Bournemouth's Pier Approach has had many different looks over the years, featuring swimming pools and an Imax cinema.

Always a popular destination for locals and visitors, the pier and its approach is one of the top tourism spots. 

With the regeneration in the past ten years, the entrance with a “landmark kiosk” offering tourism information and seafront services, and there is low-energy feature lighting to encourage more people to visit in the evenings.

Read more: Shocking photos reveal 'dreadful' state of Bournemouth Pier

Meanwhile, a series of water features and landscaping sees the Lower Gardens reconnected with the beach for the first time in over 100 years.

From hotels and swimming baths to the loathed Imax building, we look back at how the Pier Approach has changed. 

Bournemouth Echo:

The Belle Vue hotel on Pier Approach in 1860.  Part of the Peters Collection.

Picture of the Day: How the Pier Approach looked in 1860

Bournemouth Echo:

Bournemouth Pier Approach in 1887

Bournemouth Echo:

Bournemouth Pier Approach from the East Cliff. Submitted by Roy Howlett of Littledown.

Bournemouth Echo:

The Pier Approach in 1938 

Read more: 11 things you might not know about Bournemouth and Boscombe piers

Bournemouth Echo:

Swimming baths in 1950

Bournemouth Echo:

Aerial of Pier Approach in 1956 by Kitchenhams Ltd

Bournemouth Echo:

Pier Approach 1969

Bournemouth Echo:

The new traffic scheme, including a new bridge, being constructed in April 1970

Bournemouth Echo:

The flyover being built on 12 May 1972

Read more: The restaurants from Bournemouth's past you miss most

Bournemouth Echo:

Swimming baths at Bournemouth Pier Approach in 1982 

Bournemouth Echo:

Construction of the Imax underway in 1998

Bournemouth Echo:

The Imax building in 2002

Bournemouth Echo:

Demolition of the Imax in 2013

Bournemouth Echo:

Work taking place in 2015