Alum Chine has a Blue Flag Award winning beach. Less busy than its town centre counterparts, it is popular with familes.

Where is it? West of Bournemouth signposted from the A35 Wessex Way.

Best features: Top-quality beach and bathing water, plus the nearby Green Flag award-winning Alum Chine Tropical Gardens. Also features a children’s play area and paddling pool. The sand has recently been replenished so there is more beach for everyone.

Local facilities and shops: Vesuvio’s Italian seafront restaurant and the Pacific Bar and Restaurant with views over the Chine. A walk, short drive or bus trip, takes you to Westbourne. Beach huts are available to hire by the day, or pre-book for a week, call 0845 055 0968.

Great for the kids? Children benefit from safe bathing, with watercraft zoned away from swimmers, and “intense lifeguard areas”. Like most of Bournemouth’s beaches, it operates the LV= KidZone scheme for lost children.

How far are the loos? The prom loos include one disabled lavatory and baby change facilities.

Parking: A pay-and-display car park is in Alumhurst Road.

Public transport: Yellow Buses’ numbers 17 and the open-top 12 summer coastal service.
How about pets? Dogs are banned from May to September, during which time dogs on the prom must be kept on leads. There are exercise areas east and west of the Blue Flag beach.

Fancy that! Winston Churchill fell from a nearby bridge as a child, seriously injuring himself.

Wet weather options:

Grand Bingo and Social Club, Westbourne Bournemouth’s only independent bingo club is open six days a week. 01202 763118

Pier Approach, Bournemouth Enjoy the undercover facilities at the foot of the pier. The Arcade is a great place to visit with lots of new attractions for 2007 and a bright, well-lit family friendly atmosphere. There are market stalls games and a whole host of other attractions throughout the summer.