Summer Breaks in Poole | The Poole Guide

Summer is Poole at full volume. Done well it is excellent; done badly it is a week of looking for parking.

Book early

Months ahead for July and August. Sandbanks hotels and harbourside self-catering go first.

Pick your base deliberately

It matters more here than in most towns, because the harbour divides the place:

Beaches first? Sandbanks or Canford Cliffs.
Restaurants and boats? The Quay and Old Town.
Somewhere lively and local? Ashley Cross.
Space and value? Hamworthy or Broadstone.

Book these ahead too

The boat to Brownsea Island in high season. Watersports lessons. Any restaurant with a harbour view on a Friday or Saturday.

Beat the crowds

Weekdays over weekends. Beach car parks before 10am, or the bus. Branksome Dene and Hamworthy Park over Sandbanks. And get on the water: the harbour absorbs people far better than the sand does.

Consider September instead

The warmest sea of the year, a fraction of the crowds, and lower prices. See Poole in autumn and when to go.

Written by The Poole Guide. This guide draws on local knowledge and public information about Poole always check opening times and event dates with the venue before you travel.

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.

Frequently asked questions

When should you book a summer stay in Poole?

Months ahead for July and August, and for any weekend with a major harbour event. Sandbanks and harbourside properties go earliest.

Where is the best place to stay in Poole in summer?

Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs for the beaches, the Quay and Old Town for restaurants and boat trips, Ashley Cross for a lively local base, and Hamworthy or Broadstone for value and quiet.

A Summer Break in Poole