Home to the largest natural harbour in Europe, Poole is a hub for boating, yachting, watersports and fishing. Visitors can take several boat tours (including those to Brownsea Island with peacocks, red squirrels and a castle). The Old Town’s historic quayside buildings are the ideal place to learn about the town’s maritime history, listen to live music waterside, or shop for the town’s famed pottery. After dark, Poole offers a lively atmosphere and late-night party scene, as well as an excellent theatre. Do explore Poole’s exclusive suburb, Sandbanks; straddling the harbour and the beach, this strip is the nearest thing to Malibu you’ll find in the UK.
Hotel du Vin Poole
Housed in an ivy-clad Georgian Mansion surrounded by wrought iron railings, Hotel du Vin enjoys a prime setting on the quaint Town Quay. The property is a former merchant’s house, turned chic modern boutique hotel. It provides a comfortable familiarity for those already au fait with the chain and is large enough to provide facilities such as a courtyard for alfresco drinks, a bar and a bistro (serving French and British-inspired cuisine), alongside a sense of exclusivity (there are just 38 individually styled bedrooms).
