Boscombe was a separate village until the late 19th century, with its own pier (1889), shopping arcade, and seafront baths. It was absorbed into Bournemouth as the town spread east. Today it has the slightly faded grandeur of a Victorian seaside resort, mixed with a younger creative scene that has taken hold along Christchurch Road.
The Royal Arcade -- a Victorian shopping arcade running off Christchurch Road -- has independent shops, a vegan cafe, and a bookshop. The seafront has its own pier (a 21st-century rebuild) and an offshore reef built in 2009 to improve the surf. The area is the closest Bournemouth has to a hipster district; you'll find vintage clothes, vinyl records, and decent coffee.