Language course
Bournemouth
England
Work on your English in a balanced coastal setting, suited to steady, concrete immersion.
Bournemouth combines a coastal setting with balanced city life, favourable to regular practice of English.
The format stays clear: lessons, practice outside class and independence follow on naturally, without weighing the stay down.
Bournemouth keeps a balanced pace between the sea and the town centre, handy for making progress in English with natural day-to-day exchanges.
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196 455 inhabitants
A seaside town, between long beaches, seafront, gardens, cafés and access to the Dorset coast.
Bournemouth is a coastal town on the English Channel, 170km south-west of London. It is crossed by the river Bourne and bounded to the north and east by the Stour. Together with Poole and Christchurch it forms the south-east of the Dorset conurbation. The Bournemouth area has a climate considered mild for England, with less rainfall than inland and more frequent sunny spells. The mildness of this climate, exceptional in England, along with its large beach are the source of Bournemouth's success with tourists. It is also the "happiest town" in the United Kingdom according to a 2007 survey, which bodes well for a very pleasant time.
The town's culture developed particularly thanks to tourism linked to a mild climate and the presence of the sea. Yet the earliest evidence of human life around Bournemouth is more than 2 500 years old. The site, favourable to shipping, also encouraged a Roman presence in Antiquity, the great sandy beach being the landing place of the armies that conquered Great Britain during the 1st century AD. From the 12th century the Normans settled the area, but it was not until the 19th century that the town enjoyed its golden age thanks to the railway. Besides tourism, it is now students who come to English language course abroad and who bring life to Bournemouth.
Like the many tourists and students of Bournemouth, your English language trip is a chance to enjoy the region's beaches, such as the one at Hengistbury Head. Between swimming, lazing about and sporting and water activities, you might push open the door of the Russel-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum. Come and stroll along the paths of the sumptuous yet restful Lower Gardens park, and also discover the Oceanarium in Bournemouth, known for its otters and its giant turtle. The town's meeting place is without doubt the Pier, the jetty, where passers-by crowd into the shops, where the trendy bars are, and where the many summer events take place.
To get to Bournemouth, you can take the National Express coaches from Heathrow airport, allowing 2h15 on the road. If you prefer the train, the journey from Waterloo station takes 1h30. Air and sea links also exist so you can avoid going through London. Once there, during your English language course in Bournemouth, get around by public transport, including to reach the nearby towns of Poole, Christchurch or Salisbury. Note that the cost of living is comparable to that of seaside resorts in France.
Getting there: about 151 km from London
