Southbourne Area Guide

Southbourne, or Sobo as its affectionately known to locals, is a little over 3 miles to the West of Bournemouth town centre and can be reached by car, regular public transport or by foot along the promenades golden sandy beaches. A bustling and thriving coastal suburb which has plenty to offer, including award-winning eateries such as Dickies, Makla and the Larder house, lively bars and a range of independent shops.

Eating and drinking out – tasty temptations

Artisan food is the go-to in Southbourne, so whether it’s delicious chicken and tapas, restaurants are known for their amazing chef’s sauces or handmade burger bars, you'll find it in Sobo. If Italian food is on the menu, there are plenty of restaurants and rustic delis offering fantastic charcuterie, juicy olives, authentic lasagne and sourdough pizza. Baffi’s and Terroir are personal favourites of ours! After the sun sets, Southbourne comes to life with a range of exciting options with micro-breweries such as The Brewhouse and Kitchen and The Grove Tavern, which is great for watching live sporting events!

Shopping and strolling

Wandering around Southbourne you’ll find an intriguing range of shops offering enticing and individual products for the home, vintage jewellery and quirky gifts. There are also the usual suspects including Costa, Tesco express and Boots.

Beautiful beaches and tranquil nature

Wandering through Southbourne takes you to its picturesque Blue Flag beach, where you can enjoy panoramic views and fresh sea air along seven miles of golden sandy beaches, stretching from Mudeford Spit In the East to Sandbanks peninsular in the West.
Don’t forget to explore Fisherman’s Walk nature trail, a stunning walk along the cliff top situated between Fisherman's Avenue and Portman Crescent in Southbourne, linking to Southbourne Grove. It’s a narrow strip of wooded land with a nature trail, woodland flowers and shrubs, and plenty of wildlife. You’ll find more refreshments and a lovely walk down the zig zag to the beach. Or if you prefer, you can take the cliff lift. With a great cliff-top café and a children’s play area at the bottom, there's plenty to see and do.

Schools:

St Peters Catholic Comprehensive – St Catherines Road – 01202 421141
Stourfield Junior/Infant School – Stourvale Road/Cranleigh Road, 01202 424554
St Katherines Church of England – Rolls Drive, 01202 426663
Corpus Christie Catholic Primary – St James’s Square – 01202 427544
Bournemouth Collegiate – College Road – 01202 436550
Pokesdown Community Primary – Livingstone road – 01202 428982

Distance to:

Bournemouth Town Centre – 3.2m by foot, 4.3m by car
Christchurch – 2.1m
Castlepoint shopping centre – 3m
New Forrest – 7m
Southampton – 25m
London (Trafalgar square) 100m