Cultural Venues of Bournemouth (Self Guided), Bournemouth

The Russell-Cotes Museum (formally, the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum) is an art gallery and museum in Bournemouth, England. It is located on the top of the East Cliff, next to the Royal Bath Hotel. In 1897, architect John Frederick Fogerty was commissioned by Merton Russell-Cotes, then the owner of the Royal Bath Hotel, to build a house as a birthday present for his wife Annie. Originally called East Cliff Hall, it was built in the northeast section of his hotel's garden. Built in the Art Nouveau style with interiors by John Thomas and his son Oliver, it was completed in its first form in 1901. The house and the new annex display various items collected in the course of Sir Merton's foreign travels, especially to Japan, and paintings from his personal art collection.

The Pavilion Theatre and Ballroom is Bournemouth's traditional venue for year round entertainment. Built in the 1920s, it retains its splendour and elegant styling and is Bournemouth's regular home for West End stage shows, Opera, Ballet, Pantomime and Comedy as well as for corporate presentations and dinner dances, product launches and small conferences. Initially the Pavilion's main auditorium was not called a theater, but a Concert Hall, and within a few years it became apparent that its shortcomings in presenting staged productions were insuperable. As a result, in 1933 the stage was enlarged, both in depth and height, and it was reopened as a theater in July 1934. Numerous further alterations have been undertaken since, including the addition of two stores to either side of the main entrance in the early 1950's, and the replacement of the large fountain in the forecourt by a smaller one in 1968. In 1998 the building was listed Grade II and its future has therefore been protected.

Westover Gallery is a gallery where you can see the best contemporary art of international and regional artists. You will see the temporary exhibitions of only renowned artists, as well as works of artists that exhibited their arts throughout the world. There are exhibitions of extraordinary talents such as John Wilson, Simon Claridge, Mark Spain and others.

The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) in Bournemouth, Dorset, is one of the primary venues for conferences, exhibitions, entertainment and events in southern England. Additionally, it is well-known for hosting national conferences of major British political parties and trade unions. The venue's Windsor Hall has a concert capacity of 6,500 and is one of the bigger indoor music venues in the UK, often included on the arena tours of major artists. The smaller Solent Hall can house exhibitions or hold up to 2,000 people for standing music concerts. The Solent Hall replaced the BIC's well-known swimming pool and wave machine in 2004. Owned and managed by Bournemouth Borough Council, the BIC is operated alongside its sister venue, The Pavilion Theatre and Ballroom.

Bournemouth Library is a large, modern library. The building represents contemporary architecture with a glass facade. Despite the usual books, there are also musical books, cds, a computer hall and a room where you can watch films. There is a piano and visitors can play it with headphones.