Visitor Information for Poole

Everything practical: getting here, parking, the harbour, the weather, when to come and where to ask.

Poole is easier to visit than most of the Dorset coast, because it has a mainline station, a compact centre and a harbour that puts most of what you came for within a few miles of each other.

Getting here and getting about

Travel information covers trains, roads, buses and ferries. Getting around covers what to do once you arrive, and car parking covers where to leave the car, which on a hot Saturday at Sandbanks is the question that matters.

The harbour

Poole Harbour is the reason the town exists: one of the largest natural harbours in the world, shallow, sheltered and protected for its wildlife. If you are bringing a boat, marinas and chandlers is the page you want.

When to come

When to go sets out what each season is actually like, and weather covers the climate, the sea temperature and what to pack.

Looking after the place

Poole Harbour is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a RAMSAR wetland, and a lot of people love it at once. Respect, Protect, Enjoy and sustainability cover how to visit without wearing it out.

Groups, and staying longer

Group travel covers coaches, group-friendly venues and ready-made itineraries. Living in Poole is for people thinking about more than a holiday.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to Poole?

Poole has a direct railway line from London Waterloo, around two hours, with the station a ten-minute walk from the Quay. By road it is the A31 and A35 from the M27. Bournemouth Airport is the nearest airport, and ferries run from Poole to Jersey, Guernsey and France.

Do you need a car in Poole?

No. The town centre, the Quay and the Old Town are walkable from the station, buses reach the beaches and Sandbanks, and the boats to Brownsea Island leave from the Quay. A car helps for the Purbecks and the wider Dorset countryside.

When is the best time to visit Poole?

July and August for the warmest sea and the fullest events calendar, but also the busiest beaches and highest prices. May, June and September give you most of the weather with far fewer people, which is why many regulars prefer them.

Is Poole expensive to visit?

It depends entirely on where you base yourself. Sandbanks carries some of the highest property values in the UK and prices follow. Stay a few miles inland and Poole is no more expensive than any south coast town, with free beaches, parks and a free museum.

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 →