Living in Bournemouth – 8 Reasons to Move to the Dorset Coast
Are you thinking of living in Bournemouth?
Located on the south coast of Dorset, living in Bournemouth provides locals with an excellent quality of life.
The largest town in the county, Bournemouth has regularly been chosen as the UK’s top coastal destination!
Living in Bournemouth provides residents with a choice of beautiful sandy beaches, picturesque seaside strolls, as well as an abundance of outstanding activities for all the family.
Bournemouth also boasts an average of 7.7 hours of sunshine on a summer’s day, well above the UK average and certainly a great reason to consider moving to the area!
This article aims to offer you a thorough guide to living in Bournemouth.
By emphasising all that is great about living in Bournemouth, we hope to shine some light on what it is like to live in the area.
We will discuss everything from the price of properties to the best shopping locations in the town and the wider region.
Here are 8 reasons to consider living in Bournemouth!
Table of Contents
House Prices
Living in Bournemouth offers buyers a range of housing options, sure to suit all needs.
The town’s reputation as one of the top seaside locations ensures that there is plenty of interest in the property market.
Bournemouth also remains popular thanks to a host of excellent transport links as well as the exceptional weather locals enjoy.
Living in Bournemouth is clearly a popular choice.
It is no wonder that the Dorset town enjoys a particularly active housing market.
As of January 2021, the average price for a house in Bournemouth is £306,079.
This price is above average when compared to the rest of the UK.
However, living in Bournemouth is a popular choice, so this higher price is to be expected.
Furthermore, the town offers excellent value when compared to some of the most popular regions in the UK, especially London!
House prices in the capital are currently averaging at £660,754!
What kind of price can you expect to pay for different property types when living in Bournemouth?
The present average cost of a detached property in Bournemouth is £417,338.
If you are searching for a semi-detached house, you can anticipate paying an average price of £278,866.
Those hoping to purchase a terraced property should expect an average price of £259,680.
Finally, if you are considering living in Bournemouth and purchasing a flat, these properties are averaging at £221,673.
Renting in Bournemouth
It is usually not until you have lived in an area for a prolonged period of time that you really know if you enjoy living there!
Buying your own property is one of the most substantial acquisitions many of us will make.
Renting represents a great chance to see if you enjoy an area.
This means it is an excellent choice for many.
There are multiple types of accommodation available to privately rent in and around Bournemouth.
Regardless of if you are seeking a flat, house, or a single room, there is sure to be something for you when living in Bournemouth.
The average cost to rent a home in the town is £1,358 per month.
This is a much more affordable option than renting in London.
Prices in the capital have surged, with the average rental cost sitting at £1,665 per month.
If you are thinking of living in Bournemouth and are considering renting, there are many options to choose from.
A one-bedroom apartment will cost an average of £735 per month.
Meanwhile, a 4-bedroom home will cost an average of £1,784 per month in rent.
As of January 2021, there are 887 properties to rent in the region.
If you are considering renting in Bournemouth, be sure to check out the latest costs at Home.co.uk.
They are regularly updated so you can keep on top of the current prices!
Cost of Living
When moving to a new area it is always a good idea to gather an understanding of how much items will cost.
This is no different for those thinking of living in Bournemouth.
The town is one of the most popular seaside destinations in the UK.
Subsequently, you should expect the cost of living to be relatively high compared to some other towns in the region.
If you are moving from another popular area or from the capital you may not notice these differences.
There are, however, various way to save money when living in Bournemouth.
You can shop at local markets or perhaps at one of the cheaper supermarkets such as Aldi.
This will help to save quite a bit of money, especially when compared to shopping at more premium stores that are also available in the town.
There are numerous ways to find out how much you can expect to pay for goods.
Numbeo is the perfect tool for establishing the cost of living.
The site shows the costs of different items when living in Bournemouth.
It calculates the average costs you are likely to pay for day to day grocery items.
Below are some examples of the costs you can expect to pay:
- Milk (1 litre) £0.91
- Loaf of Bread (500g) £0.80
- Eggs (regular) (12) £1.65
- Local Cheese (1kg) £3.45
- Chicken Fillets (1kg) £4.97
- Banana (1kg) £1.29
- Tomatoes (1kg) £1.21
- Potatoes (1kg) £0.78
- Onions (1kg) £0.61
- Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) £7.00
- Domestic Beer (0.5 litre bottle) £1.17
Schools in Bournemouth
If you are thinking of moving with a family, this is the section for you.
Before you move you will need to find a good school that is near to the area you choose to live in.
There are several ways to establish what the best schools in any area are.
One of the easiest methods is to visit the gov.uk website.
Input the address of your new home and all of the schools in the area will be displayed!
This is a great tool for discovering the best schools in any area of the UK.
You are able to sort between primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms.
The website also shows the size, results and up to date Ofsted report of every school.
Living in Bournemouth means you have a choice of 85 primary schools and 39 secondary schools.
These cater for all students aged between 11 and 16 living in Bournemouth.
The town also boasts 31 sixth forms and colleges.
These provide education for students aged 16 to 18.
The best performing primaries in the Bournemouth include; Mudeford Junior School, Queen’s Park Academy, Elm Academy, and Jewell Academy Bournemouth.
Each of these schools, amongst others, have been given ‘Outstanding’ reports from Ofsted.
Bournemouth has a total of 16 ‘Outstanding’ primary schools.
There are also 10 ‘Outstanding’ secondary schools in the town!
Magna Academy, Winton Academy and Bournemouth School are some of the secondaries to receive this achievement.
Clearly, living in Bournemouth guarantees that students are provided with a great education.
Transport
Living in Bournemouth ensures exceptional transport links to the surrounding areas of Dorset and beyond!
The town is well connected by motorways, public transport links as well as a small local airport.
Living in Bournemouth also makes sure locals are well linked to the wider UK.
Bournemouth offers residents a choice of three local train stations that connect the town to the rest of the UK.
Commuters travelling via rail can reach London Waterloo Station in around 95 minutes!
A choice of fast trains to London have ensured that the town is a favoured location, offering a better quality of life for those who are not phased by travelling to work.
The A388 is the main road for residents of the town.
It connects those living in Bournemouth to the surrounding areas from the north and east.
Residents also have convenient access to a number of local bus services.
Both Yellow Buses and Wilts & Dorset have large connections that cover all of the major regions across Bournemouth.
Locals to Bournemouth can also utilise the nearby ferry services.
The ferry connects nearby Poole to both Guernsey and Jersey.
This is an excellent amenity not offered in many areas!
Living in Bournemouth also means you can travel across the UK and internationally from the local airport.
A choice of scheduled and charter services are available from Bournemouth airport.
Access to London’s Heathrow and Gatwick Airports is easy and convenient from Bournemouth by train or by coach, allowing for more long-distance travel.
It is clear to see that Bournemouth is an extremely well-connected town!
Employment
Living in Bournemouth provides residents with a raft of employment opportunities.
The town’s economy is mostly concentrated around services, similarly to the rest of Dorset.
Alongside its strong services sector, tourism also plays a key role in the town’s economy.
Jobs within the tourism industry account for around 11% of the town’s employment!
There is also a particularly strong financial services sector in the town.
Bournemouth is also home to 2 universities.
The town has a great reputation due to these institutions and has become a popular location for foreign students to study.
Both universities provide numerous jobs and have significantly improved the town’s economy.
Bournemouth’s economy has been consistently growing in recent years.
Unemployment figures are significantly lower than the national average!
One emergent sector with good levels of growth in the town is the digital economy.
If you are seeking a career in this industry, living in Bournemouth could be ideal for you!
It is obvious that living in Bournemouth is a particularly good option when it comes to employment opportunities.
Things to do
There is always something to do when living in Bournemouth!
With 7 miles of stunning sandy beaches, locals have passage to all of the typical British coastal attractions.
Whether it is surfing, kayaking, or a relaxing stroll along the beach, living in Bournemouth is what you decide to make of it!
When you live on the Dorset coast there is always the options to spend the day on the beach, perfect for lovers of the fresh ocean breeze.
Searching for a good night out is made straightforward in Bournemouth.
There is a bustling nightlife here with lots of pubs, bars and restaurants scattered throughout the town.
But there is more than just nightlife here.
Cinemas, comedy clubs, casinos, theatres and much much more await when living in Bournemouth.
If you are thinking of living in Bournemouth with a family there is plenty to do.
As a popular tourist destination, there are a seemingly endless amount of great attractions to enjoy.
Some of the best family attractions in the area include both Monkey World and Peppa Pig World.
Bournemouth’s excellent location and transport links mean that locals have access to a range of excellent things to do!
Shopping
Living in Bournemouth ensures residents have access to a range of great shopping choices.
Shoppers living in Bournemouth have a great variety of options that are sure to suit all needs and tastes.
Ranging from unique boutique-style shops to all of the most popular big-name retail brands, there are numerous spots in the city to indulge in some retail therapy.
There are several places to shop for those heading to the town centre or the beach.
Both The Avenue and The Arcade shopping centres are located in these popular spots.
Providing a range of excellent shopping options, both shopping destinations are well worth the visit.
If you have access to a car, Castlepoint is one of the best shopping destinations for you.
Home to more than 40 popular retailers, this location is perfect for anyone wanting to steer clear of the hectic and crowded centre of town.
It is essential to remember the current impact of the global pandemic.
This will mean that some shops and shopping locations will be closed or have restricted opening hours.
Be sure to keep up to date with all of the latest information regarding the coronavirus pandemic here.
Are You Thinking of Living in Bournemouth?
Have you decided to take the first steps toward living in Bournemouth?
It is clear that living in Bournemouth has many benefits!
The town offers a host of outstanding properties, a plethora of activities to explore and some of the best schools in the region!
If you are thinking of moving to Bournemouth and have found your ideal new home, Maidman’s are here to help.
With 40 years of experience in the removals industry, specialising in the small country roads that Dorset has plenty of, we can make your move smooth, stress-free and pleasant.
Our professional and experienced team are on call to help with any questions you may have throughout your move.
Your possessions will be fully protected every step of the way, no matter how far the journey.
We project manage your entire move, getting involved as early as possible even before you have a completion date.
Should you choose us, we can carry out or advise on packing and storage solutions from the home you are leaving to your future home.