Let us entertain you, digitally.
Given that we’re all doing our bit to stay on lockdown, we've had to get a little creative with how we celebrate our wonderful part of the world. For the time being, instead of enticing you to our breath-taking beaches, we wish to keep you entertained in a slightly unusual way.
On this page you will find a variety of virtual experiences and activities that will allow you to enjoy Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Several our partners have "gone virtual" in recent weeks, coming up with creative ways to adapt their ways of working.
Live Cameras Around the Destination
Whilst our travel outside is restricted, we can still enjoy some beautiful locations from the comfort and safety of our homes. Here are some fun live camera streams from around the destination.
FJB Hotels - Live Sandbanks Cams
FJB Hotels have two live cams on their website; One observes Sandbanks Bay from a postion at their Harbour Heights Hotel and the other is positioned at the Haven Hotel looking over to Studland.
Rick Stein - Poole Harbour View
Rick Stein Sandbanks also have Webcam looking back over Poole Harbour from their restaurant near North Haven Yacht Club.
Virtual Swanage
This site contains multiple live cameras around Swanage and The Isle of Purbeck. Including views of Swanage Railway Station and Corfe Castle.
Bournemouth and Boscombe Surf Cams
These cameras are usually used to scope out surfing conditions but now they're are also being used to enjoy beautiful views of the beaches safely at home. Thanks to Sorted Surf Shop in Boscombe we can safely enjoy live videos of Bournemouth Pier, Boscombe Pier and Boscombe Beach. Why not tune in for a stunning sunset or sunrise over our beautiful bay?
Wildlife Webcams
Birds of Poole Harbour - Live Osprey Nest
Birds of Poole Harbour have a huge amount of wildlife footage on their website. Their new Osprey camera has recently been installed in time to observe potential breeding, something that hasn't happened on the South Coast for almost 200 years! Be sure to check out these incredible birds and potentially witness history in the making.
Hengistbury Head - Wildlife Camera Campaign
Bournemouth Parks Foundation are fundraising for a new wildlife camera for their Visitor Centre. Currently they have one camera installed high up in the Scot Pines that observes a nest of Herons with their young. Next month they are hoping to capture nesting Blue Tits and the ferocious Kestrals. If you're lucky you'll be able to witness egg laying, hatching, feeding and fledging of the young!
Marwell Zoo - Live Webcams
Catch up with the flamingos, penguins, and aquatic creatures via webcam footage from Marwell Zoo. You can also see photo webcams of Lemurs and Giraffes, and even take part in the#ZanyZebrasAtHome window trail. Plus, some wonderful updates about the zoo, the keepers and the animals on their Facebook page.
Additional Animal Antics
Livestream the animals at Paulton’s Park – Home of Peppa Pig World
Missing the Penguins and Meerkats at Pauton's Park? You can now see what the animals get up to on YouTube!
Oceanarium – Bournemouth
Dive behind the scenes at the Bournemouth Oceanarium and watch a day in the life of some wonderful animals. Videos include; feeding times of the Blacktip Shark, cleaning the crocodile pools, and an Octopus’ Birthday Party! There are also some fun craft activities for kids!
Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre
Observe the world of the Ape Rescue Centre while you're at home with exciting videos and insights into the lives of their beautiful primates. For kids there are learning resources and on Facebook the centre is running a weekly education course to keep the little ones busy and educated while they're at home.
Farmer Palmer's Farm Park
You can still see what the animals at Farmer Palmers are getting up to with the great content on their facebook page. Follow them on facebook for regularly updated videos including a digital tour through the fields and some adorable baby goats!
Poole Museum - Museum from Home
The Museum website contains a number of interaction resources including digital tours, exhibits and activities for kids.
Who would’ve thought there’d be a time where you can enjoy Poole without ever having to leave the sofa!?
Check out some great online content
Experience Wellbeing with Dorset Scenery
Try a great online experience from Dorset Mind and Crowd that allows you to enjoy our beautiful county from your home. In these turbulent times it's more important than ever to look after our mental health and wellbeing at my.dorsetmind.uk you can select sounds and scenery and escape to your favourite part of Dorset for a few moments of calm.
Tank Museum on Youtube - A Source of Entertainment Not Just For Tank Fanatics!
In an effort to keep you entertained during the lockdown, The Tank Museum's are regularly posting on their popular Youtube channel including; competitions, challenges, lectures with the Director and a weekly Q&A session with Curator David Willey. To post your questions to David and to find out more visit their facebook page. You can also find a selection of home school resources on their website here.
Make yourself at home with @HotelduVin on Instagram.
This Poole Hotel has recently transformed their digital personas in light of the lockdown and now 'Home du Vin' presents Cooking Classes, Wine Videos and Yoga! Be sure to check out how to make some yummy French dishes with Chef Director Matt Powell amongst other fun activities.
Arts & Culture
Take an Interactive Virtual Art Tour around Salisbury Cathedral
Due to the virus preventing people from enjoying the Spirit and Endeavour exhibition in person, Salisbury Cathedral have made it available online for free! This remarkable show is one of the largest in nearly two decades at the cathedral and brings together work from some of the most important and influential contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st century, including Antony Gormley, Shirazeh Houshiary, Henry Moore, Grayson Perry, Conrad Shawcross, Stanza and Mark Wallinger.
BSO at home
Enjoy the world renown Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from the comfort of your home. This weekly series of artist-led magazine programmes features some of the orchestra's favourite guest soloists and conductors in conversation about music, memories and the BSO.
So, you think you know the Russell-Cotes?
Test your knowledge of Bournemouth’s famed Art Gallery and Museum with their weekly quiz on a Wednesday. Sign up to the mailing list to have it straight to your inbox or download previous quizzes from the website. Can you get 20 out of 20? The Russell-Cotes website also features an online art collection and fun activities to enjoy at home.
Virtual Tours - Compton Acres
Compton Acres have been encouraging their followers to #comebacklater with their virtual tours around the gardens. Follow @ComptonAcres on facebook for regular videos around the beautiful Italian and Japanese gardens and others.
Fitness & Health
BH Live Active - Home Fitness classes
Staying fit and healthy is more important than ever in the current circumstances. BH Live had created some FREE workouts that you can do all from the comfort of your home. Tag @bhlive active on social media to show off your skills!
More Fun For Kids
Check out the 'Buuuut I'm Bored!' Challenge, for 30 fun activities to help beat the lockdown boredom - created by BCP Tourism.
More Bus – Bus School Activity Sheets
More Bus have put together some exciting Bus School activity sheets to keep you entertained and learning at the same time! From English to Cookery and Geography to Art, they have got lots of activities for everyone to enjoy. Try completing them on your own, or with the people that you're sharing your house with
Yellow Buses - Show your rainbows on our bus windows!
Yellow Buses are asking for your rainbow pictures as many of the NHS staff and other key workers (including their drivers) are using their buses every day to get to and from work – and your pictures will help brighten their days! They even have a downloadable colouring in template that can be submitted to. Visit Yellow Buses website for further details.
Highcliffe Castle - Online Family Activities
Here you can find resource packs with a range of Highcliffe Castle themed activities, suitable for a mixture of age groups to be able to explore and enjoy, whilst in the safety of the own home.
For more inspiration on how to enjoy Poole from home you can:
Head to our blog section for great ideas and inspiration on how to pass time during lockdown.
Download our fun Bournemouth & Poole Lockdown Music Quiz. To play with your friends and family and discover a little bit more about our beautiful area!
Did you know our destination is well photographed on Google Street View? It’s a fun and digital way to travel to places we can’t get to at the moment. You can Read a tutorial of how to use this function of google maps here. Or check out this 360 image of Sandbanks Beach, a particular favourite of ours!
As always you can scroll down to check out our virtual events calendar and see what’s taking place on-line around the destination.
So you see, you may not be able to visit us in person at the moment, but there is plenty going on to keep Poole in your mind, and before long we will be welcoming you back to build a sand-castle on our glorious beaches and enjoy an ice cream on Poole Quay. But for now, please continue to stay home and save lives.
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