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 12 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Poole departs from London and takes around 11h 25m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Poole. Located 0.5 km from the city centre, Poole is the busiest station in Poole. Another popular train station is Poole Branksome, located 5 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Poole is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 156 km 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 London, the bus ride to Poole takes 233 km and will cost you around £14. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £24 for a journey of 451 km. The most popular bus station is Poole, located 0.6 km from the city centre of Poole. Poole Parkstone - St John's Church is also a commonly used station, and is 4 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Poole, you’ll arrive at Bournemouth (BOH), which is located 12 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Poole departs from London and takes around 11h 25m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Poole. Located 0.5 km from the city centre, Poole is the busiest station in Poole. Another popular train station is Poole Branksome, located 5 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Poole is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 156 km 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 London, the bus ride to Poole takes 233 km and will cost you around £14. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £24 for a journey of 451 km. The most popular bus station is Poole, located 0.6 km from the city centre of Poole. Poole Parkstone - St John's Church is also a commonly used station, and is 4 km from the city centre.

Airports near Poole

BRSBristol
LHRLondon Heathrow
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Poole

Lufthansa
Good (7,965 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,509 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,943 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,460 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,343 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,932 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,209 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,583 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (911 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,683 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,567 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,767 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,723 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,993 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,192 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (404 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,230 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,432 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,312 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Poole

Average rates range from around £106 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £88 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Poole

Most booked hotels in Poole

See all
Hotel Du Vin Poole
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£105+
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Holiday Inn Express Poole By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£74+
View
Antelope Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£71+
View
Harbour Heights Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£135+
View
Haven Hotel
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
£130+
View
Sandbanks Hotel
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
£113+
View

Hiring a car in Poole

Hiring a car in Poole costs £43 per day, on average, or £85 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 16% cheaper than airport locations in Poole.

Expect to pay £1.57 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 £18.83 and £25.10. Compact (Jeep Avenger or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Poole, while also 55% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Poole costs £43 per day, on average, or £85 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 16% cheaper than airport locations in Poole.

Expect to pay £1.57 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 £18.83 and £25.10. Compact (Jeep Avenger or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Poole, while also 55% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car hire in Poole