Explore The 12 Best Things To Do In Poole, England

1. Poole Park

Stuck with what to do in Poole? Perhaps you can check out Poole Park and explore all its fun activities. Comprised of gardens, play areas, and bodies of water, you can find many swans and ducks swimming around while you relax in the crisp air.

It’s a great recreation spot for locals with the presence of fitness trails, tennis courts, and water sports such as kayaking and sailing in the lake. Foreign tourists will also certainly enjoy the picture-perfect scenery from its many green spaces. This award-winning park is one of the best places to eat in all of Poole, whether you’re out for a picnic or dining inside its surrounding eateries.

Poole Park

Address: Poole Park, Poole, Dorset BH15 2SF

Website: Poole Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

2. Hamworthy Park

The people of Poole surely love their beaches, and Hamworthy Park, one of the town’s best attractions, proves just that. Sitting on the scenic Poole Harbor, this property is made of Hamworthy Beach, wide green fields, play areas, and a seasonal paddling pool.

It’s an all-ages affair at this Poole attraction - bring your dog along to the beach and marvel at its beachside beauty and the surrounding vibrant huts, or watch as your kids have fun playing with the pool’s waters. Topped by additional features such as the park’s cafe and thrilling water activities, Hamworthy Park is also accessible to disabled folks with wheelchair-friendly toilets and access throughout.

Hamworthy Park

Address: Lulworth Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole BH15 4DH

Website: Hamworthy Park, Friends of Hamworthy Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

3. Brownsea Island

A short boat ride from Poole will take you to the National Trust sight of Brownsea Island, which has spectacular views that spread out to the Purbeck Hills. Formerly a private island with a castle built by Henry VIII, it now houses a wildlife sanctuary which has one of the last red squirrel colonies in Britain. Use your time to explore the vastness of woodland, heathland and even a lagoon. There’s also a natural playground, picnic areas and even an eco-camping area - a must visit for nature lovers.

Brownsea Island

Address: Brownsea Island, Poole BH13 7EE, England

Website: Brownsea Island

4. Splashdown Waterpark Poole

Whatever the British weather is like, a visit to the Splashdown Waterpark Poole will easily please most people. With 13 indoor and outdoor flume rides, ranging from severe to easy, there’s plenty of thrills to be had on your visit and some even have sound and light effects. For little ones, there are 3 splash zones and when you need a rest, take refuge in their own site cafe or lounge on one of the pool’s sunbeds.

Splashdown Waterpark Poole

Address: Splashdown Poole, Tower Park, Poole, Dorset BH12 4NY

Website: Splashdown Waterpark Poole

5. Sandbanks Beach

One of the best things to do in Dorset also happens to be one of the best beaches on the South Coast and a holder of the European Blue Flag for a record 30 years. With fine golden sand and clean, safe water, it’s a perfect setting for a day out on the beach. It has excellent facilities - crazy golf course, children’s play area, a slackline, barbecue area and cafe - and a wide selection of water sports including parascending, inflatable “Bronco’s” or “Ringos”, jet-ski hire and power boat rides.

Sandbanks Beach

Address: Banks Road, BH13 7QQ, England

Website: Sandbanks Beach

6. Upton Country Park

A quick drive from Poole center will take you to the serene parkland of the award winning Upton Country Park, a favorite tourist attraction in the area. Stroll amongst the wildlife along the shoreline or admire the botanical Walled Garden; for kids there’s plenty of opportunities for them to use up their energy in the Woodland Play Trail or to play games on the Front Lawn. A Gallery and Tea Room are open everyday whilst the The Georgian splendor of the Grade II listed Upton House is only open on certain days of the year.

Upton Country Park

Address: Upton, Poole BH17 7BJ, England

Website: Upton Country Park

7. Poole Museum

For a nautical theme and a sense of the history of Poole from prehistoric times up to modern day, drop by the Poole Museum to see their displays of archaeological artifacts from the Roman period to medieval times. As you walk in, there is a massive viking longboat at the entrance, a great attraction to entice you in further to learn more about Stone, Bronze and Iron ages. While you’re there, you can also visit the other buildings housed under the museum: Oakley’s Mill, a Victorian grain warehouse, Town Cellars and Scaplen’s Court.

Poole Museum

Address: 4 High Street, Poole BH15 1BW, England

Website: Poole Museum

8. Poole Harbor

For somewhere beautiful to watch the world go by, head to Poole Harbor for some people and boat watching. This is the second largest natural harbor in the world and is a great place to get a feel of Poole’s sea history. As you stroll along the quayside, look out for tall ships, fishing vessels and luxury Sunseeker powerboats, or alternatively, take a drink at one of the many cafes or bars and admire the The Twin Sails Bridge.

Poole Harbor

Address: Poole, UK

Website: Poole Harbor

9. RNLI Memorial Sculpture

This memorial is dedicated to the brave and selfless lifeboat and rescue crews who have volunteered acts of heroism in order to save others. The memorial is not only designed to honor local crews, but also others in local communities, and this is the only place where they are all named together. It’s a beautiful reminder of those who were lost at sea to save the lives of others.

RNLI Memorial Sculpture

Address: Poole, Dorest

Website: RNLI Memorial Sculpture

10. Compton Acres

With 5 gardens laid out on a circular route, visitors can easily walk around each one at their own leisure and discover the particular styles of each garden, from the Italian garden to the Japanese, or the Rock and Water Garden. When you need to take a break, there are plenty of tea rooms and cafes for you to recharge your batteries before heading through the other gardens of Woodland and Heather.

Compton Acres

Address: 164 Canford Cliffs Road, Poole Dorset BH13 7ES, England

Website: Compton Acres

11. Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

For a fun day out for the family, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park provides an abundance of kids’ activities and animal events. From bottle feeding the lambs, hand feeding the goats, cuddling guinea pigs or watching the pig race, your little ones will love this experience. If that’s not enough, they can also go on a ‘lumpy bumpy’ tractor ride across the fields or play in the hay barn that has slides, or have a go on the tandem go-karts.

Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

Address: Wareham Road, Organford, Poole, Dorset BH16 6EU, England

Website: Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park

12. Steam Train and Sea Cruise Adventure Including the Jurassic Coast from Poole (from USD 37.0)

For a great way to see the coastal views, head on board a boat for a Jurassic Coast cruise and enjoy the sights of Poole Harbor, Brownsea Island, the Blue Lagoon, and the swanky coastal enclave of Sandbanks. The shore of the Jurassic Coast was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in England, so you’ll be guaranteed a treat on your day out. From Swanage Bay’s Victorian Pier, you’ll take a short walk along the beach before jumping on the steam train where you can hop on and off any of the 5 stops between Swanage and Norden.

Poole to the Jurrasic Coast Tour with Steam Train, Sea Cruise

Duration: 5 hours

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Relax and explore by the seaside

Poole has everything you’d want from a seaside resort, from relaxing on some of Britain’s best beaches, exploring the local islands and coastline or immersing yourself in the countryside surroundings. To cap it all off, make sure you sample a meal of traditional fish and chips followed by some delicious ice cream to capture the true essence of a British holiday on the coast. If you’re wondering where to stay, the county of Dorset offers several sea view hotels, log cabins, and self-catering accomodations you can rent.