Poole is a large coastal town on the English Channel.
The town’s harbour is the second largest in the world and this busy port is due for expansion to allow larger ships including cruise ships to dock.
Much of the town’s history is centred round the harbour. It was the departure point of the troops for the D Day Normandy Landings during the Second World War.
Fishing was prominent and the town was given the right to fish off Newfoundland in the 1800’s by Queen Victoria.
Ferries operate from the harbour sail to France and the Channel Islands.
Also round the harbour can be found the Special Boat Service, the Royal National Lifeboat Institutes headquarters and yacht manufacturers Sunseeker
Water sports are popular in this sheltered, calm harbour and The Sandbanks are noted for windsurfing and kite surfing.
Sandbanks, a peninsula across the harbour mouth that is so popular it has the highest priced land per square inch in the world. Many large exclusive houses have been built here.
Brownsea Island is in the harbour and is a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and has great walks and views of the harbour. It has plenty of wildlife to see such as red squirrels, deer and peacocks. It was here that the Scout and Guide movement was founded and the site of the first ever scouts camp. New on the island for 2007 is a scout and guide heritage trail and activity centre built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of scouting and camping for guides and scouts.
The town has many old buildings including the 1761 Market House, a 1746 town house, the medieval wool house and St. George’s Tudor Almshouses built in 1586.
It was in the Haven Hotel in 1897 that Marconi was experimenting with the wireless when he found he could receive signals from Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight some twenty miles away.
The town’s biggest employers include Barclay’s Bank, Ryvita, Poole Packaging, Penska Cars, the cosmetic company Lush and the clothing company Animal. The headquarters of Merlin Entertainment, the worlds second largest theme park operators are situated in Poole.
Poole is also home to the main campus and administration offices of Bournemouth University.
Poole has a large tourist trade especially during the summer months.
There is plenty to do and see in Poole including the large Poole Museum housing displays from the Iron Age to the present day. One floor is entirely for displays of Poole pottery.
Poole pottery was in business for many years and most of the tiles found on the London Underground during the 1930’s were made at this pottery. Some still can be seen such as at Bethnal Green. It closed due to vast debts in December 2006. It is now under the control of Lifestyle Group of Companies who also owned the Royal Stafford Pottery.
There is a large park in town with a lake, 2 play areas, ice rink and restaurants.
The Tower Park is a Leisure complex and includes Megabowls, an Empire Cinema, Gala Bingo, a video arcade and several restaurants.
There are many shops in Poole and these include, Adams, Lillies UK, Butterfly Boutique, CC, River Island, Big Matt’s, Chocky Clothing, Waves and Burtons.
Property to rent in Poole is available with prices in the region of £565 - £600pcm for a l bed flat, £575 - £695pcm for a 2 bed flat, £700 - £750pcm for a 2 bed house and £725 - £895 for a 3 bed house.
Poole is easily accessible by road, rail and ferry.
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