Bournemouth has been ranked the worst town to visit in the UK in a survey by Which?, scoring just two out of five stars for food and drink, cultural sights, shopping, ease of getting around, lack of crowds, parking and value for money. The Dorset town of 200,000 came bottom of the table, while York, Bath and Wells topped the rankings. Accommodation was the only category where it scored higher, receiving four stars.
Visitors and locals criticise decline
One unhappy visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: "We visited Bournemouth today, and I have to say it was a huge disappointment. We last visited around 10 years ago and it's certainly gone downhill since then. It's hardly family friendly. The place seems to be the favoured destination of teenagers, playing loud music, swearing, and walking around the town, shops, and on local transport in their beachwear."
A local resident wrote on Reddit: "I grew up here and lived in Bournemouth for about 20 years. It definitely has its charm in places, and the beach is genuinely one of its biggest strengths, but it's taken a noticeable turn for the worse over the last decade. There are more boarded-up shops, more antisocial behaviour, and a general sense of underinvestment across much of the town."
High housing costs blamed
High rents have priced some younger people out of town, affecting its culture and feel. One local told the Bournemouth Echo: "I'm from Bournemouth and, to be honest, the cost of housing is high compared to the local wages." Another said: "If it wasn't for family and my son doing well in his current school, we would be moving up north. The cost of renting in Bournemouth is so much higher. While we love the area, we're being priced out."
Strengths and nightlife
Despite the criticism, Bournemouth has strengths. Its miles-long sandy beach attracts tens of thousands of sunseekers in summer, partly due to some of the warmest and sunniest weather in the UK. Its nightlife has been compared to Benidorm, with a typical pint priced at approximately £4.72, cheaper than London's average of £5.99.
More soon-to-be-married couples now visit Bournemouth for stag and hen parties than travel to Ibiza and Krakow. Venues like Cameo, Canvas and DYMK have raised the bar, while Halo offers a Magaluf-style experience with shot girls, confetti cannons and sparkler-wielding staff. The Party Boat Sunset Cruise takes visitors around Poole Harbour's five islands, and a short bus journey and chain-pulled ferry ride leads to Studland's white cliffs.
Stuart Henderson, deemed Britain's most tanned man, can often be seen on Bournemouth beach. Visually, Bournemouth and Benidorm share similarities, with long sandy beaches curving around the bay and large tower blocks soaring above the skyline.
Andy Lennox, chairperson of the Destination Management Board for Bournemouth & Poole Tourism, said: "It is difficult to be placed at the bottom of a 'best city breaks' list when we are actually a premier coastal town, where our seven miles of golden sand have just been recognised among the best beaches in the UK by Condé Nast. Comparing an urban city break to a world-class seaside destination simply doesn't reflect the experience of the millions of visitors who return to our coastline year after year - not to mention that we are not in fact a city."
