Guides

Poole in Any Weather

The forecast matters less here than people assume, provided you have a plan for both.

If the sun is out

Beach early, before the car parks fill. Watersports on the harbour mid-morning. A boat to Brownsea or across the chain ferry to Studland in the afternoon. Dinner on the Quay.

If it is raining

Poole Museum, free, several floors, Iron Age logboat. The Old Town galleries and independents. A long lunch in a pub that predates the weather forecast. Lighthouse in the evening. See wet weather fun.

If it is somewhere in between

Which it usually is. The chine walks are sheltered by trees. The harbour shoreline is flat and does not mind a shower. And a grey harbour with the light coming through is better photography than a blue one.

What to pack regardless

A windproof layer. Poole is on the water and the wind comes off it whatever the temperature says. See weather.

Where to Stay

Make it a stay, not just a day out

If this has you planning a trip, stay close enough to walk back for a jumper. The where to stay section has the Sandbanks hotels, the quieter beds out at Hamworthy and Broadstone, and the self-catering flats around the Quay, with the areas each one suits. For a longer stay or a family, a kitchen usually beats a room: self-catering compares them. Travelling with a dog? See dog-friendly stays.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Poole when it rains?

Poole Museum is free and covers several floors, Lighthouse runs theatre, music, comedy and film, the Dolphin Centre covers shopping, and the Old Town pubs and Quay restaurants are made for a long wet lunch.

Do boat trips run in bad weather in Poole?

Harbour services run in most conditions but are weather dependent and can be cancelled in strong winds. Check with the operator on the day.

Planning your visit?

Where to stay in Poole

Sandbanks hotels, harbourside flats a street back from the Quay and the quieter beds out at Hamworthy and Broadstone, with the areas each one suits.

Where to stay →