Poole

A large English coastal town situated on the shores of the English Channel in the ceremonial county of Dorset. The town has a population of 141,128 and is part of the South East Dorset conurbation. Poole Harbour is said to be the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney and has been a working port for many hundreds of years. Today it is home to Sunseeker, the manufacturers of luxury yachts, and the departure point for Brittany and Condor Ferries to France and the Channel Islands.

At the time of the Norman Conquest Poole was a small fishing village which was eventually to grow into an important port exporting wool. In 1433 it was made Port of the Staple by which time the town had trade links from the Baltic to Spain. Transatlantic trade and travel developed in the 17th century and by the start of the next century Poole was beating rival Bristol as the busiest port in England. Poole grew at a phenomenal rate. With the population reaching 12,310 in 1881 it was fast approaching 20,000 by the end of the 19th century. Part of the reason for the growth was the creation of a new seaside resort at Bournemouth which created a vast demand for the goods made in Poole.

Recognised as Poole's premier leisure attraction, the Tower Park Entertainment Centre has just celebrated the completion of a £5 million modernisation and refurbishment programme. With a 10 screen multiplex cinema to bingo, bowling and a water park with twelve of the UK's most exciting indoor and outdoor rides, it is the south coast's largest entertainment centre offering activities for all the family all year round.

Brownsea Island, a 500 acre island of pinewood, heathland and salt-marsh with its long and varied history can be reached via a short boat journey from Poole Quay. In 1962 the National Trust assumed control of Brownsea Island and today it has become a place to discover nature and escape the noise and stress of modern life. It is a haven for wildlife including red squirrels, peacocks and deer and is ideal for walks, picnics and for families to explore.

Poole is positioned on a very popular stretch of coastline, with the resort of Bournemouth to the east, Studland to the south and the Jurassic coast to the southwest. The town has grown rapidly, and Sandbanks, a small sand spit across part of the harbour mouth, is so popular that it has the fourth highest land value, by area, in the world. Football manager Harry Redknapp is a resident and owns a house along the waterside. There are exclusive homes both on Sandbanks and the whole of the area stretching east from the Harbour to The Avenue, the eastern boundary of Poole.

The bustling Quay, busy marina, the best beaches in England and the stunning natural harbour make Poole in Dorset a natural first choice on the South Coast. Even in winter Poole will guarantee an exciting getaway.