Poole sits on the south coast of Dorset within the unitary authority of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, centred on the magnificent tidal estuary of Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The harbour contains Brownsea Island, famed for its wildlife and the 1907 Scout camp, while the slender spit at Sandbanks is notorious for extremely high property prices and a summer resort atmosphere.
Historically a busy medieval port with a strong pottery and shipbuilding tradition - think Poole Pottery and the bustling Poole Quay - the town’s economy now blends tourism, maritime industries, ferries and local retail. Socially it mixes affluent seaside neighbourhoods with longstanding harbour communities, giving a varied cultural scene of museums, watersports and seasonal events alongside everyday coastal life.