Why go
- Coastal town in Dorset, England.
- Served by Bagber Farm Airstrip.
History
Poole is a coastal town, seaport on the south coast of England and civil parish in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area in Dorset, England. The town is 21 miles (34 km) east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. The town had an estimated population of 151,500 making it the second-largest town in the ceremonial county of Dorset. Together with Bournemouth and Christchurch, the conurbation has a total population of 400,196 as of the 2021 census.
Where to stay
77 Lake Rd, Poole BH15 4LF, United Kingdom · coast77.co.uk
10 Strand St, Poole BH15 1SB, United Kingdom · themerchanthouse.org.uk
45 Shaftesbury Rd, Poole BH15 2LU, United Kingdom · cranborne-house.co.uk
23 Market St, Poole BH15 1NB, United Kingdom · crownhotelpoole.co.uk
25 Thames St, Poole BH15 1JN, United Kingdom
9 High St, Poole BH15 1AB, United Kingdom · quaysidepoole.co.uk
73 Haven Rd, Poole BH13 7LW, United Kingdom · fjbhotels.co.uk
68 West St, Poole BH15 1LD, United Kingdom · queenmaryinn.co.uk
173 Longfleet Rd, Poole BH15 2HS, United Kingdom · marstonsinns.co.uk
Indoor
81 Commercial Rd, Poole BH14 0JB, United Kingdom · theoxpub.co.uk
Cabot Ln, Poole BH17 7DA, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
15 Banks Rd, Poole BH13 7PS, United Kingdom · fjbhotels.co.uk
Haven Hotel, 161 Banks Rd, Sandbanks, Poole BH13 7QL, United Kingdom · fjbhotels.co.uk
Walking Field Ln, Poole BH15 1RZ, United Kingdom · ihg.com
Holes Bay Rd, Poole BH15 2BD, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
P286+WC, W Quay Rd, Poole BH15 1HZ, United Kingdom · rnli.org
3A Thames St, Poole BH15 1JN, United Kingdom
Mariners Guest House, 26 Sandbanks Rd, Poole BH14 8AQ, United Kingdom
109 North Rd, Poole BH14 0LU, United Kingdom
86 Parkstone Rd, Poole BH15 2QE, United Kingdom · southrisingpoole.co.uk
Indoor
Indoor
Indoor
34 Hill St, Poole BH15 1NR, United Kingdom
101 Parkstone Rd, Poole BH15 2NZ, United Kingdom
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00;Sa 09:00-22:00;Su 09:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating Wikipedia: en:Custom House, Poole · The Quay, BH15 1HJ · customhousepoole.co.uk
Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Ice Cream, Regional, Cafe · Opening hours: 10:20-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · Poole Harbour, Poole, BH13 7EE · nationaltrust.org.uk
French, Restaurant · French restaurant · 15-17 Market Street, Poole, BH15 1NB · guildhalltavern.co.uk
Ice Cream · ice cream · The Quay · dorsetgifts.com
Bakery, Cafe · Speciality Coffee House bakeries & desserts healthy Breakfast Opening hours: 07:00-19:00 Features: outdoor seating · 26 Richmond Hill · liveoncafe.co.uk
Sandwich, Bakery, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-19:00, Su 07:00-19:00 Features: takeaway · 446 Blandford Road, Poole, BH16 5BL · greggs.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway, step-free access · Broadstone Way, Poole, BH15 3TE · mcdonalds.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · 207 Lower Blandford Road, Poole, BH18 8DN · papajohns.co.uk
Frozen Yogurt, Dessert, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-17:00 Features: takeaway · 11 Falkland Square, Poole, BH15 1ER · shakeaway.com
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · Poole, BH12 4NY · locations.tacobell.co.uk
British, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-23:00,Su 11:00-22:30 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · Wimborne Road, Poole, BH15 3EH · tobycarvery.co.uk
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30 · 14 Richmond Hill, BH2 6EJ · zizzi.co.uk
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo,Tu 09:00-22:30; We-Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating · 1 Alder Road, Poole, BH12 4AY · harvester.co.uk
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr,Sa 11:00-03:00 Features: takeaway · 59-61 Commercial Road, BH2 5RH · kfc.co.uk
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00 Features: vegan options · 31-32 Westover Road, BH1 2BZ · wagamama.com
Fried Food, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-15:00 · 193 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU · bayleafcafepoole.co.uk
Chinese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · 195 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU · chinafusion.co.uk
International, Mediterranean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00 · 22 High Street, BH15 1BP · hinarkitchen.com
English, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 17:30-21:30 · 32 Station Road, Poole, BH14 8UD · isabelsrestaurant.co.uk
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-14:00,16:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:30-14:00,16:30-21:30; Su 16:30-21:00 · 73A Leigh Road, BH21 2AA · longjohnsfishandchips.co.uk
Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-21:00 Features: outdoor seating · 9 The Quay, Poole, BH15 1HJ · therockfish.co.uk
Thai, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 17:30-21:30; Fr,Sa 17:30-22:00 · 18 High Street, BH15 1BP · sakunakhruathai.co.uk
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 18:00-00:00 Features: takeaway · 189 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU · sammisindianrestaurant.co.uk
Cake, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Th, Sa 09:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-16:00 · 11 Ventura Place, BH16 5SW · thebikersloft.com
Caribbean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Th-Su 10:00-23:30, Fr,Sa 10:00-24:00
Steak, Restaurant · Steak restaurant · 553 Wallisdown Road, BH12 5AD · millerandcarter.co.uk
Kebab, Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 15:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 15:00-01:00; Su 16:00-22:00 · 191 Bournemouth Road, Poole, BH14 9HU
Pie And Mash, Fast Food · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 11:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · 4 High Street, Poole, BH15 1AD
Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Restaurant · Features: takeaway, vegetarian options, halal, step-free access, air conditioning · 232 Old Christchurch Road, BH1 1PE · beirutlounge.co.uk
Sushi, Restaurant · Features: delivery · 291 Wallisdown Road, BH12 5BT · morethansushi.co.uk
Steak House, Restaurant · Steak House restaurant · 61 Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BZ · funkigriller.co.uk
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · 7-8, Poole, BH14 9NB · jenkinssons.com
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Features: takeaway
Donut, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Greek, Restaurant · Greek restaurant · Exeter Crescent
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa-Su 09:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · 28 Shore Road, BH13 7PJ · jazzcafesandbanks.co.uk
Brazilian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 10:00-15:00 · 606 Wimborne Road, BH9 2EN
Noodle, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 17:30-21:30; Fr-Su 17:00-21:30; Tu-Th off · Christchurch Road
Breakfast, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-16:00; Sa 08:00-15:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options, step-free access · 4 Christchurch Road,…
Malaysian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We,Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa,Su 12:00-15:00,17:00-22:00 · 168-170 Holdenhurst Road
Japanese, Restaurant · Japanese restaurant · 353 Ashley Road, Poole, BH14 0AR · tomokoramen.co.uk
European, Restaurant · European restaurant · 8 Banks Road, BH13 7PP · thetandysandbanks.com
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Mediterranean restaurant
Turkish, Restaurant · Turkish restaurant
Oriental, Fast Food · Oriental fast food · 4 Holdenhurst Road, BH8 8AD
355 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Bournemouth Airport (BOH) 7.6 mi to the centre
Bournemouth, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 3 airlines (Ryanair, Transavia France, Aer Lingus) · direct flights to 17 destinations incl. Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Arrecife, Carcassonne… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves London (89 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 17 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 16 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Carcassonne, Chania, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gerona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Malaga, Malta, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 2 routes: Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- Aer Lingus EI (AT4) · 1 route: Dublin*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Henstridge Airfield 25 mi to the centre
Templecombe, Somerset, ENG, GB
Newton Peveril Airfield 7.3 mi to the centre
Wimborne, Dorset, ENG, GB
Dorset Gliding Club (Eyres Field) 10 mi to the centre
Wareham, Dorset, ENG, GB
Getting there by ferry
Greenslade Pleasure Cruises
Ferry terminal · 0.4 mi from the centre
Brownsea Island Ferries
Ferry terminal · 0.4 mi from the centre
City Cruises Poole
Ferry terminal · 0.4 mi from the centre
Dorset Cruises
Ferry terminal · 0.5 mi from the centre
Poole Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 0.7 mi from the centre
Ro-Ro 2
Ferry terminal · 0.8 mi from the centre
Poole Quay - Brownsea Island
Ferry route · Greenslade Pleasure Boats
Sandbanks Ferry
Ferry route · Bournemonth - Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company
Poole (UK) - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (F)
Ferry route · Brittany Ferries
Poole (UK) – Guernsey (GBG)
Ferry route · Condor Ferries
Poole (UK) - Jersey (GBJ)
Ferry route · Condor Ferries (Condor Vitesse)
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bagber Farm Airstrip; 8 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Greenslade Pleasure Cruises, 0.4 mi); routes include Poole Quay - Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Ferry, Poole (UK) - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (F).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Poole, England. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach