The Poole Guide

Useful Links

The official bodies, transport operators and conservation organisations worth checking before a trip to Poole.

Organisations worth going to directly for anything time-sensitive or official.

Local government and the harbour

  • BCP Council runs Poole's beaches, parks, parking and seafront services.
  • Poole Harbour Commissioners are the statutory harbour authority, covering navigation, moorings and the commercial port. See the harbour guide.

Travel

  • National Rail and South Western Railway for trains from London Waterloo and along the Dorset coast.
  • Ferry operators for the Channel Islands and France: see Jersey, Guernsey and France.

Conservation and safety

  • National Trust for Brownsea Island, Studland and Corfe Castle.
  • RSPB and Dorset Wildlife Trust for the harbour and heathland reserves.
  • RNLI, headquartered in Poole, for beach and water safety. See beach safety.
  • Met Office for weather, and the harbour authority for tide times.

Official tourism

The official destination site for the area is pooletourism.com. This guide is independent.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Who runs Poole?

Poole is part of BCP Council, covering Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Poole Harbour Commissioners are the separate statutory authority responsible for the harbour itself.

Where can I check Poole tide times?

Tide times for Poole Harbour are published by the harbour authority and by national tidal services. Check a current source before planning anything that depends on the tide.

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 →