Explore beyond the quay
Poole’s neighbourhoods, the places around the harbour and along the coast, and what each season is good for.
The neighbourhoods of Poole
Broadstone
An inland suburb north of the town with golf, heathland on the doorstep and easy access to the Castleman Trailway.
Ashley Cross
Poole's bar and restaurant village in Lower Parkstone: a green ringed with independents that stays busy all year.
Canford Cliffs
A smart clifftop village above the chines, with Compton Acres, beach access through wooded valleys and a good run of shops.
Hamworthy
The western shore: a harbour beach with shallow water, a park, the ferry port and the Twin Sails Bridge back into town.
Poole Old Town
Georgian merchant houses, the Guildhall, Scaplen's Court and the Cockle Trail, all a few steps back from the water.
Lilliput
A quiet harbour-side pocket between Parkstone and Sandbanks, with marinas, moorings and a short walk to the beaches.
Parkstone
The residential belt between Poole and the beaches, holding Ashley Cross, Poole Park's eastern edge and a long run of Victorian streets.
Poole Quay
The working waterfront: boats to Brownsea, the lifting bridge, seafood terraces and most of Poole's summer calendar.
Sandbanks
A sand spit guarding the harbour mouth, Blue Flag beaches, a four-minute chain ferry and some of Britain's priciest land.
Poole Town Centre
The High Street, the Dolphin Centre and Lighthouse, a ten-minute walk up from the Quay and right beside the station.
Upton
Upton Country Park, a Georgian house, harbour shoreline and the quiet north-western corner of Poole Harbour.
The island, the coast & the places nearby
Brownsea Island
Red squirrels, peacocks, a lagoon full of birds and the place Scouting began, twenty minutes by boat from the Quay.
Studland
Four miles of sand, rare heath and Old Harry Rocks, four minutes across the harbour mouth on the chain ferry.
Wimborne Minster
A Dorset market town half an hour north: a twin-towered minster, a chained library, Georgian streets and a model town.
Other ways to see Poole
History of Poole
A port, a pottery and 800 years of trade.
Beyond the Beach
Heath, harbour islands and the Purbeck hills.
Jurassic Coast
The World Heritage coastline on the doorstep.
Dorset & Countryside
Market towns, chalk downs and country pubs.
New Forest
Ponies, ancient woodland and open heath.
Jersey, Guernsey & France
Where the ferries from Poole can take you.