Fun with the family in Christchurch

Date of visit: August 2019

Post written by Laura

A ‘throwback Thursday’ post published during the midst of the travel destruction as a result of Coronavirus and the current global lockdown. Today, Chris and I were due to fly to Italy to begin our 100 mile Via Francigena trek into Rome… but alas this is not going to happen.

Christchurch is an English town located on the south coast in the county of Dorset… or having double checked Christchurch is in the ‘administrative’ county of Dorset but the historic county of Hampshire… I spent a few days there last August with three generations of my family. With Bournemouth and Poole just a few miles away we found plenty of options to suit everyone.

With its Norman ruins, huge priory church and location near to the coast some are many pleasant walks in and around Christchurch.

Above are the ruins of Christchurch castle which was originally built in the 12th century.

Christchurch Quay has a large grassy area and with its pubs and restaurants is a popular spot with families.

Near to the Quay, the Priory Church is enormous and worth a visit. There is a wealth of information, a coffee shop and if you fancy climbing 176 steps you can visit the top of the tower.

During one of my solo early morning walks I came across the Ducking Stool! Early ducking stools date back to the 14th century and it is believed they were used for punishments. The victim, or culprit (depending on how you look at this) is tied into the chair and ducked into the water as a means of public humiliation. Such ‘crimes’ may have included women being guilty of verbal abuse… no mention of men on the information board!

Bournemouth is a short 15-20 minute drive from Christchurch. Having visited Bournemouth several times in previous years, we thought it would be a great place to take the younger members of the family.

Bournemouth beach is huge and while busy in the immediate vicinity of the pier, it gets quieter as you head further west.

Weatherwise, travelling in England during the summer can be a hit and miss affair and our short break was no exception. An enjoyable rainy afternoon was spent at Bournemouth’s indoor mini golf centre.

From Christchurch you can drive to Poole, about 30 minutes by car. The weather was much improved on this day and the whole family enjoyed seaside treats including ice-creams, fudge and lunch in a warm sunny pub garden.

Poole has the second largest natural harbour in the world, with the largest being Sydney Harbour. Many boat trips are available to one or more of several islands in the harbour, the largest one is Brownsea Island.

Summary

Just a short post on a few of the activities that we found in and around Christchurch. This was ideal for a short visit whilst managing the delicate balance of keeping multiple generations entertained!