Bournemouth with children

Bournemouth works well with children, and a Flexiestays apartment makes it easier: a long sandy beach, a pier, gardens running through the town, and most of it within walking distance of the Flexiestays buildings. For a family, the choice that matters most is the space. A two- or three-bedroom apartment with a kitchen lets children sleep while adults sit up, and turns meals into something you plan rather than something you queue for.

This guide covers which buildings suit which families, what guests with children say, and the practical details that make a family stay easier.

Choosing the right space

Flexiestays has two kinds of family accommodation, and they suit different trips.

Family apartments have separate bedrooms, a living area and a full kitchen with a dishwasher and a washing machine. They suit a week or longer, younger children who nap, and anyone who wants to cook.

• The Tower House Hotel has two- and three-bedroom family apartments, including oceanfront apartments with sea views and a three-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms for larger families or groups.
• The Cliff Heights Hotel and The Cliff Manor Hotel have two-bedroom sea-view apartments with a balcony and a full kitchen.

Family rooms are hotel-style rooms with more than one bed. They suit a short break when you will be out all day.

• The Pebbles Hotel, The Coast Hotel and The Seabreeze Hotel have family rooms with a double bed and twin beds.
• The Shore Retreat Hotel and The Shore House Hotel have family rooms with a double and a single bed.

Family rooms do not all have a full kitchen, so check the listing before you book. The aparthotel vs hotel guide goes through the trade-offs.

What families say

Reviews from families on this site tend to mention three things: room, quiet and the beach.

“We had a fantastic family stay in Bournemouth. It was ideally located both extremely close to the beach and a short walk to the town centre. The apartment complex was clean, well maintained and had everything you could need. In the evenings it was nice and quiet and got a very good sleep.” (Jay, Trustpilot)

“Very clean with plenty of space for a family of four. Good location for the BIC, easy access instructions, and a parking space available.” (Stephanie, Booking.com)

Read more on the families reviews page.

The beach with children

The West Cliff buildings sit above West Cliff Beach. From The Tower House Hotel the sand is under two minutes on foot; from Pebbles, Coast and Seabreeze on St Michael’s Road it is six to seven minutes. With small children, the West Cliff Lift is the easy way back up the cliff after a day on the beach, instead of the zig-zag paths.

For a calmer spot, walk west along the promenade to Durley Chine or Alum Chine, quieter stretches of the same sand. The pier, with the zip wire from its end back to the beach when the wind allows, is ten minutes from Tower House and fifteen from the St Michael’s Road buildings. More in where to stay for Bournemouth beach.

When it rains

Every seaside holiday needs a wet-day plan.

• The Oceanarium, the aquarium on the seafront by the pier, is the usual first choice with children.
• The games room at The Shore House Hotel is free for every Flexiestays guest, whichever building you are staying in, a few minutes on foot from the others. The 24-hour gym is there too.
• The Central Gardens and Lower Gardens run from the seafront by the pier up through the town, for when the rain stops.
• A film night in. Every apartment has a smart TV with Netflix and Disney+.

Flexie Perks, the local discounts that come with every booking, include activities as well as cafés. Check the current list before you go; see Flexie Perks explained.

Practical details

• Parking. Most buildings have free on-site or private parking, and two-bedroom apartments allow two vehicles. Each listing says what it has. This matters most during the Bournemouth Air Festival in August and on bank holiday weekends, so book early for those dates.
• Arrival. Self check-in from 3pm, with your code and instructions sent three days before. No queue at a desk with tired children. Check-out is by 10am.
• Laundry. Apartments have a washing machine, which on a family week is half the point.
• Cleaning. The apartment is cleaned and made up before you arrive. On stays of seven nights or fewer, a mid-stay clean can be added for a fee.
• Help. The local team is available 24 hours a day by phone, WhatsApp and email.
• Pets. Most apartments do not take pets; the exact terms for your booking are shown at checkout, so ask the team before you book if the family dog is coming. The help centre explains the pets policy.

Paying for a family trip

Family holidays are often booked months ahead. On flexiestays.com you can secure qualifying stays by paying 25% now and the balance before you arrive; see how the 25% deposit works. Stays of a week or more are discounted automatically, and the discount code in the flexiestays.com banner applies on top. See why book direct for the rest.

The help centre lists what is included in your apartment in full.