Emma's Guidebook

Emma
Emma's Guidebook

Great Restaurants!

A beautiful setting overlooking Christchurch Harbour, serving wonderful food.
102 locals recommend
The Jetty
95 Mudeford
102 locals recommend
A beautiful setting overlooking Christchurch Harbour, serving wonderful food.
Known for its extraordinarily good food, and it’s beachside bakery, this is a favourite with those in the know!
67 locals recommend
The Noisy Lobster
67 locals recommend
Known for its extraordinarily good food, and it’s beachside bakery, this is a favourite with those in the know!
This is our family favourite! Relaxed vibes and a vibrant atmosphere emanate from this great restaurant, cafe, bar, and neighbouring wood fired pizza take away. Eat on the beach, relax in the informal cafe or on the terrace, catch music in the evenings, or book into the fabulous restaurant upstairs… all while the children play on the soft sandy beach!
149 locals recommend
Urban Reef - Seafront Restaurant in Bournemouth
Undercliff Drive
149 locals recommend
This is our family favourite! Relaxed vibes and a vibrant atmosphere emanate from this great restaurant, cafe, bar, and neighbouring wood fired pizza take away. Eat on the beach, relax in the informal cafe or on the terrace, catch music in the evenings, or book into the fabulous restaurant upstairs… all while the children play on the soft sandy beach!
Great views across Poole Harbour… this is sea-foodie heaven!!! Not to be missed!
120 locals recommend
Rick Stein, Sandbanks
10-14 Banks Rd
120 locals recommend
Great views across Poole Harbour… this is sea-foodie heaven!!! Not to be missed!
This is a must visit beach side destination! A hidden gem that is as much an adventure to get to, as it is a joy to discover! Choose from a variety of street food style bars, and enjoy your food and a drink on the beach or in this informal setting. Then travel home by boat to Tuckton or by land train! A perfect day out!
27 locals recommend
Beach House
27 locals recommend
This is a must visit beach side destination! A hidden gem that is as much an adventure to get to, as it is a joy to discover! Choose from a variety of street food style bars, and enjoy your food and a drink on the beach or in this informal setting. Then travel home by boat to Tuckton or by land train! A perfect day out!
A little further afield, but we’ll worth the trip! This venue has quite a following locally and is well known for its impeccable food and chilled out vibes. Team up your visit here with an afternoon on the beach, or exploring the Purbecks, walking in the nature reserve, or kayaking along the foreshore.
165 locals recommend
The Pig on the Beach
Manor Road
165 locals recommend
A little further afield, but we’ll worth the trip! This venue has quite a following locally and is well known for its impeccable food and chilled out vibes. Team up your visit here with an afternoon on the beach, or exploring the Purbecks, walking in the nature reserve, or kayaking along the foreshore.
Another gem of a restaurant. Serving ingredients freshly picked from the restaurant’s own garden or sourced from within a 25 mile radius, this founding member of The Pig restaurant family is set deep in the New Forest, surrounded by a network of enchanting woodland walks and family-suitable off road bicycle rides!
147 locals recommend
The Pig
B3055
147 locals recommend
Another gem of a restaurant. Serving ingredients freshly picked from the restaurant’s own garden or sourced from within a 25 mile radius, this founding member of The Pig restaurant family is set deep in the New Forest, surrounded by a network of enchanting woodland walks and family-suitable off road bicycle rides!

On the doorstep activities

Fun to be had, just a short stroll from home.
A charming cafe and garden by the river. Stunning views, crazy golf, ice creams, and a putting green. This is also where you can catch the ferry to Mudeford Sandspit beach and bar, or hire self drive motor boats for some fun on the river. No advance booking needed.
35 locals recommend
Tuckton Tea Gardens
Belle Vue Road
35 locals recommend
A charming cafe and garden by the river. Stunning views, crazy golf, ice creams, and a putting green. This is also where you can catch the ferry to Mudeford Sandspit beach and bar, or hire self drive motor boats for some fun on the river. No advance booking needed.
United Ferry Services: no advance booking required www.bournemouthboating.co.uk/united-ferry/ A vintage ferry service that starts at Tuckton and runs to the harbour entrance at Mudeford Sandbank, via Christchurch. A great way to get to the beach and the bars and cafes on Mudeford sandbank. Look out for the black swan along the way! Also at Tuckton Tea Gardens: Self Drive Boat Hire: no advance booking required. First come first served. www.bournemouthboating.co.uk/self-drive-boats/ Rent a little boat for up to 6 passengers to explore the river from Tuckton Gardens. Lots of fun on our local river!
9 locals recommend
Bournemouth Boating Services
323 Belle Vue Rd
9 locals recommend
United Ferry Services: no advance booking required www.bournemouthboating.co.uk/united-ferry/ A vintage ferry service that starts at Tuckton and runs to the harbour entrance at Mudeford Sandbank, via Christchurch. A great way to get to the beach and the bars and cafes on Mudeford sandbank. Look out for the black swan along the way! Also at Tuckton Tea Gardens: Self Drive Boat Hire: no advance booking required. First come first served. www.bournemouthboating.co.uk/self-drive-boats/ Rent a little boat for up to 6 passengers to explore the river from Tuckton Gardens. Lots of fun on our local river!
Hengistbury Head and Mudeford Sandbank www.visithengistburyhead.co.uk no booking needed Walk, cycle, scoot, or take the ‘noddy’ train from the Hiker Cafe over Hengistbury Head to the Mudeford Sandbank. This is an absolute favourite! There are many ways to explore the headland: over the top, along the beach, alongside the harbour, or along the main path. The top path and main path are suited to scooters and buggies. At the end of the headland paths, there are beach bars, ice cream kiosks, and great spots for a dip.
8 locals recommend
Hengistbury Head Land Train
8 locals recommend
Hengistbury Head and Mudeford Sandbank www.visithengistburyhead.co.uk no booking needed Walk, cycle, scoot, or take the ‘noddy’ train from the Hiker Cafe over Hengistbury Head to the Mudeford Sandbank. This is an absolute favourite! There are many ways to explore the headland: over the top, along the beach, alongside the harbour, or along the main path. The top path and main path are suited to scooters and buggies. At the end of the headland paths, there are beach bars, ice cream kiosks, and great spots for a dip.
Hengistbury Head is a wild nature reserve and beach at the quietest end of Bournemouth bay. Perfect for avoiding the crowds. Lots of places to explore, including ponds, ancient woods, sandy beaches and dunes. Top the visit off with a trip to the Beach House restaurant and bars: www.beachhousecafe.co.uk For an added treat, catch the ‘noddy’ train home or
28 locals recommend
Hengistbury Head Beach
28 locals recommend
Hengistbury Head is a wild nature reserve and beach at the quietest end of Bournemouth bay. Perfect for avoiding the crowds. Lots of places to explore, including ponds, ancient woods, sandy beaches and dunes. Top the visit off with a trip to the Beach House restaurant and bars: www.beachhousecafe.co.uk For an added treat, catch the ‘noddy’ train home or
Closest child friendly sandy beach with lifeguards, ice creams, and restaurant: 10mins walk away approx. Buggy access. Swim between the red and yellow flags for lifeguard monitoring. Beach at the end of Harbour Road. BH6 4BE
Harbour Road
Harbour Road
Closest child friendly sandy beach with lifeguards, ice creams, and restaurant: 10mins walk away approx. Buggy access. Swim between the red and yellow flags for lifeguard monitoring. Beach at the end of Harbour Road. BH6 4BE

A ‘Must Visit’ Theme Park

Family friendly rides and rollercoasters
Top Class Attraction! Approx 35 minutes drive away. Nr Southampton/Cadnam Advance booking advised. This is an absolutely great day out! We highly recommend it! Home to Peppa Pig World, the Lost Kingdom, and Tornado Springs. UNDER 1m go free! Tickets still required. There’s plenty for all ages, from adult thrill rides to penguins!
360 locals recommend
Paultons Park Home of Peppa Pig World
360 locals recommend
Top Class Attraction! Approx 35 minutes drive away. Nr Southampton/Cadnam Advance booking advised. This is an absolutely great day out! We highly recommend it! Home to Peppa Pig World, the Lost Kingdom, and Tornado Springs. UNDER 1m go free! Tickets still required. There’s plenty for all ages, from adult thrill rides to penguins!

Rainy day family fun

A range of family activities that we recommend for turning those rainy days into “the best day ever!”
Home to the UK’s best flume rides! Water slides and flumes for all ages and levels of bravery, including a shallow area with small slides for little family members. Splashdown is situated at Tower Parks leisure Complex, with cinemas, supermarket, and a range of restaurants in the same complex. Advanced online booking only
63 locals recommend
Splashdown
Tower Park
63 locals recommend
Home to the UK’s best flume rides! Water slides and flumes for all ages and levels of bravery, including a shallow area with small slides for little family members. Splashdown is situated at Tower Parks leisure Complex, with cinemas, supermarket, and a range of restaurants in the same complex. Advanced online booking only
On-the-Pier Adventure Fun Climbing Centre and Pier Zip Wire: Advanced booking advised Excellent family fun climbing centre, with a suspended obstacle course, and pier to beach zip wire. This is a great family activity. Probably best suited for 4yrs upwards.
46 locals recommend
RockReef
46 locals recommend
On-the-Pier Adventure Fun Climbing Centre and Pier Zip Wire: Advanced booking advised Excellent family fun climbing centre, with a suspended obstacle course, and pier to beach zip wire. This is a great family activity. Probably best suited for 4yrs upwards.
All weather fun! Take an underwater adventure around the waters of the world and come face to face with penguins, sharks, otters, stingrays, turtles and more. Book online to guarantee entry
115 locals recommend
Oceanarium
Pier Approach
115 locals recommend
All weather fun! Take an underwater adventure around the waters of the world and come face to face with penguins, sharks, otters, stingrays, turtles and more. Book online to guarantee entry
The biggest day out in history! 300 tanks, 9 powerful exhibitions. This is an excellent museum for the whole family. Brilliantly engaging on so many levels. The exhibits combine authentic war machines with personal stories, and includes an excellent WW1 trenches re-creation. Advance booking required for guaranteed entry.
247 locals recommend
The Tank Museum
Linsay Road
247 locals recommend
The biggest day out in history! 300 tanks, 9 powerful exhibitions. This is an excellent museum for the whole family. Brilliantly engaging on so many levels. The exhibits combine authentic war machines with personal stories, and includes an excellent WW1 trenches re-creation. Advance booking required for guaranteed entry.
Rainy day? Then submit to the mud on this ridiculously fun and very very muddy adventure course! You will spend the day laughing! But make sure you bring spare clothes! advance booking advised
Dorset Mud Trail
Studland Road
Rainy day? Then submit to the mud on this ridiculously fun and very very muddy adventure course! You will spend the day laughing! But make sure you bring spare clothes! advance booking advised
An excellent day out! Explore by monorail, classic bus or on foot! Discover characters, cars and stories in the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Gardens, Beaulieu Abbey Ruins, World of Top Gear, Secret Army exhibition, and the fabulous Little Beaulieu adventure play park. Pre-book attraction
197 locals recommend
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
197 locals recommend
An excellent day out! Explore by monorail, classic bus or on foot! Discover characters, cars and stories in the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Gardens, Beaulieu Abbey Ruins, World of Top Gear, Secret Army exhibition, and the fabulous Little Beaulieu adventure play park. Pre-book attraction
A cultural gem! This museum presents visitors with an authentic experience of a quirky Victorian residence, along with an impressive collection of global artefacts and art. Family trails and activities detailed on website. Also has a great café serving up good food. Advanced online bookings
110 locals recommend
Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
West Cliff Promenade
110 locals recommend
A cultural gem! This museum presents visitors with an authentic experience of a quirky Victorian residence, along with an impressive collection of global artefacts and art. Family trails and activities detailed on website. Also has a great café serving up good food. Advanced online bookings