Poole harbour
Between the beaches and the town centre lays Poole Harbour, where the sheltered and shallow waters provide a perfect location for making your first attempts at water sports. However the harbour also attracts the experienced and and is home for Animal Windfest, the premier UK wind and kite surfing championship.
Poole Harbour is the location of the cross channel ferry port used by Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries services to Cherbourg and St Malo.
A number of pleasure cruises are available from Poole Quay including trips to Old Harry Rocks, Swanage, Wareham , and Brownsea Island. Also moored alongside the quay are small fishing boats and luxury powerboats.
Poole quay
Poole Quay and its adjoining Old Town is a mix of passageways, elegant 17th and 18th century houses, modern apartments, pubs, cafes and restaurants. It is also home to the famous Poole Pottery shop.
Poole High Street
The pedestrianised High Street which contains a mixture of retail shops and restaurants links the Quay to the Dolphin Shopping Centre, Dorset's largest undercover shopping centre.
Poole festivals
Back on The Quay, a festival of weekly events is held from April until September which is hailed as the longest Summertime in the South! Events include Coles Miller Dream Machines, Rockley Park Quay for my Car, Summer Breeze on the Quay with Fireworks and Summer Breeze on the Beach with Fireworks.
Away from the town centre are the famous Compton Acres, reputed to be the finest gardens in Europe and Upton Country Park, an early 19th Century residence with its formal gardens, woodland and parkland.
Poole speedway
For something different, the Poole Pirates (British Elite Speedway League champions in 2008), provide exhilarating entertainment on Wednesday nights during the summer at Poole Stadium, which also hosts Greyhound Racing on Tuesday, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Poole's transport links
Poole enjoys good rail connections with the rest of the country, being on the main line from London Waterloo just 2 hours away. The M3 motorway, A31 and A338 roads give dual carriageway access to within 5 miles of the town centre. Just 10 miles away is Bournemouth International Airport which is served by Ryanair flights from Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
