The picturesque riverside town of Christchurch lies a short distance from its larger neighbour Bournemouth on the south coast of England in beautiful Dorset. The town is easily accessible as it is on the main rail line between London Waterloo and Weymouth and is well connected to nearby larger towns by regular bus services.
It was a bright, sunny day in early September and we began our visit with a walk along the pleasant high street which has the usual mix of well known brands and local independents. A market takes place each Monday when the traffic is diverted to nearby streets. It wasn’t market day when we visited but I gather there are around 50 stalls each week selling fresh produce, clothes, household items and plants and it brings many people into the town.
Part way along the high street stands the town hall overlooking Saxon Square. The original building was constructed in 1746 in the Market Square but due to the rapid expansion of the town it was re-built on its present site just over a hundred years later. The handsome building has a central domed cupola and weather vane forming an architectural feature typical of the period. Saxon Square is an open-air shopping centre with numerous cafes spilling out onto the pedestrianised square.
Church Street leads on from the end of the high street until it meets the gates of Christchurch Priory. There has been a church on the site for over 1300 years from the first Saxon building to the building we see today.
The priory is officially the longest parish church in the country and is in fact larger than 21 English Anglican cathedrals at 311ft 4 inches. Admittance is free to view its lengthy nave, beautiful stained glass windows and elaborately carved choir stalls.
The Priory tea rooms are very pleasant with additional outdoor seating on the extensive church lawns for when the weather is good. We chose to stop here for a lunchtime snack and found their scone, jam and cream tea to be really nice and reasonably priced at only £5.
Suitably refreshed, we continued on our way to Christchurch Castle and Norman Keep which lie just behind the priory. The castle was a typical motte and bailey castle dating back to the early 12th century.
It’s chamber which is known as the Norman House is an unusually early survival of domestic Norman architecture in England. The site is managed by English Heritage and is free to visit.
From the castle ruins we followed a path along the pretty Nuns Walk which runs to one side of the priory. The shady path follows a stream that comes out by an old stone humped back bridge near to Place Mill, a restored Anglo Saxon water mill on Christchurch Quay, now home to a local arts and crafts centre.
There are few places more attractive than Christchurch Quay on a sunny day as the harbour sits at the confluence of the rivers Stour and Avon. The area is actually known as The Quomps centred around large lawns and an elegant Victorian bandstand.
Quomps is derived from a name to describe a marshy area, with the quayside still prone to occasional flooding. This open grassy area overlooking the river is home to the town’s summer festivals and is a lovely place to enjoy a picnic on a summer’s day or to just sit on a bench and relax watching the boats sail by.
We sauntered along the quayside, watching children feeding the swans and ducks before reaching the Splash Park play area which was crowded with children making the most of the warm, sunny weather.
Continuing slightly further I reached the Wick Ferry which transports passengers the short distance across the river to the Christchurch Wick Nature Reserve and the Tuckton Tea Gardens. The service operates every day from Easter until October between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.
Overlooking the ferry and riverside stands the upscale Captain’s Club Hotel with its sun drenched terrace being a popular venue for a lunchtime drink and a bite to eat.
After pausing here awhile ourselves we retraced our steps back into the town and along to the The Red House Museum and Gardens which we had hoped to visit but was unfortunately closed. The museum is housed in a former Georgian workhouse and its collections include local history, costume and geology. Hopefully it will be open the next time we are able to visit the town.
This concluded our walk around Christchurch, a charming little town especially on a sunny day like this. Do try and visit if you are touring Dorset or Hampshire as I’m sure you would enjoy a few hours there too.
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Hi Marion! Funny old world. I stayed at a caravan site down there many years ago. I doubt it’s still there, or if it is, it must have had an upgrade. Nice part of the world. I came across you on Inside my Sling Bag.
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Christchurch is such a pretty little town so close to its big neighbour Bournemouth yet very different Jo. So nice to hear from you, hope all is well for you on the Algarve. Marion
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October has been a fabulous month, thanks, Marion. Hopefully for you, too!
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Great piece! We too love exploring quaint parts and quirky nooks of our city and writing up on them from a first persons point of view. Looking forward to reading more of the same. Thanks 😊
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Thank you so much for taking an interest in my blog. It’s so lovely to hear from you.
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You are welcome 🙂
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A delightful read, so much history and culture packed into one small town. Thanks for sharing. Lovely photos too.
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Thank you for your comments. Christchurch is such an interesting town.
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Nice little walk; I am impressed by the church, what a size compared to the current audience of the services. As for the Norman castle, it’s always interesting to see such ancient remains, when you think of what these walls have been through.
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The church is very impressive and it was also interesting to view the Norman remains. Christchurch is a very attractive town especially on such a sunny day. Thank you for your welcome thoughts.
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I am glad to see that you had wonderful weather for exploring Christchurch and its side streets lined with red-brick cottages and pastel-painted terraced houses. It’s a very photogenic town. and have to say that there is nothing better than exploring little historic towns which boast a surprising number of things to do including plenty of independent boutiques and art galleries. Thanks for sharing 🙂 Aiva xx
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Christchurch is a delightful small town Aiva and we were indeed so lucky with the weather. Thanks so much for commenting. Marion
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It looks so quaint – I love the bridge over the river. Have a great weekend Marion 🙂
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Christchurch is a very pretty town especially on a sunny day. Hope you have a good weekend too Hannah.
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Sad to see those buildings in ruins considering how nicely the current city is maintained. I suppose the city of Christchurch on the south island of New Zealand must have been named after this mother city.
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Christchurch UK is a very pleasant town especially on a sunny day like this. Strolling along the quayside is very relaxing. Hope you have a good weekend. Marion
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A charming town indeed! The inside of the Priory is just beautiful. And I can see why it was such a great visit – sunny and the perfect time to explore all of the little gems in Christchurch 😊.
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We were so lucky with the weather that day. Sunshine makes all the difference! Christchurch is a lovely small town and its priory and Norman ruins are spectacular. Marion.
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I’ve visited Christchurch on several occasions, when staying in Bournemouth and for work. Your post has made me want to return and spend more time there, exploring some of the places you have described. I think I’d enjoy the Wick ferry!
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I’m certain you would enjoy taking a ride on the Wick Ferry June especially as it leads to the Tuckton Tea Rooms! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Marion
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What a pretty place and only a fiver for tea and scones, amazing
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Thanks Tanja, Christchurch is a delightful little town and the tea and scones were a real bargain!
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Looks like you had fabulous weather for exploring Christchurch. It all looks so charming. I love all the crooked gravestones outside of the church and the ruins from the Christchurch Castle and Norman Keep. Enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
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We were so lucky with the weather the day we visited Christchurch Linda as the following day was grey and damp. It’s a delightful small town with so many varied things to explore. Hope your week is progressing well too! Marion
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Christchurch looks to be a lively little place; the Norman House is especially intriguing, with its distinctive façade and millennia of history. Thanks for sharing once more a gem in the area!
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Thanks Rebecca for taking the time to comment on this post on my visit to Christchurch. The delightful small town has a bit of everything with its Norman ruins, pretty harbour and riverside paths shaded with weeping willows.
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I always love your tours of small towns like this and the history you provide about the buildings. Seems like a perfect day with sunshine and lovely places to walk to. Thanks for taking us along to explore another area of England 🙂
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Thanks so much for your kind words Meg. Sunshine makes all the difference doesn’t it! Christchurch is a lovely town just need to visit its NZ namesake one of these days now! Marion
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I’ve visited NZ Christchurch several times, some for work, some for pleasure. A gorgeous city, but I wonder how it looks now since the earthquake? Your Christchurch day out looks delightful. There is something about weeping willows that make a riverside walk feel so serene.
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Thank you for taking an interest in this post on the English Christchurch! It’s a delightful small town especially on a sunny day. I’ve not visited its namesake in NZ as I’ve so far only visited North Island.
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The South Island is (or was, last time I was there) completely different. Sheep outnumber the two legged animals. I love NZ. Geologically, anything you can find in Europe you will find in NZ. It’s a land of contrasts.
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You’ve tempted me to return sometime when we are allowed back but Australia calls first! Have a good day. Marion
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I have been to Christchurch NZ 3 times, but I must admit I have never been in this part of England. Thanks for sharing, Marion. Definitely a place worth visiting. We have visited the Portsmouth area before, but never ventured much further West than Southampton. Hope your week is going well. Allan
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Thanks for your interest in my post on Christchurch Allan, it’s only about a 40 minute drive from Southampton and the coast is very scenic all the way along to the west so hope you get a chance to visit sometime.
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Thanks for taking me to this previously unknown corner of England Marion. Another one for the scrapbook. Hooray for the good weather.
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Sunshine makes all the difference doesn’t it Leighton! Christchurch is a lovely little town. Hope you get to experience it for yourself one day! Marion
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