Poole in General > Reviews > Poole, A Beautiful Place

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around

Advantages:	Near the Sea, lovely Harbour, pleanty to see and do
Disadvantages:	Lots of holidaymakers !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

POOLE:

Poole is located on the southcoast of England in Dorset. It is 2 miles from bournemouth but could not be more different. With its superb beaches and beautiful natural harbour, its a hidden treasure.

PLACES TO GO:

Sandbanks Beach: Has been awarded the blue flag (for cleanliness and met all the standards) for the last 17 years.

In peak season it is ensured that sands are sifted, cleaned and raked on a regular basis, I have been there when it has been done! There is a ban on dogs between 1st May and 30th September. You can hire deckchairs, parasols etc if needed and a lifeguard is always on duty between those dates. There are several other beaches that spread between Poole and Bournemouth as well. It has a pay and dispaly car park, but get there early on a nice day because it gets busy! You can have Jet ski lessons, powerboat tution there as well.

Not to forget Brittany ferries goes to France for day trips from Poole. You can also do day/weekend trips to Jersey and Guernsey from Poole as well.

BROWNSEA ISLAND:

This is a little island situated in Poole harbour, you get on a little ferry that takes you across to the island. It is a nature reserve, it is a haven for a large variety of wildlife including rare red squirrels and populations of terns and wading birds. Brownsea's peacocks run wild too. No cars are able to get there so it is very peaceful.

Woodland walks
- Delicious home food & drink in the coffee shop
with the best views in the harbour
A gift shop
- Free trails & other activities for families
- Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve
- Guided tours
- Visitor Centre
- Special events
- Quiet beaches
- Brownsea Open Air Theatre, in the summer they do all sorts of theatre shows.

Open 12th March - 30th October between 10am-6pm depending on time of year.

Scaplens Court is a museum down on the Quay/Harbourside, it is free to get in and they hand out little lists for children to complete as they walk around the museum. Children love it as it has a lot in there for them to discover and touch such as history on the victorians.

THE QUAY:

Europe’s largest natural harbour. Walking along the Quay you will come across pub after pub. They all have seating outside right on the quay and what is better than on a beautiful summers day, sitting there watching all the beautiful boats glide past. Sunseeker (the largest powerboat exporter comapny) is right opposite, and these are the million dollar boats, seeing is believing!!
There are many gift shops along the Quay, although Poole Pottery is no longer there (now a huge million pound flat complex!), there is the factory shop where you can browse or buy. Plenty of lovely restuarants along the Quay and small cafe bar's. There are guided tours which you can do around the Quay as well. There are plenty of boats around for you to do island tours, there are a few other little islands, and a trip round the harbour as well

COMPTON ACRES:

10 acres of beautiful gardens, open 363 days of the year.
Model railway exhibition. All-weather facilities. Cafe and shop.

SHOPPING/NIGHTLIFE

A nice big shopping complex called the Dolphin Centre. All Major shops there. Plenty of fast food and cafe and cafe bar's to choose from. The high street leads all the way down to The Quay, shops all the way down. On Thursday and Saturday they have markets and farmer markets there. The bus/coach station is outside the dolphin centre and the train station just around the corner. All buses frequently going in and out of Poole to Bournemouth and surrounding areas. Opposite Poole Dolphin Centre is The Lighthouse which has all the shows/pantomines and theatre. Oasis played here last year! Booked up b4 i could get tickets. Not massive but big enough, lights up in the evening and it looks beautiful. Plenty of pubs/clubs for the night time. brillaint along Poole Quay in the summer when everyone is outside on the Quay in the evenings.

5 Mins from the centre is Poole Speedway/greyhound track.

TOWERPARK:

This is about 10 mins from the centre of poole. It is a large activity /entertainment centre which includes splashdown, water rides inside and out! UCI 10 screen cinema, megabowl, and bingo. Plenty of restuarants which include, pizza, and american style restuarants.

ACCOMMODATION:

Plenty of hotels and guest house here. The Sandbanks and the Haven hotel are the big ones! Right on the Beach, Lovely hotels, ok if you have the money! Guest houses near to the beach or in the centre are all nice, plenty of them. There is another large hotel on the Quay called The Quay. Little Bed and Breakfast are a plenty as well.

Through the summer on Poole Quay they have entertainement along poole Quay on a Thursday night. it includes live bands, and street entertainers and bbq's. At dusk they finish of with a lovely firework display. In August at Sandbanks beach they have similar entertainement as well, including a firework display at dusk.

I think I have covered everything on poole that i can fit onto this review, without dragging on too much. There is so much to see and do in Poole. It is beautiful and when you see it you will want to come time and time again. It is close to Bournemouth which is more lively and has more nightclubs. A short taxi ride will get you there if poole too quiet for you in the evenings.

I hope you find this review full of info, i cant fit everything to do and see in Poole because it will take forever.

Poole is beautiful and i should know because I live here!

Thanks for reading! xx