The beach that shows the British seaside holiday is alive and well

The ghosts of seaside holidays past wander the shores. With its fine white sands and famous pier, Bournemouth has been welcoming holidaymakers since the 1800s and – along with the likes of Blackpool and Brighton – it’s an archetype of the great British seaside holiday.

Millions still flock to the south coast each year but it is clear many travellers, particularly those from a younger demographic, are increasingly scratching their itch for sand and sea by spending their money on a cheap flight abroad.

But does the town still enjoy its Victorian-era lure, and are Britain’s beach breaks still what they used to be? A few hours’ drive from my home in south-east England, I set about finding out.

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In an effort to make my experience as traditional as possible, I’m staying at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel – a four-star resort which celebrates its 150th year in December and sits atop a cliff overlooking the beach right in the town centre.

The hotel is preparing to host a ‘Live on the Lawn’ event series to mark its 150th year, every Friday evening in August, featuring local musicians, a barbecue, lawn games and a spot to watch the annual Bournemouth summer firework displays.

Built in 1874, the hotel predates the famous pier it overlooks by six years and has been run by US giant Marriott since the Noughties – with prices ranging from £84 to £300 per night, depending on the day of the week over the summer.

Perhaps the biggest competitor of all modern hotels, Airbnb offers rooms as low as around £70 per night for the same area of Bournemouth around the same time period, but many of the fancier stays climb well over £200 a day.

However, I doubt many of the Airbnb stays offer the same stunning vista as the one I’m treated to in my seaview room – which looks south over the beach below and across the Atlantic.

The hotel is comfortable and welcoming, and with a well-stocked breakfast buffet, kind staff who will tidy your room, and fitness facilities (it has all the amenities you would want and expect from a four-star resort).

An Airbnb option would also mean…