Poole can be expensive if you let it. It does not have to be.
The free list
Every beach. Poole Museum. The Cockle Trail through the Old Town. Poole Park, Hamworthy Park and Upton Country Park. The harbour shoreline from Baiter to Hamworthy. The lifting bridge going up.
That is a week, more or less, and none of it costs anything.
Where the money actually goes
Parking, boat fares and eating out. Each is avoidable:
- Parking: come by train, use buses to the beaches. See days out without the car.
- Eating: self-cater and shop the delis and markets. Dorset produces a great deal of what Poole eats.
- Sleeping: stay inland at Hamworthy, Broadstone or Parkstone rather than on the peninsula. Same harbour, considerably less money.
And one paid thing worth it
Brownsea Island. The boat fare and landing charge buy you red squirrels, a bird lagoon and the place Scouting started. If you pay for one thing, pay for this.
Better still, come in September
The sea is at its warmest, the crowds have gone and the prices drop. See Poole in autumn.