Arrive & Settle In
South Western Railway direct to Bournemouth. ~2h 10m. Grab a coffee for the journey.
SWR · Direct · ~2h 10m10 min walk from the station on Bath Road. Check-in from 3pm — drop bags at reception and head straight out. It's a 10 min walk to the seafront.
Walk down through the Lower Gardens — a Victorian stream garden all the way to the sea. Walk the pier, get your bearings, take in the view.
Halal Saudi & Middle Eastern, 5 min walk from the hotel. The Lamb Mandi is what everyone orders. Open till 11pm — no rush.
📍 58 Old Christchurch Rd · Open till 11pmThe Jurassic Coast
10 min walk from Holiday Inn. Catch the 08:30 train to Wool — direct, 30 mins, runs hourly. Verify on National Rail app morning of.
🚂 08:30 → Wool · 30 min · ~£9 returnBus stop is right outside the station exit. Jurassic Breezer 31 runs hourly — first departure around 09:02 to Durdle Door. Contactless accepted, capped at £3.
🚌 Jurassic Breezer 31 · Hourly · £3 capOne of England's most iconic natural arches — a limestone door punched through the cliff by the sea. Steep walk down to the beach. Swim if the water's calling.
Walk the mile from Durdle Door to Lulworth Cove over Hambury Tout — about 30 mins. Spectacular views back to the arch and ahead to the cove. This is the best bit.
🥾 ~1 mile · 30 min · Jurassic Coast PathPerfect horseshoe bay, crystal-clear water, pebble beach. Swim, explore, eat. Cafés right at the cove for lunch — fish and chips or cream tea with a view.
Bus departs Lulworth Cove Car Park at 14:14, arrives Wool 14:28. Train back to Bournemouth — 30 mins, back by ~15:00. Afternoon free.
🚌 14:14 from Lulworth → 🚂 Wool → BournemouthTop-rated Bournemouth seafood — 4.9★. Lobster pasta, fresh seabream, generous portions. Book ahead — popular.
📍 53 Bourne Ave · Opens 6pm Mon 📞 +44 7904 755038Isle of Purbeck
Open-top bus from Bournemouth Station Stand A. One of the UK's most scenic bus routes — over the Sandbanks chain ferry, through Studland, and into Swanage. Sit on top, always.
🚌 Breezer 50 · Stand A · 08:50 dep · ~72 minThe bus drives straight onto the ferry — fare included in your bus ticket. Short crossing over the mouth of Poole Harbour. Views of Brownsea Island on the right.
Classic Victorian seaside town. Walk the beach, grab a coffee. It really does feel like stepping back in time — especially when you hear the steam train in the distance.
Heritage steam train from Swanage station (30 sec from bus stop). ~25 mins through Purbeck countryside. As you approach Corfe, the ruined castle rises dramatically above the village — the view from the train is genuinely one of the best in England.
🚂 Steam · Swanage → Corfe · ~25 min 📖 Book: swanagerailway.co.uk1,000-year-old Norman ruin deliberately blown up by Parliamentarians in 1646 — and left exactly as it fell. National Trust site, opens 10am. Audio guide is worth it. The village has good pubs and cafés for lunch.
🏰 NT · Opens 10am · ~£14 adultBus from Corfe Castle to Wareham station (~20 min). Then train from Wareham → Bournemouth (~25 min). Back at Holiday Inn by 15:30 to collect bags.
🚌 Breezer 40 → 🚂 Wareham → Bournemouth10 min walk from hotel to station. Platform for the 18:20 SWR direct to Waterloo. ~2h 10m. Arrive ~20:30.
🚂 18:20 dep · SWR Direct · ~2h 10m