Task 1.2: About Bournemouth (Geographical Location)

Why am I researching the town of Bournemouth?

I am going to be attending Bournemouth University from September of this year (2020) until 2023 studying a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Production for three years. For this reason, it makes sense to research the town of Bournemouth itself in order to get a better idea of what there is to do in the town, what it is well known for and what are the financial implications of living in the town so that I am more prepared when I start living there later this year (or next year depending on the situation surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak) meaning I am able to get around without any trouble.

What is there to do in Bournemouth and what is the town well known for?

There is a lot of different pubs and bars in Bournemouth, with many of them offering unique and niche experiences with their service such as Renoufs Cheese and Wine, Key West Restaurant, The Coconut Tree, Ricks Stein Sandbanks and Urban Reef (more information about pubs and bars: https://www.bournemouth.co.uk/food-and-drink/pubs-and-bars). The town of Bournemouth is not only a really nice place it is also a place that many families go on holiday during breaks from school and work so the outlets that you get food and drink from in Bournemouth are very varied and heavily focused on as a result which makes it a focal point of the town's appeal.

However, I believe that one of the events that Bournemouth is well known for is the Bournemouth Air Festival which has taken place each year from 2008, except this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and also claims to have entertained nearly 10.5 million people (stated on https://bournemouthair.co.uk/about-us) which I think indicates that it has become one of the most popular events in Bournemouth over its lifespan, gaining traction every year to become an integral part of the town's identity.

What is the most affordable/reasonable housing in Bournemouth and what are the other costs of living in the town?

This one bedroom flat is £127 per week (£550 per calendar month) is the cheapest accommodation of the three I have chosen to look at but it is the flat that is the most spacious (as it says in the description above) and easy to decorate since there isn't any sort of decor in the flat so I could lay out furniture how I want in an attempt to make the flat as personal as I possibly can. However, it is the most recent addition to the website so because it is clearly a good deal, the likelihood is it will get a lot of viewing very quickly and therefore become more likely to become unobtainable.

Although it is £11 more expensive than the last property, the price of this property (£138 per week/£600 per calendar month) is worth the extra bit of money because although it doesn't leave as much room to walk around in which is a slight issue, but what it does do is give you more room vertically, while also being closer the to important facilities such as shops, pharmacies, banks etc. (within walking distance) than you would be at the first flat. Despite this, I still think that the flat at Queens Parks Gardens being sold at a cheaper price makes it better as well as the property just being of a better quality overall.

Although it is the same price as the Florence Road flat, I think that this flat is worth £138 per week (£600 per calendar month) more so than that flat because this property has been fully redecorated and has a lot more room to use for storage. It hasn't been revamped too specifically as well which allows for the person who is renting the flat to turn it into what they want (as long as it doesn't break any guidelines laid out beforehand). The only possible issue I see in the property is that it is too regular and simple which the landlord/landlady might not allow to change which could lead to some disagreements between the two parties.

Finally, the price for a train ticket from Nottingham to Bournemouth is £57.00 and £35.00 from Bournemouth to Nottingham, with it being more around £70.00 worth of petrol to get there and then same amount of petrol to get back so in total £140.00 to get there and back from Bournemouth to Nottingham so going by train (using Trainline to be specific: https://www.thetrainline.com) makes the most sense no matter how you approach the situation.

Where is Bournemouth?

Bournemouth is a town based on the coast in the south of England, west of Southampton and north-west of the Isle of Wight as well as being east of Poole. The location of Bournemouth means it is close to the sea and a beach which I feel is going to be a very positive location for me to be working in as the setting of the seaside is one that I relate serenity and a feeling of peace of mind which I think will benefit me a lot during my studies at Bournemouth University as it will allow my creative output to become more inspired and authentic due to my appreciation of my surroundings.

The journey to Bournemouth from Nottingham by train is five hours which is quite a long journey but I will only be traveling in between the two places at the beginning of semesters and at the end of semesters, except for serious emergencies and special occasions, so I am not constantly going back and forth. Therefore, at the end of the year the total cost of my train travel shouldn't be as expensive as it would be if I was to travel more carelessly but I am going to ensure I keep my non-essential travel to a minimum in order to not spend money that I will without a doubt need to buy other important necessities with.