Boscombe Library

Boscombe Library sits just outside Christchurch in a corner of Dorset that most holiday-park visitors never think to explore. It's a proper community library - the kind of place locals actually use - rather than some grand Victorian reading room. What you get here depends entirely on what you're after. If you need to kill a wet afternoon with the kids, there's usually a decent children's section. Readers will find a solid general collection, though don't expect rare books or specialist archives. The staff are helpful without being fussy, and there's free wifi if you need to catch up on emails.

The real point of mentioning it? If you're staying at Meadowbank Holidays or Sandhills just down the road, this is your actual library - the place to grab a paperback or use the computers when the weather turns properly grim. It's not a destination in itself. Opening hours are a bit fiddly (closed Sundays and Tuesdays, early finish on Fridays), so check ahead if you're planning a specific visit. Admission is free, naturally.

For families based near Christchurch wanting a proper break from the parks, head into town instead - you'll find better restaurants and shops. Boscombe Library works best as a pragmatic stop if you need something specific, not as a planned outing.