Bournemouth Beach Lodges: The Perfect Winter Staycation 

_{Press Trip with BCP Tourism, though all travel expenses were covered by myself. However, as always, all views are entirely my own and 100% honest. Many thanks to Bournemouth Beach Lodges for hosting my stay.}

Jass and I stayed at Bournemouth Beach Lodges last weekend. Situated directly on the seafront of this classic British coastal town, this is the perfect spot for a winter beach staycation.

The lodges are charming, refurbished wooden houses, styled on the classic British beach hut concept. However, the interior is a fully functioning wooden bolt hole, much like a boutique glamping experience – equipped with all mod cons; a kitchenette, shower, wc facilities, WiFi and heating built in.

Though compact, the lodges are much larger than a beach hut and comfortably sleep 4 adults or a family of 2 adults and 2 kids and there are dog friendly and one accessible lodge available to book too.

Each Lodge has beautiful views of the bay and is sheltered by stunning cliffs behind them. They are clean, cosy and ideally positioned on the beach, each with its own deck with undisturbed views of the sea.

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Getting To Bournemouth

We drove down to Bournemouth from London and it took us just under 3 hours due to Friday night/rush hour traffic. If you’re lucky, it can be done in two and a half.

Bournemouth Beach Lodges are located half a mile east of Boscombe Pier, and are situated at the bottom of Manor Steps on the promenade. There is no parking on the promenade near the lodges, but Boscombe Overcliff Drive offers year round parking for free.

We parked up at the top of the cliff, just above the lodges themselves and walked a short, albeit slightly steep path down to the resort – which took around 10 minutes. Parking is free along Boscombe Overcliff Drive and some of the surrounding streets.

It’s important to note that car access to the promenade is available at certain times of the day from Boscombe Pier for those with accessibility issues and for luggage drop off and collection.

Having arrived at 9pm, it was tricky to spot the entrance to the zig zag path going down to the lodges. Though there are solar lights further down the path to guide you, it was a slightly eerie journey down to the beach.

Set back just behind the beach, the huts are in a picturesque row of pastel blues to either side of the entrance. From the moment they came into view, we couldn’t wait to get inside. They were just adorable!

Due to our late arrival, we were given an outdoor lock code to release the key for the cabin, so we didn’t have to interact with another single soul during our stay.. Well, aside from our neighbour in a lodge a couple of doors down who kept giving me a fright every time he bellowed ‘good morning’ as I stepped out onto the deck. That was funny.

Inside a Bournemouth Beach Lodge

Inside the darling huts is a living area complete with a dining table and two sofas. The two sofas fold out into a double bed and a small single bed (suitable for a child) and further back is a fully functioning kitchenette and a bathroom.

The Bournemouth Beach Lodges are fully self catered so make sure you pack all groceries and toiletries before heading down to them. There are no convenience stores within walking distance either, so it’s better to be prepared. The kitchen is equipped with everything you will need for your stay; microwave, electric hob, toaster, kettle, caffetière, fridge/freezer, crockery and cutlery – everything but an oven.

There is an electric shower in the bathroom, but no toiletries provided aside from hand wash and toilet roll so be sure to pack your own shampoo and shower gel.

The upper mezzanine floor is accessed by wooden steps where there is a cosy double bed and a separate small single bed and there is a stair-gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. Rather than a traditional bed, these are mattresses on a slightly raised platform due to the ceiling height being low, but they are incredibly comfortable to sleep on.

The entire lodge is so well designed, with ample storage to hide your luggage, plenty of sockets to charge your devices and all the facilities you need for a staycation.

My only criticism is that it was far too cold inside the lodge for this time of year as the temperature was as low as -6°C when we were there. The only heat sources were two towel radiators; one at the bottom of the stairs and one in the bathroom, which we didn’t think provided enough heat. I can’t remember the last time it snowed in December in the UK, so I appreciate that this was unusual for this time of year. It did mean we had to sleep in socks and thermals, but also that jumping out of a hot shower into the cold wasn’t a pleasant experience. A fan heater and maybe some slippers would have been a very welcome addition to this fabulous lodge.

What’s included with your stay at Bournemouth Beach Lodges

Bournemouth Beach Lodges provide all linen, towels and kitchenware as part of your self catering break. There is an office located on site – just check opening hours – for assistance with any issues you may have.

Bournemouth Beach Lodges do not provide beach towels. However, there are a number of discounts that can be used at local businesses such as bike hire, restaurants, bars and adventure golf. The lodge key also provides free access to the land train that travels along the promenade too.

Outdoor Space at Bournemouth Beach Lodges

The outdoor deck has a table and two chairs with each hut enjoying an uninterrupted ocean view. Had it have been warmer when we visited, I would have loved to sit out there watching the sun rise with a cup of coffee.

Snow and frost meant I was wrapped up in my thermals, cosying up on the sofa drinking my coffee instead – but I’m not complaining.

The beach is lined with electric hot-plate barbecues to use too, and there was one conveniently located right outside our lodge (number 18). We didn’t need to cook during our stay, but this would have been lovely had we stayed for longer.

Beaches in Bournemouth

Bournemouth Beach

Waking up to the soft crashing of the waves, I found myself irresistibly drawn outside every morning. Despite the icy paths, frost covered sand (yes, the sand was completely covered) and freezing temperature, I was surprised to see a handful of people braving the weather and walking their dogs along the beach.

Bournemouth Pier is a short ten minute drive (or 40 minute walk away) and that is buzzing all year round. In December, there is a Christmas quiz trail that you can follow all the way down the pier, testing your Christmas knowledge and answering questions as you go.

Believe it or not, there are still queues outside ice cream stands in the midst of winter.

Boscombe Beach

Boscombe Beach, a couple of miles east of Bournemouth town centre, is the perfect spot for a relaxing coastal break. The gently shelving golden sand beach is stunning, and perfect for water sports, if you are visiting in the warmer months.

Bournemouth Beach Lodges are just a short walk from the iconic Boscombe Pier, where you can find numerous beach bars and restaurants. I personally loved the laid back vibe of the area, and whilst busy during the day, the area around the lodges becomes relatively quiet in the evenings.

Christmas Tree Wonderland in Bournemouth

If you turn into Bournemouth Gardens, they have a Christmas Tree Wonderland on at this time of year – a long path of beautifully sculpted and lit trees, each with their own uniqueness until you end up at the markets.

With the smell of mulled wine and hot churros inviting you further in. There’s a large ice skating rink in the midst of it with plenty of buzz all around; it makes for a wonderfully festive evening meandering through the gardens.

There is so much more to a trip to Bournemouth than just the beach.. which is fortunate, as England never guarantees good weather at any time of year! 

Here is a list of the the best vegan & vegetarian restaurants in Bournemouth – and believe me, there are plenty! These are the ones that made the cut.

You can see what we got up to during our stay in my vlog below..

This weekend was a relaxing, festive holiday by the sea with all the charms of the English seaside thrown in, despite the snow. 

If you’re planning a festive break with the family or a staycation to rid yourself of the January blues, I would highly recommend booking these darling little lodges. Just don’t forget to pack your fan heater in winter!

Already checking availability? Me too! 😉

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