Poole is blessed with having the largest natural harbour in Europe, making it the second largest in the world! It also boasts a multi award-winning beach, and a delightful mixture of the historic and modern.
Sandbanks Beach
Family Fun & Local Attractions
There are many family activities in Poole, whatever the weather. From March until October you can visit Brownsea Island, the birthplace of the scouting movement and one of the last strongholds of the Red Squirrel in southern Britain. Undisturbed by traffic, it is the ideal spot for walking or a picnic. Alternatively, Tower Park, the south coast’s largest entertainment centre provides entertainment for the whole family from bowling to cinema, a choice of restaurants and Splashdown offering 12 of the UK’s most exciting indoor and outdoor water slides.
Windsurfer at Poole Windfest
High Adrenaline
Whether you are an expert or a beginner, Poole’s harbour and beaches are the perfect location for a range of water sports, from kayaking to windsurfing, kite boarding and sailing. A variety of local companies provide tuition or the hire of equipment.
Windfest, an annual free beach festival held every September, gives you the opportunity to have a go at different water sports and watch the pros in action, with bike shows, and water sport demonstrations amongst the activities for the weekend.
Fine food
Fine Dining and Farmers Markets
Poole boasts our vast array of restaurants, with a variety of options available from beach cafés and bistros to gourmet harbour view restaurants. Due to its location, seafood is a popular option in the town, with a variety of restaurants providing locally caught seafood and fish.
As well as fish restaurants, all tastes are catered for with restaurants providing traditional British cuisine as well as Italian, Chinese and Indian among others.
Sandbanks Peninsular and Poole Harbour
Miles of sandy beaches
Sandbanks beach in Poole has regularly held European 'Blue Flag' awards since the 1980s and is ranked within the top ten beaches in Europe. With its fine golden sand, gradually sloping beach and clean safe water, it's easy to understand why.
The beach is the ideal location for water sports, whether you are an expert or a beginner. There are many places offering equipment hire and providing tuition located in Sandbanks and the surrounding beaches.