We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful coastline this summer.
With so many great travel options and a close proximity to London, our area is one of the most accessible destinations in the South West.
If you are travelling from another country, you will be delighted to find that we have an international airport and ferry port which connects us with the European continent.
Planning your visit to Poole couldn’t be simpler.
Airport
Bournemouth Airport has its own dedicated transfer bus (the number 737) which is operated by Morebus, providing swift and convenient travel to and from the airport. The bus service runs seven days a week, and connects with Bournemouth town centre and the main travel interchange at Bournemouth, providing fantastic access to buses, coaches (including National Express) and trains and giving you the freedom to travel all over Dorset and beyond. It couldn’t be simpler.
Arriving by Sea
Poole Port
The Port of Poole has a busy ferry terminal with rail, bus, cycle and road links.
Ferries arrive into Poole Port from the following destinations:
- Cherbourg (Normandy, France) - travel with Brittany Ferries on this approximate 4.5 hour journey. Departures are daily, with a selection of daytime and overnight sailings available for a restful nights sleep.
- Saint-Malo (Brittany, France) - travel with Britanny Ferries & DFDS (via the Channel Islands). Departures are daily and some sailings offer the chance to have a few hours in Jersey or Guernsey before your onward journey to Poole.
- Jersey and Guernsey (Channel Islands) - travel with Brittany Ferries (Guernsey) and DFDS (Jersey). Departures are daily and are approx 3 hours from Guernsey and 4.5 hours from Jersey.
Arriving by Private Boat
Poole Quay Boat Haven & Port of Poole Marina are both perfectly positioned to offer a base from which to explore Poole Harbour and its surrounding area. Please note the harbour area has bye-laws and the chain ferry at the entrance has right of way. Poole Harbour is a beautiful location and because of this, it can be very busy at times.
Arriving at Poole Port with a vehicle
Whether arriving in Poole with your car, motorbike or motorhome, you will find a good range of accommodation in Poole if you wish to stay overnight or longer.
If you are extending your trip to include a tour of the UK, Poole is linked by the A31 to the M27, and from there to the M3 towards London. The A350 runs north from Poole to Bristol, and the A35 westwards from Poole towards Dorchester and Exeter.
Arriving on foot
There is a free shuttle bus connecting the Ferry and the terminal building and then a 30-35 minute walk to Poole Town Centre, Poole Railway Station or Poole Bus Station.
Arriving at Poole port by bike
Many Ferries offer free cycle transportation when traveling by bicycle if you pre-book. Poole Port has good cycle links to the national cycle network and there are many cycle routes in Dorset, so you can begin your holiday straight away.
By Bus and Coach
There are plenty of coach providers offering great prices on travel to and from Poole. All coaches arrive in the heart of Poole, right next to the bus station, where taxis and local buses are waiting to take you to your hotel, the town centre or seafront!
Poole has a great bus service Morebus' regular routes to Bournemouth, Bournemouth Railway Station and Christchurch. There are also buses which go further out to Salisbury, Swanage and the Purbecks – visiting Poole and the surrounding areas couldn’t be easier, just hop on and hop off!
Single Bus Fares Capped at £3
As part of Help for Households the Government is subsidising most single bus fares to just £3 (Announced in January 2025). Tourists and visitors to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area can take advantage of this – with a £3 fare representing a significant saving for bus journeys to explore the destinations that surround us. If using a direct bus a day out (two capped single fares) is just £6. However, if you want to hop on and off all day, a morebus dayrider may offer better value, especially if you are travelling in a group of up to 5 people.
Poole Lifting Bridge & Twin Sails
Visit BCP Council website for more information on bridge lifting times.
Ferry Port Traffic Tip: When the bridge is lifted (open), traffic to and from the Ferry Port can be affected, so always allow extra travelling time. If Poole Bridge is open use Twin Sails Bridge and if Twin Sails bridge is open use Poole Bridge. Always allow extra time when travelling to the ferry port.
National Express Coaches
A regular coach service with National Express is available throughout the country and links towns, cities and airports offering shuttle services to Dorset as well as around Dorset. Travel times from London Victoria Coach Station or London Airports start at only 2 hours and 15 minutes to Bournemouth Travel Interchange which is the first major stop to the east of the County.
South Western Railway
The main train line to Poole runs from London Waterloo to Weymouth operated by South Western Railway.
Trains from London Waterloo stop at four stations within Poole – Branksome, Parkstone, Poole and Hamworthy (note: check train times for smaller stations). You can even find out how to save money on your train tickets.
Buy a PlusBus ticket when you book at southwesternrailway.com so you can enjoy unlimited hop on and off travel for the day on most local bus services.
By Car
Whether you are travelling by car, motorhome or motorcycle, good directions are always an advantage. When planning your trip you may find it useful to check the Travel Dorset website for the latest travel updates, live public transport information and a useful journey planner.
The M5 motorway brings visitors from the west (via Bristol) and west of the country (Devon and Cornwall).
From the Midlands and North, follow the major motorway routes (M1 and M40) which connect with the M25 London orbital motorway to arrive on the M3, then M27 through the New Forest and finally the A31 and pick up signs for Poole or follow the A338 (Bournemouth bypass) and pick up the Poole signs at the end. Alternatively use the A34 to link near Winchester to the M27.
Once you arrive in Poole you will need somewhere to park your car so why not check out the councils find a car park page on their website.
Taxis
PRC Streamline - Dorset's premier taxi fleet. Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne, Ferndown and surrounding area, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing you with a prompt, friendly and reliable taxi service.
For Discounted Fixed Price Travel, download the new Taxi Booking App
"PRC Streamline" from the app store or Google play.
Car Hire
If you’re looking for a car for your Staycation, or to explore the local towns and beaches, then try a whole new rental experience with Karzoom.
Auto Europe is a global online car hire broker with over 60 years experience in dealing with regional, national and international suppliers.
Need more information?
Stay moving when planning your holiday check Travel Dorset for the latest travel updates which may effect your journey, live public transport information and useful journey planner.
Visit our Getting about page for more information on travelling when in Resort.
