Bournemouth hotels

Stretching for miles along England's south coast, Bournemouth's golden beaches are a haven for sun, sea and surf lovers. It's no longer just about cream teas: a young, affluent crowd flock to new boutique hotels and trendy restaurants, giving this much-loved resort a new lease of life.

Walk along the mammoth seven miles (11km) of golden sands on Bournemouth Beach, with four Blue Flags. To the west is family-friendly Boscombe Beach. Neighbouring Poole boasts a large natural harbour, and across the narrow waterway are the soft dunes of peaceful Studland Beach.

Walk through the underwater tunnel to peek at the piranhas in the Oceanarium, and float 500 feet up in the Bournemouth Eye gondola for city panoramas. Wander round the architectural hotchpotch of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum. Create and decorate your own piece of art at All Fired Up Ceramics Café, then laze under the weeping willows in lush Bournemouth Gardens. Look out for Mary Shelley's grave at St Peter's Church.

Head to the vast New Forest for peaceful picnics and explorations. Take a coastal walk which zig-zags along cliff tops to Boscombe and Southbourne beaches, or further to the outskirts of Poole. Try a spot of kite-flying at the old iron-age hill fort Hengistbury Head or take the short ferry ride to sleepy Studland Bay for a spot of bird-watching.

Learn to surf at the Bournemouth Surf School or hit the huge waves at Boscombe Beach's artificial surf reef (Europe's first), open from autumn 2009. Go kayaking off Bournemouth Beach and cycle the seven-mile promenade. Venture onto the exhilarating ten-minute Shockwave speedboat from the pier, or relax on a Dorset Cruise. Go horse-riding in the New Forest or try your hand at kite-surfing or catamaran sailing at Sandbanks.

Taste the seafood at award-winning WestBeach restaurant, or good old fish and chips at Chez Fred. The Dorset Smokery serves local specialities like smoked fish and game, and Hurn Thumper sausage. Indulge in Middle Eastern flavours in villagey Charminster, and Mediterranean meals in Westbourne.

Get dressed up for the refurbished Opera House, around for more than 100 years but these days host to the hottest DJs and bands. The city centre's Triangle region has a mix of pubs, clubs and gay bars.St Peter's Road and Old Christchurch Road in the city centre both have more than their fair share of nightspots, many with student nights.

Kit yourself out with designer gear from Westbourne's boutiques, hunt for antiques in quaint Boscombe and find local specialist foodstuffs from the Dorset Smokery.