Is Poole a nice place to live?
If you’re looking for a sunny retreat by the sea, some prehistoric immersion, or activities to entertain the family, Poole guarantees an experience for everyone.
Originating in the late 1100s, Poole was likely built by residents of nearby Wareham after it was razed in the civil war. Its seaside location helped it hit the ground running as a busy port town with a weekly market and an annual fair. While it has continued to grow and thrive through the years, it’s no stranger to war, and plenty of history has shaped the town of Poole as it stands today.
Living in Poole
Poole sprawls across the mouth of the Piddle, the Frome, the Corfe and the Sherford rivers, and hosts a busy harbour with direct access to the sea. Its location brings with it a coastal climate; the weather in Poole varies from stormy to balmy, with highs well above 20C in summer. The off season, however, can bring large waves and high winds, and plenty of rain to batter the cliffs. This is the main reason why the Jurassic Coast is a prime spot for fossil hunters, as harsh weather dislodges the clay and shale to reveal fresh fossil evidence every year.
Poole enjoys direct access to the beautiful Dorset countryside, including several reserves such as Bourne Valley, Luscombe Valley, and Lytchett Fields. Poole is a fantastic location to view rare wild birds, including a few of England’s only nesting ospreys in the nearby Wareham RSPB reserve.
For the more travel-focused residents, Poole is a day trip away from areas such as Swanage, St Leonards, and Wimborne, and offers plenty of public transport and well-maintained roads to access them. Recent signal towers have extended mobile phone coverage from a wide range of providing companies, and fast Wifi can now be acquired even in its remote locations.
Things to do in Poole
Poole, a beautiful town in Dorset, is a fantastic location to experience both history and prehistory. A gateway town to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the South West, Poole offers access to the Jurassic Coast, the best place for fossil hunting in the UK. Some Jurassic Coast discoveries include a complete Ichthyosaur fossil, which is on display at the museum in nearby Charmouth, and a behemoth Pliosaur skull that measures a colossal 2 metres long!
Poole’s Museum of Jurassic Marine Life is a fantastic location to immerse yourself in the prehistoric ecosystem of Southern England. Hosting hundreds of discoveries made by just one man, Dr Steve Etches MBE, the collection displays the goliath Pliosaur skull, ancient coelacanths, stone ammonites and more.
If these fossils whet your appetite for discovery, the Jurassic Coast offers guided or freestyle fossil walks to give you the chance to find your own fossils along the ancient cliffs. Be mindful, however - the Dorset cliffs are fragile, and it’s advised not to venture too close to them. Constant erosion keeps fresh fossils emerging, and the soft clay occasionally falls from the coast and opens new venues of discovery for avid fossil hunters.
For nature lovers, Dorset hosts some of the UK’s rarest wildlife, including ospreys and red squirrels on the nearby Brownsea Island. A regular ferry takes visitors to Brownsea to view the squirrels in one of their last native sanctuaries in the country, and you can enjoy a day walking among them in the ruins of the old island fort. Take a trip down to the Arne RSPB reserve to enjoy beautiful forested beaches, herds of nervous Sika deer, nests of busy wood ants, and perhaps a glance at the recently reintroduced ospreys or even an osprey chick in the spring.
If you enjoy the finer things, Poole offers cruises across the harbour or along the coast. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the gorgeous landscape of the prehistoric coastline and the old ruins of Brownsea Island. The nearby Sandbanks Beach is a great place to bask in the summer, and the harbour offers various water sports activities to cool off after enjoying the sun.
Places to eat in Poole
A coastal town, Poole is known for its comfortable pubs and fresh seafood. Its offerings, however, range all the way from Chinese food to Pizza restaurants. For a fancy dining experience, check out Isabel’s Brasserie, a fine dining experience of French and English cuisine.
For a more comfortable, laid back meal, visit the Brewhouse and Kitchen, a relaxed gastropub offering the staples of pub dining, or the Antelope Inn in Poole Old Town for an affordable Sunday lunch. If you’d like to bring along your furry friend, try out the Rope & Anchor or the Blue Boar, both rated as dog friendly gastropubs by Google.
To taste the fresh seafood of Poole Harbour, visit Rick Stein or the Cove on the Quay, both serving seafood and a fine view across the harbour while you eat.
Transport in Poole
Poole train station offers quick access to nearby cities such as Bournemouth, Weymouth, and Southampton, and longer trips to London, Manchester and even Glasgow. The train station hosts two platforms, and long-haul transport by train may require changes in nearby towns or cities.
Poole also offers transport by ferry, and you can jump on a boat for transport to Guernsey, Jersey, Cherbourg and St Malo in France. Enjoy the freedom of travel afforded by quick access to the harbour, but make sure you don’t accidentally go to France!
Is Poole dog friendly?
Yes, Poole is incredibly dog friendly! With miles of coastal walks and nature reserves, Poole is a great place to walk your dog in interesting new places. However, if you’re walking through the nature reserves, please keep your dog on a leash to protect Dorset’s endangered wildlife.
Interested in living in Poole? Check out our holiday home locations in Dorset and the Jurassic Coast, alongside our residential park homes at Merley Court.
