Just north-west of Bournemouth town centre, Meyrick Park is one of the town's oldest and largest green spaces, 120 acres of undulating parkland, mature woodland and open playing fields that have been in public use since the Victorian era. It's as much a working sports ground as a park, with a golf course, tennis courts, bowling green and rugby pitches all sharing the same historic ground.
History
The land goes back further than most of Bournemouth's parks: it's recorded as heathland in the Domesday Book of 1086, and was long used as common land for grazing, turf-cutting and wood-gathering. After the Christchurch Inclosure Act of 1802, Sir George Ivison Tapps bought the land and planted it with Scots and maritime pine, while retaining locals' common rights over it. The family later took the name Meyrick, and in 1894 the park was formally opened by Lady Meyrick as one of Bournemouth's first municipal parks, complete with a bowling green, playing fields and an 18-hole golf course that was, at the time, the first municipally owned golf course anywhere in the country.
Sport & recreation
Golf remains the park's best-known feature. The course was originally laid out by the professional Tom Dunn, who stayed on as club professional and greenkeeper, and was later enlarged and reconstructed by the influential golf architect H S Colt. Today it's run as The Club at Meyrick Park, with an 18-hole course, clubhouse and gym open to members and visitors. Elsewhere in the park, Bournemouth Bowling Club uses the bowling green, Oakmeadians RFC play rugby on the central pitches, and there are tennis courts too, alongside paths that are well used by dog walkers, runners and cyclists year-round.
Visiting
The park itself has open, free access at any time, with entrances off Central Drive and Braidley Road to the south and Meyrick Park Crescent to the north, bordered by woodland on both sides. Only the golf course, tennis courts and gym charge separately for their facilities. It's an easy, level walk from the town centre, making it a handy green escape between sightseeing or shopping. Explore more of the area in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth, or discover the town's other green spaces such as Alum Chine Tropical Gardens.