West Cliff Railway, Bournemouth

The West Cliff Railway, often called the West Cliff Lift, is a historic funicular railway in Bournemouth, offering scenic rides between the seaside promenade and the cliff top since 1908. Opened just four months after the East Cliff Railway, the West Cliff Lift was originally powered by a 25-horsepower electric winding motor at the upper station, making it a pioneering electrically operated cliff railway. The winding motor was upgraded in the 1960s to a more powerful 28-horsepower motor, and the wooden-bodied cars were replaced with modern aluminum ones, which were designed to be compatible with Bournemouth’s other cliff railways.

Spanning a short track of 5 feet 6 inches, the West Cliff Lift was built to carry up to sixteen passengers, providing them with a unique, breezy ascent from the sandy beaches to the cliff top, where views of Bournemouth’s coast await. Today, it runs seasonally from Easter to October, along with the nearby Fisherman’s Walk Cliff Lift, while the East Cliff Railway has been closed since a 2016 landslide.

With its tram-like carriages running on tracks via cable, the West Cliff Lift has become an iconic part of Bournemouth’s coastal charm, linking visitors from the beach to local attractions like the Bournemouth International Centre and nearby hotels. Whether for convenience or the scenic experience, a ride on the West Cliff Lift remains a memorable part of any Bournemouth visit.