Sitting on the western edge of the conurbation, Poole is Bournemouth’s characterful neighbour a working harbour town wrapped around one of the largest natural harbours in the world. It rewards a day trip with sailing, sand and centuries of maritime history.
Poole Harbour and Sandbanks
The harbour is the heart of it all: a vast, sheltered expanse dotted with islands and criss-crossed by ferries and yachts. On its seaward lip lies Sandbanks, a slender peninsula famous for its powder-soft, Blue Flag sand and some of the most sought-after real estate in the country. Take the chain ferry across the harbour mouth for a quick escape to the wild dunes of Studland beyond.
The Old Town and Quay
Poole Quay is lined with pubs, seafood restaurants and bobbing boats, and forms the backdrop to summer events and firework nights. Behind it, the Old Town’s cobbled lanes hold some of England’s oldest buildings, independent galleries and the Poole Museum, which tells the story of the town’s trade with the world.
Days out on the water
Boat trips run from the quay to Brownsea Island birthplace of the Scout movement and a haven for red squirrels as well as harbour cruises and paddle-boarding.
Nearby
Poole sits a short hop from central Bournemouth and the villages of Westbourne and Boscombe. Explore more of the coast in our guide to Bournemouth’s beaches.