Things to do in Poole
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Brownsea Island
This small, wooded island in the middle of Poole harbour played a key role in a global movement famous for three-fingered salutes, shorts and toggles – Lord Baden-Powell staged the first ever scout camp here in 1907. Today trails weave through heath and woods, past peacocks, red squirrels, red deer and a wealth of birdlife.
There are free guided walks ; subjects include the wartime island, smugglers and pirates.
Boats run by Brownsea Island Ferries leave from Poole Quay (adult/child return £8.50/5.50) and Sandbanks (adult/child return £5/4). Services operate when the island is open only and the last boat is normally at about 4.30pm.
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Waterfront Museum
This beautifully restored 15th-century warehouse is home to a 2300-year old Iron Age logboat dredged up from Poole Harbour. At 10m long and 14 tonnes, it's the largest to be found in southern Britain and probably carried 18 people. It was hand-chiselled from a single tree; centuries later you can still see the blade marks in the wood.
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Custom House
Harbourside terrace, funky eatery and fine-dining venue all rolled into one.
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Local History Centre
This small but impressive centre can be found, thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant, in the historic town cellars at the back of the Waterfront Museum . It offers an in-depth history of Poole including archaeology, architecture, transport and local families. Naturally, Poole's maritime past is a drawcard, pooling information on trade and industry.
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Guildhall Tavern
More Provence than Poole, the grub at this brasserie is Gallic gourmet charm at its best: unpretentious and top-notch. Expect double-baked cheese soufflé, chargrilled sea bass flambéed with pernod, or Charolais beef with peppercorns. Exquisite aromas fill the dining room, along with the quiet murmur of people enjoying very good food.
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Poole Arms
Poole's harbour is lined with waterside watering holes. The green, tiled Poole Arms is the oldest pub on the quay and is thankfully unmessed-about-with - framed knot-samples and deeply worn wooden tables still rule. It also serves tasty bar food of the homemade fish soup and pie variety.
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Brownsea Island Ferries
Brownsea Island Ferries runs boats to Sandbanks from Poole Quay and cruises along the coast; look out for the Old Harry Rocks trip. These limestone stacks have been separated from each other by sea erosion and signal the start of the Jurassic Coast.
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Storm
The superbly cooked fish on the robust, eclectic menu here depends on what the owner's caught.
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BH13
A sleek and chic bar-restaurant with brown suede settees, chrome lights and the odd dash of purple, backlit glass. The menu travels the Med - chicken and chorizo meets slow cooked lamb in cumin, and paella.
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FC Watersports Academy
FC Watersports Academy hires kayaks and sailing dinghies. It also runs windsurfing tuition, kitesurfing classes and a two-day starter sailing course.
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Poole Lighthouse
The town's arts hub, Poole Lighthouse hosts a lively events calendar including live music, theatre, film and exhibitions.
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Absolute Aqua
You can cling to a jet ski with Absolute Aqua from around £140 a day.
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Watersports Academy
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Pool Harbour Watersports
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FC Watersports
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Cornish Mines & Engines
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Sandbanks
A 2-mile, wafer-thin peninsula of land that curls around the expanse of Poole Harbour, Sandbanks is studded with some of the most expensive houses in the world. But the golden beaches that border them are free, and have some of the best water-quality standards in the country. They're also home to a host of water-sport operators.
Brownsea Island Ferries shuttle between Poole Quay and Sandbanks every half hour.
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Poole Old Town
The attractive old buildings on Poole Quay range from the 15th to the 19th century, and include the Tudor King Charles pub on Thames St; the cream Old Harbour Office (1820s) next door; and the impressive red-brick Custom House (1813) opposite, complete with Union Jack and gilded coat of arms. The tourist office stocks a free heritage walking trail leaflet.
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