Serviced Apartments in Poole

Discover the best activities and attractions Poole has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Brownsea Island (National Trust)
Brownsea Island is a 505-hectare nature reserve in Poole Harbour famous for red squirrels, diverse birdlife and the site of the original 1907 Scouting camp. Its conservation work and limited-capacity visitor model protect habitats while drawing nature tourism. Impact: Brownsea generates seasonal visitor spending for local boat operators, cafes and accommodation; it supports conservation jobs and volunteers, raises Poole’s national/international profile for wildlife tourism, and provides environmental education opportunities for schools and community groups.

Poole Harbour & Poole Quay (harbour activities, seafood and boat trips)
Poole Harbour, one of the world’s largest natural harbours, and the adjacent historic Quay form the town’s maritime heart — offering boat trips to Brownsea and Sandbanks, charter fishing, watersports, and a concentration of seafood restaurants and cafés. Impact: The harbour and Quay are major economic drivers—sustaining marine businesses, tour operators, hospitality jobs and events that bring steady visitor footfall. The area preserves Poole’s seafaring heritage and supports local supply chains (fishermen, seafood suppliers, boat maintenance) while anchoring leisure and festival activity.

Poole Museum & Scaplen’s Court (local history and heritage)
Poole Museum and the medieval Scaplen’s Court present the town’s maritime, pottery and archaeological story, from ancient finds to Poole Pottery and seafaring trade. The museum provides exhibitions, learning programmes and community displays. Impact: As a cultural resource it strengthens local identity, attracts cultural visitors, supports heritage tourism, and partners with schools and community organisations—helping to circulate tourism income into local hospitality and specialist conservation/interpretation roles.

The Lighthouse (Poole’s centre for the arts)
The Lighthouse is Dorset’s largest arts centre, offering theatre, contemporary cinema, live music, comedy, exhibitions and community arts programmes across year-round programming. Impact: The venue stimulates the evening and cultural economy—generating employment, audience spend in nearby restaurants and shops, and community arts development. It also provides a platform for local creatives, education workshops and touring productions, enhancing Poole’s cultural offer and visitor appeal beyond daytime tourism.

Dolphin Shopping Centre & Poole Old Town (shopping and independent retail)
The Dolphin is Poole’s indoor retail hub, complemented by the Old Town, Backwater Quay and Quay-side independent boutiques, markets and specialist shops. This mix offers national retailers alongside local artisans, antiques and marine-related outlets. Impact: Retail is a steady source of local employment and daily footfall; the combination of high-street and independent shops helps retain residents’ spending, supports small business entrepreneurship, and feeds into the visitor economy by encouraging longer stays and cross‑spending on dining and attractions.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Poole, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Local buses (Morebus and other operators) - Frequent local and regional services linking Poole town centre, suburbs and neighbouring towns (Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, Wareham), including town routes, interurban routes and some park-and-ride services; Morebus is the principal operator in the area.
- Poole railway station - Mainline rail station with regular services operated by South Western Railway providing frequent connections to Bournemouth and Weymouth and direct services to London Waterloo; interchange at Bournemouth and other nearby stations expands regional and national rail options.
- Long‑distance coaches - National and private coach operators serve Poole and the nearby Bournemouth travel interchange, offering intercity connections to London and other major UK destinations.
- Ferry services and water transport - Poole Harbour is served by passenger ferries and water taxis, with regular/seasonal services to Brownsea Island, Shell Bay and other local destinations; sightseeing cruises and leisure boat services operate from Poole Quay.
- Sandbanks Chain Ferry - A vehicle and passenger chain ferry linking Sandbanks (Poole) with Studland, providing a useful short-cut for drivers and cyclists across Poole Harbour entrance; operates year‑round with seasonal timetables.
- Airport connections - Bournemouth Airport (approximately 8–10 miles) is the nearest airport with domestic and seasonal international flights; public transport links (bus/taxi) and road routes provide access to the airport and larger airports (Southampton, Bristol) are reachable by road or rail.

Major Highways
- A35 - Primary east–west trunk road along the Dorset coast that connects Poole/Bournemouth with Dorchester, Bridgwater and links toward the M27/M3 corridor.
- A350 - North–south route linking Poole with Blandford Forum and onward to the A303/A36 corridors that serve central southern England and Wiltshire.
- A338 - Major northbound arterial from Bournemouth/Poole toward Ringwood and the M27, providing a fast route to the motorway network and Salisbury area.
- A31 - Important route to the west and north‑west of the area (accessible via nearby links) connecting toward the New Forest and the M27/M3 network.
- M27 / M3 (motorway access) - Motorway links accessible via the A338/A35 corridors providing longer-distance access to Southampton, Portsmouth, and the national motorway network toward London and the Midlands.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Coastal and strategic cycle routes (including Sustrans/NCN links and Holes Bay trail) - Poole benefits from a mixture of signed on‑road cycle lanes, traffic‑free shared paths (notably the Holes Bay path and coastal seafront routes), and National Cycle Network Route 2 passing through the area; the network supports commuting, leisure cycling and links to Bournemouth and neighbouring towns, alongside local cycle parking and incremental active‑travel improvements delivered by the BCP Council.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Active travel and cycle/pedestrian projects (Holes Bay bridge and related schemes) - BCP Council and partners have advanced plans and funding bids for new pedestrian/cycle links (including proposals for a Holes Bay crossing) and other active‑travel schemes intended to improve safe walking and cycling routes and reduce local car trips.
- Bus fleet decarbonisation and service enhancements - Local bus operators have been introducing low‑emission and electric buses and upgrading fleets and timetables to improve reliability, emissions and passenger experience across Poole and the wider Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole area.
- Town centre and quay regeneration works - Ongoing public‑realm, pedestrianisation and transport‑access improvements around Poole Quay and the town centre aimed at better walking/cycling connections, improved bus interchange and enhanced public spaces to support tourism and local trips.
- Harbour and ferry upgrades - Investment and periodic maintenance programmes for harbour infrastructure and ferry operations (including the Sandbanks Chain Ferry and passenger-boat facilities) to maintain resilience and seasonal service provision.
- Rail corridor and station accessibility projects - Incremental improvements at Poole station and on the regional rail corridor—accessibility upgrades, station facility enhancements and timetable/rolling‑stock replacements—aimed at improving passenger comfort and connectivity (delivered by rail operators and Network Rail).