Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Poole travel guide

Poole Tourism | Poole Guide

You're Going to Love Poole

With a population of 150,092, Poole is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Poole deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Poole

If you’re looking for affordable options, Harbour Heights (73 Haven Rd) and Da Vinci's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria (Poole Quay) are great picks.

When to visit Poole

Poole in January
Estimated hotel price
£52
1 night at 3-star hotel
Poole in January
Estimated hotel price
£52
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Poole

Plane

When flying to Poole, you’ll arrive at Bournemouth (BOH), which is located 8 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Poole departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Poole, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Poole to Oxford takes 1h 06m and costs around £19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Cambridge, expect to pay about £17 for a 1h 28m trip. Located 0.3 miles from the city centre, Poole is the busiest station in Poole. Another popular train station is Poole Branksome, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Poole is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 97 miles from Poole. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Poole using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Poole takes 135 miles and will cost you around £8. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 145 miles. The most popular bus station is Poole, located 0.4 miles from the city centre of Poole. Poole Parkstone - St John's Church is also a commonly used station, and is 2 miles from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Poole, you’ll arrive at Bournemouth (BOH), which is located 8 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Poole departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Poole, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Poole to Oxford takes 1h 06m and costs around £19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Cambridge, expect to pay about £17 for a 1h 28m trip. Located 0.3 miles from the city centre, Poole is the busiest station in Poole. Another popular train station is Poole Branksome, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Poole is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 97 miles from Poole. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Poole using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Poole takes 135 miles and will cost you around £8. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 145 miles. The most popular bus station is Poole, located 0.4 miles from the city centre of Poole. Poole Parkstone - St John's Church is also a commonly used station, and is 2 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Poole

BRSBristol
LHRLondon Heathrow
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Poole

KLM
Good (1,443 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,754 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,705 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,128 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,208 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,864 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,099 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,528 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,490 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (895 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,667 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,674 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,375 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,174 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,356 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,148 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,440 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (381 reviews)
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Where to stay in Poole

Average rates range from around £99 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £95 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Poole

Most booked hotels in Poole

See all
Grovefield Manor
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£72+
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Hotel Du Vin Poole
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£80+
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Holiday Inn Express Poole By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£47+
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Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£70+
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Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£46+
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Antelope by Greene King Inns
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£46+
View

Hiring a car in Poole

Hiring a car in Poole costs £35 per day, on average, or £71 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 32% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.30 per litre in Poole (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.49 and £20.65. The most frequently booked car type in Poole is Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Vauxhall Mokka or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Poole costs £35 per day, on average, or £71 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 32% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.30 per litre in Poole (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.49 and £20.65. The most frequently booked car type in Poole is Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Vauxhall Mokka or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Poole