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 December
Estimated hotel price
£53
1 night at 3-star hotel
Poole in December
Estimated hotel price
£53
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 London and takes around 7h 40m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Poole. 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 U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Poole using National Express or FlixBus. From London, the bus ride to Poole takes 130 miles and will cost you around £18. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £46 for a journey of 270 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 London and takes around 7h 40m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Poole. 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 U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Poole using National Express or FlixBus. From London, the bus ride to Poole takes 130 miles and will cost you around £18. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £46 for a journey of 270 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

Lufthansa
Good (7,939 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,501 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,905 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,321 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,431 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,924 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,189 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,578 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (905 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,625 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,751 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,560 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,952 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,188 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,390 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (404 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,217 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,433 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,284 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Poole

Average rates range from around £103 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £96 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 (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£85+
View
Holiday Inn Express Poole By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£67+
View
Antelope Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£73+
View
Harbour Heights Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£113+
View
Haven Hotel
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
£130+
View
Sandbanks Hotel
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
£104+
View

Hiring a car in Poole

Hiring a car in Poole costs £38 per day, on average, or £76 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 50% cheaper than airport locations in Poole.

Expect to pay £1.59 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 £19.01 and £25.34. The most frequently booked car type in Poole is Compact (Vauxhall Crossland or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 35% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Poole costs £38 per day, on average, or £76 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 50% cheaper than airport locations in Poole.

Expect to pay £1.59 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 £19.01 and £25.34. The most frequently booked car type in Poole is Compact (Vauxhall Crossland or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 35% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Poole