Royal Exeter Hotel













When the Victorians made Bournemouth their bolthole by the beach, little did they know it would still be a seaside favourite more than a century later – with a 7-mi (11-km) stretch of sandy yellow coastline, a zipline on the pier, surfing and adventures out into the Dorset countryside. From the east and west cliffs to quieter Boscombe, here are Culture Trip’s picks for where to stay, if you fancy exploring this city’s unique shops, hipster bars and decent restaurants.