Southbourne

Southbourne is an area located in the south-east of Bournemouth which is located itself in the county of Dorset.

Origins and History of Southbourne
Southbourne was first discovered (according to some accounts) when a local doctor from neighbouring Bournemouth purchased a stretch of land near to the beach and named it Southbourne-on-Sea. It was to directly challenge Bournemouth as a resort. As time went by it was soon enveloped by the ever-growing population of Bournemouth and in 1901 officially became a suburb when the boundaries were extended of Bournemouth to include Boscombe, Pokesdown, and Southbourne.

Southbourne Today
Bournemouth is one of the more beautiful towns in the UK and has won multiple blue flag awards for its pristine sandy beaches that stretch over seven miles from the ancient Hengistbury Head to Poole. Bournemouth is known primarily as a resort town with the hotels and guesthouses being one of the key industries of Bournemouth. Tourism plays a large role to the economy of Bournemouth and during the summer month’s tourist flock to the area to enjoy the beaches and surrounding locales of Lulworth Cove, Sandbanks, The New Forest, and the Dorset countryside.

Southbourne is a lot quieter and as a result is mainly untouched by the tourist trade. As a result it has become a lot more residential with beautiful houses and apartments dotting the main beachfront. At most times Southbourne Beach is fairly quiet and used more so by the local population and in the last few years by water-sports enthusiast who are more inclined to areas of the beach where there are less tourist to enjoy water activities that range from surfing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing – because of its location being nestled between Hengistbury Head and Boscombe Surf Reef.

Southbourne provides a main high street with small shops that offer up restaurants, supermarkets, and other commercial enterprises. Unlike it’s well-heeled opposite of Westbourne; it provides more of a neighbourhood atmosphere and is surrounded by properties that range from Edwardian period buildings to more modern properties. There are a number of realtors that have been moving their offices into the area in recent years. One of the main realtors is Bullock and Lees a well known Southbourne estate agents that have been renting and selling homes for over 25 years in the Southbourne area and have developed a good relationship within the local community for their knowledge of local properties and history.

Southbourne is a great place to visit if you want to avoid the main tourist areas of commercial Bournemouth, relax and enjoy a smaller community, and be within walking distance to the sea, a beautiful view of the Isle of Wight, and a short trip to the Jurassic areas that surround Southbourne.