. To give you an idea:

• China 354 minutes for £5.00
• Africa and other destinations 568 minutes for £20.00
• Blue international phone cards – pay £3.00 get 5 minutes talk.

Be warned: most of them have a limited period of use, usually 30 days. Also it is recommended that you try out the card first as sometimes the sound quality is not that clear, depending on the country you call and the time you call.

Entertainment and Leisure

The Seafront
Bournemouth is famous for its sandy beach and its bars and nightclubs. In the summer, the beach is very busy with tourists. In the winter it is the perfect place for taking a long walk. You can start at Bournemouth Pier and then either take a left or a right. If you decide to turn right and walk towards Sandbanks and Poole there are several (expensive) restaurants and a pub on route where you can stop to buy snacks, coffees, hot chocolate or a pint of beer, overlooking the sea. To walk to Sandbanks you should allow one and a half hours. Sandbanks is a beautiful stretch of beach with views over the Isle of Purbeck and Studland beach. There is a lively café, Jazzies, that plays jazz music and has a real wood fire. You can get real English breakfasts here and it is a nice place to go and read the Sunday newspapers (a typical British leisure activity!). If you walk through the Sandbanks Hotel car park, it brings you out onto the wide harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world. The harbour is often full of windsurfers, especially in summer .On the way back, if you get tired, there is the tourist train which runs all the way along the seafront.

If you take a left at Bournemouth Pier you will be walking in the direction of Boscombe Pier and Southbourne. If you have time (and energy!) you can walk 2 miles to the very end of the stretch of beach to Hengistbury Head, a prehistoric nature reserve with superb views of Christchurch harbour and cathedral and beautiful brightly coloured beach huts. It is also possible to take a bus or, in the summer, there are boats that run to and from Christchurch harbour every half an hour.

Cinemas
The main cinemas in the local area are:

• Odeon: Bournemouth Town Centre
• ABC: Bournemouth Town Centre
• Sheridan IMAX: by Bournemouth Pier, the only 2D format and 3D cinema experience in the South
• UCI Cinema: Tower Park in Parkstone, Poole
• Lighthouse: Poole Town Centre, screens both mainstream and independent films
• Regents Centre: Christchurch Town Centre, screens reruns and independent films.

Please note: even with a student discount cinema tickets cost approximately £4.00 per person.

Culture
The Russell-Cotes Museum is a beautifully restored house by the sea with collections from around the world and various art collections, performances and workshops on offer. There is also an art gallery, the Atrium Gallery, at Bournemouth University Talbot Campus which has regular exhibitions too. There are theatrical and musical performances at the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Pavilion Theatre and also at the Lighthouse in Poole . Bournemouth University has its own dramatic and musical societies which put on performances throughout the year and encourage participation from students.

Attractions
The tethered Hot Air Balloon in the Lower Gardens in the town centre can be seen from all over Bournemouth. For a small price you can take a ride up in the balloon for great views of the town and coastline.

The Oceanarium is next to Bournemouth Pier and has a good collection of sea and river life.

The Local Area
Outside Bournemouth, the New Forest is a beautiful place to visit by train at the weekend, full of wild horses and cattle, wonderful walks and bike trails and traditional old villages and pubs. You could start at Brockenhurst and hire a bike, or take your bike on the train from Bournemouth . Less accessible, but fascinating, is the Isle of Purbeck with its dramatic coastline, wild countryside and the historic village and castle at Corfe. Christchurch and Lymington are worth a visit and are both accessible by train. Wander around the priory and harbour at Christchurch and take a boat trip around the estuary. Visit Lymington for its atmospheric old streets, little restaurants and coffee shops. Ferries to the Isle of Wight depart from Lymington. Poole is also an interesting place to visit with historic buildings and a museum. From the Quay you can take a boat around the harbour in the summer, or visit Brownsea Island for a picnic.

Sports Facilities
Bournemouth University has its own sporting facilities. Unfortunately, there is no swimming pool, but there are pools in Bournemouth as follows:

• Littledown Leisure Centre
• Stokewood Leisure Centre
• Kinson Leisure Centre

You can play tennis at the Bournemouth Tennis Centre in the Central Gardens in Bournemouth town centre. For other sports including details of gyms and sports centres in the area, watersports and golf please check the Bournemouth Tourism website.

For more information about the resort of Bournemouth please visit this website: www.bournemouthtourism.com