5 days in Bournemouth

Five days from Bournemouth mixes two theme parks, National Trust sites and a run of museums, with the driving laid out honestly. Some days are compact: Tornado Springs is under a quarter of a mile from Paultons Park, and Dorset Museum sits 0.4 miles from lunch at Creams, which holds a 5/5 food hygiene rating. Others ask more of the car. Day 4 opens 47.2 miles from the previous stop, so an early start pays off.

For a base, Saltwater Breeze sleeps four just 0.2 miles from Bournemouth Pier beach, where the Environment Agency rates the bathing water Excellent. It is also 1 mile from Bournemouth station if you're arriving by train. Larger groups might prefer Arnewood Corner in Brockenhurst, which sleeps 12 and is 0.8 miles from Sway station, with Excellent-rated bathing water at Christchurch Bay beach 3.3 miles away.