Fancy heading to Bournemouth with teens for a late summer getaway? Lisa McGarry and her 15-year-old son Dylan recommend Bournemouth Marriott Highcliff Hotel for a weekend break.
Bournemouth Pier ©Lisa McGarry
Rediscovering a beachy classic on a trip to Bournemouth with teens
I love the English seaside, particularly at certain times of the year: early spring, early summer, and – best of all – late summer.
It’s that wistful joy at the end of holiday time, before we’re back in the seasonal cycle of school, exams, and routine. So every year my son and I, now a teenager about to embark upon his GCSEs, head to the coast for the end of August, to ingest sea air and sunshine and make memories.
Bournemouth is a perfect seaside town to celebrate late summer. It has the grand sweep of golden sands; the proper pier complete with funfair and zipline; the freshly-cooked doughnuts and ice cream shops; the beach huts and amusement arcades.
But there’s something more refined apart from the sugar: morning beach runs, trips to the nearby chines and woodlands, fine art museums, and a perfectly chic hotel in the shape of Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott.
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The classic grandeur of Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel
Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel is the perfect base for a UK beach break
The Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott is an instantly recognisable slice of Victorian grandeur reimagined with contemporary interior design, and in a prime location with incredible views, high up on the West Cliff.
It’s looking good considering the 150th birthday the hotel celebrated last December, and its history is well represented by pictures and documents displayed in the lobby for those keen to learn more (like us, the proud history nerds).
While it’s hard to imagine those eminent Victorians getting to grips with some of the more modern flourishes the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott has to offer, such as the outdoor pool and loungers (difficult in a crinoline) or the indoor gym (not sure they could work the machines) and the cool-but-sophisticated décor of the bar and restaurant by Brasserie Blanc: for us 2025 folk, it’s the ideal mix of classic and cool.
We had a Family Room which we loved – super spacious, with giant windows and a gorgeous bathroom. The beds were dreamy – heads on pillow, instantly unconscious, in a way which never happens at home. Loads of wardrobes so we could make mess without looking messy, and little gifts, like a bucket of chilled San Pellegrino, artisan crisps and local fudge. What more could a beach-loving teen and his mum want? More crisps, as it turns out.
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The technicolour kitsch of Bournemouth Pier
Surveying the scene from up high in Bournemouth with teens
Perched high on West Cliff – the lenticular lift down to the sand was out of action during our visit – proves the perfect vantage point for dreamy views and a 360° perspective, so you can check out what’s happening outside at any time of day.
Being so close to the beach meant pre-breakfast runs – and morning swims – from which we’d emerge to a hearty breakfast in the brasserie: perfect fodder for hungry teens high on sea air and exercise.
The West Cliff location feels nicely exclusive and walking down the beach towards Sandbanks in the morning only meant bumping into the occasional runner or swimmer, exchanging a few pleasantries and enjoying the scenery: sea on one side, and chines on the other. Quick explainer here, chines are steep-sided, dry river valleys or coastal ravines that cut into the cliffs down to the sea.
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Outdoor pool, Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott
Pool with a view for more cool points
We all know that teens love a pool, and the pool at Highcliff Marriott is worthy of their affection.
If you don’t fancy joining the crowds on the beach, it’s a seriously chill hangout which will have you getting some lengths in too. It’s also perfect for smaller kids, with no deep end, and the area behind the pool has games and entertainment during school holidays.
If you’re partial to a sundowner, Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel has partnered with The Conker Distillery to launch a summer-long Conker Gin pop-up, open to hotel guests and locals until the end of September.
The pop-up serves Conker’s award-winning small-batch gins from the hotel’s outdoor pool bar, and it’s open daily. Though Friday evenings mean front-row views of Bournemouth’s weekly fireworks throughout August too, meaning you’ve still got time to enjoy both this year.
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Delph Woods ©Lisa McGarry
Delph Woods and a lovely day trip in Bournemouth with teens
We didn’t bring a car on this trip to Bournemouth with teens, another plus if you don’t have one. But we did have a local friend who took us on an adventure to Delph Woods, a 20-minute drive away from the hotel. Closer than the New Forest, which is 45 minutes away, it’s very much doable for some woodland roaming, but as we were keen for plenty of beach time, a half-day excursion was perfect.
The Huckleberry Finn feels were in evidence as Dylan swung from rope swings and gambolled with our friend’s kids and collie, while we enjoyed a long-overdue catch up.
If you want to get a sense of Bournemouth beyond the beach but don’t have masses of time, this is an ideal, low-investment trip.
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The bar at Brasserie Blanc
Dinner at Brasserie Blanc for me and my teen
Teens love eating well, and mine likes to try new things, as long as they involve proteins and/or sugar. I thought he deserved dinner at Brasserie Blanc, and I certainly did – it’s at the front of the hotel thus looks directly out over the beach, and the vibrant design and cosy seating made it feel really special.
The food here is sophisticated, I had a beetroot terrine with horseradish sorbet as a starter, but also hearty. Dylan had a lamb shoulder for his main, whilst I had a beautiful sea bream dish, and we finished with some spectacular desserts.
The kids’ menu is excellent too, and they do a prix fixe lunch deal as well as various offers throughout the week. And the breakfast buffet, complete with omelette station and all the trimmings, happens here every morning too.
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One of our decadent desserts at Brasserie Blanc
It’s not too late to enjoy Bournemouth beach with teens and all the family
So if you want a great location, outdoor pool, all the fun of the pier and excellent food, then make spontaneity your friend and squeeze in a last drop of Bournemouth magic into late summer or early autumn.
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How to plan a break in Bournemouth with teens
How to get there
London to Bournemouth from 2 hours by train
Where to stay
Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel, Family Room (2 adults, 2 children) from £290 per night