It occupies the north-east part of the main built-up area around Bournemouth Town Centre.

It is home to Lansdowne Campus of Bournemouth University, which is where the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences are based.

A small number of 'Horsa huts' were built in the 1940s and a large three-floor extension opened in 1957.

In 1960 it took over the former Bournemouth School for Girls buildings which were two old Victorian houses (Ascham House [listed building] and Woodcote) which were used as the school when it opened in 1917.

[4] In November 2023, plans were announced to demolish Holland House in Oxford Road and replace it with what is planned to be Bournemouth’s tallest building.