- Bournemouth Pier is in Dorset, England.
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Bournemouth Pier
Bournemouth Pier is the principal pier of the resort, a long Victorian pier packed with amusements, a theatre, bars and an adrenaline activity. It sits at the heart of Bournemouth's award-winning sandy beach and seafront.
The story of Bournemouth Pier
The first Bournemouth Pier was a short wooden jetty opened in 1856, replaced by a longer iron pier designed by Edward T. C. Rendel and opened in 1880. The pier was extended to its current length of 1,000 feet in 1890 to accommodate steamers, and a theatre and pavilion were added at the pier head in 1885. The pier was sectioned during the Second World War and the pier head was rebuilt after a 1940 fire. In 2015 a pier-to-shore zip wire called the RockReef was added, launching thrill-seekers from the pier to the beach below.
Visiting with care
Open year-round, the pier offers traditional amusements, a theatre and the PierZip, a zip wire from the pier to the shore. It is at the centre of Bournemouth's seafront, convenient for the town's gardens, shops and the cliff railway.
Interesting facts
- The original 1856 wooden jetty was replaced by an iron pier in 1880.
- The present 1,000-foot pier was extended in 1890 to accommodate steamers.
- The pier head theatre dates from 1885 and hosts a range of shows.
- A pier-to-shore zip wire, the PierZip, was installed in 2015.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.