You are spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches in Poole.
It is home to some of the most luxurious and expensive homes in the world, and along with that come some of the most beautiful, charming, and stunning beaches, which are easy to access and stretch as far as the eye can see.
From sitting on a deckchair people-watching to playing volleyball on the golden sands, Poole is home to some of the most attractive beaches. It also has the added bonus of having Poole Harbour and Bournemouth town close by.
Here are some of the most popular beaches in Poole.
Table of Contents
Sandbanks Beach
Sandbanks beach is known for its white/ golden sand, beautiful views of The Purbecks and crystal clear water that is perfect for swimming and watersports.
It’s a very popular beach in the warmer months because of this, and it doesn’t disappoint. There is a designated section on the beach for dogs all year round.
However, they are not allowed on the beach between 1st May and 30th September. There are also lifeguards present from April – September between 10am – 6pm.
📍Location: Banks Rd, Poole BH13 7QQ
🚗 Parking: Sandbanks has a large car park with 532 spaces and 5 disabled parking bays. You can also park along Banks Road using pay-and-display.
Please note: Sandbanks is a popular destination, and the car park can fill up, so during the summer, it’s best to get there early or travel to the beach in a different way to avoid not being able to find a space.
1 November to 28 February, every day:
- 1 hour: £1.50
- Over 1 hour and up to 10pm: £3.40
- Free parking from 10pm to 8am.
1 March to 31 October, every day, 8am to 10pm:
- 1 hour: £2.80
- 2 hours: £5.40
- 3 hours: £8.30
- 4 hours: £11.80
- 6 hours: £16.50
- 14 hours: £21.60
1 March to 31 October, every day, 10pm to 8am: £3.
🛍️ Facilities: Sandbanks has several amenities that can set you up for a lovely day at the beach. There are several cafés and restaurants around the beach and the Sandbanks peninsula, including Rick Stein, Lazy Jacks bar and restaurant, and Jazz café.
There’s also a kiosk on the beach where you can grab an ice cream. There’s a cheap dog wash area that offers shampoo and a dryer, showers, and drinking water taps. There is also a playpark next to the beach car park and a mini golf course.
Fun fact: Sandbanks Beach is one of the most beautiful in the area. The peninsula is full of stunning mansions, expensive cars, and celebrity residents such as Harry and Jamie Redknapp.
There’s also the chain ferry that takes you to Studland Beach, which is full of rustic, natural sand dunes, heathland, and wildlife. It can also be a great starting point for hiking to Old Harry’s Rocks.
Sandbanks can be one of the best places to watch the sunset on a hot summer evening. With views stretching all the way to Brownsea Island and Poole, it’s the perfect way to spend an evening with a bag of chips and your loved ones.
Branksome Chine Beach
Branksome Chine Beach is a Blue Flag Award winner. A promenade runs along the beach, perfect for a bike ride, a morning jog, or a dog walk.
However, dogs are not allowed on the beach from 1st May to 30th September but can go on the paths and walkways. Branksome Chine is great for collecting shells, building sandcastles and jumping over the waves in the clear water in the summer.
Tip: They have a ‘borrow a bucket’ box by the car park for anyone who wants to use it on their trip to the beach.
📍Location: Denecote Lodge, 4-6 Westminster Rd, Westbourne, Poole BH13 6JL
🚗 Parking: There is a car park at Branksome Chine that has 104 spaces and 3 disabled spaces. The car park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the prices are as follows:
November to February:
Monday to Sunday
- Up to 1 hour: £1.50
- Over 1 hour and up to 10pm: £3.40
March to October:
Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm
- 1 hour: £2.80
- 2 hours: £5.40
- 3 hours: £8.30
- 4 hours: £11.80
- 6 hours: £16.50
- 14 hours: £21.60
Monday to Sunday, 10pm to 8am: £3
🛍️ Facilities:
- Branksome has a cafe/ restaurant that serves hot and cold food and drinks and has a fantastic view of the beach.
- There is also a kiosk that serves many different varieties of beverages, such as tea, coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks.
- They also serve some takeaway foods.
- There are also toilets and electronic beach barbecues that you can use on a first-come-first basis, and they are available from Easter to October.
Branksome Dene Beach
At Branksome Dene, you are between Bournemouth and Poole. You have a great view of Bournemouth Pier, and on clear days, you may be able to see Hengistbury Head.
Like many of the beaches in Poole, this beach’s sand is soft and golden, and the sea is great for swimming and watersports.
This Beach is fantastic at sunset. You may not be able to see the sunset, but on warm summer nights, the sky will turn a gorgeous purple, and the sea is still warm from the day, perfect for paddling and making the most of the longer nights.
📍Location: Pinewood Road, Poole, BH136JP
🚗 Parking: Branksome Dene car park has 135 spaces and has 8 disabled bays.
Prices for the car park are:
November to February
Monday to Sunday:
- up to 1 hour: £1.50
- Over 1 hour and up to 10pm: £3.40
March to October:
Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm:
- 1 hour: £2.80
- 2 hours: £5.40
- 3 hours: £8.30
- 4 hours: £11.80
- 6 hours: £16.50
- 14 hours: £21.60
Monday to Sunday, 10pm to 8am: £3
🛍️ Facilities: Branksome Dene has slightly fewer facilities than Branksome Chine, but it does have the essentials you need for a day of sunbathing on the beach.
For example, an ice cream kiosk, public toilets, drinking water, and dogs are allowed on this beach all year round. There is also a large beach hut room you can hire for events such as wedding venues and birthday parties.
Canford Cliffs Beach
Canford Cliffs beach is a stunning blue-flag award winning beach with clear water and soft white sand, it is also surrounded by lots of trees and wildlife, which makes it a beautiful setting for a beach day.
The walk down to the beach from Canford Cliffs is about 10 minutes long and is an attractive route surrounded by woodland, picturesque beach huts and a stunning view of the beachfront when you come out of the woods.
📍Location: Canford Cliffs Beach, Cliff Dr, Poole BH13 7HX
🚗 Parking: Whilst there isn’t a car park that leads directly onto the beach to Canford Cliffs, there is a car park close by with 66 spaces and is open 24 hours.
Car park location: 18 Ravine Rd, Canford Cliffs, Poole BH13 7HY
Prices are as follows:
Monday to Saturday 8am to 10pm
- 1 Hour: £1.20
- 2 Hours: £1.70
- 4 Hours: £4
- 14 Hours: £5.80
Sunday 8am to 10pm: 60p
Monday to Sunday 10pm to 8am: Free
🛍️ Facilities: Canford Cliffs does have fewer facilities compared to some of its neighbouring beaches, but you still have the essentials available, such as:
- Drinking water
- Ice Cream kiosk
- Toilets close by
- RNLI Lifeguards 13 August – 4 September, 10am to 6pm (weekends only).
Please Note: If you are disabled or unable to walk very far, Canford Cliffs won’t be the most accessible beach for you. Visiting another nearby beach might suit you better, as there is walking up and downhill and some uneven surfaces.
Shore Road Beach
Shore Road is a blue-flag-award-winning beach with perfect golden soft sand and turquoise water for you to paddle in.
The perfect beach to collect shells, build sand castles and admire the ocean with the sailboats and jetskis zooming across the water in front of the Purbeck cliff tops.
📍 Location: Shore Rd, Poole BH13 7PN
🚗 Parking: The parking is mainly at Sandbanks. However, there is parking all along Shore Road with pay and display meters.
Please note: Parking does fill up on popular days so it’s best to get there nice and early to make sure you get a space.
🛍️ Facilities: See Sandbanks Beach above. The facilities are roughly the same.
Sandbanks and Shore road have an abundance of facilities, including lots of water sports hire, such as paddleboarding and kayaking, places to get food and ice cream, toilets, showers and everything you could need for a beach day.
Hamworthy Park Beach
Hamworthy Park Beach is a beach of sand and shingle and has a ‘rustic’ vibe to it compared to the more maintained beaches in Poole. That being said, it is still a beautiful beach to visit, especially with the children, as there is also a park.
You’re also treated to a beautiful view of the Purbecks, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Dogs are also allowed on Hamworthy Beach all year round.
📍Location: Lulworth Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4DQ
🚗 Parking: There is a car park that offers up to 60 spaces, and the prices are as follows:
1st March to 31st October
Charges apply Monday to Sunday, 8am to 6pm
- Up to 30 mins: Free
- Up to 2 hours: £1.20
- Up to 10 hours: £2.30
From 1st November to 28th February, parking is free.
🛍️ Facilities: Hamworthy Park Beach does not disappoint when it comes to families going out for the day.
There is a beach, a children’s play area, and a paddling pool that is open between May and September. There are also baby-changing facilities, toilets and disabled toilets.
There is also ramp access onto the beach from the promenade. Hamworthy Beach has an on-site café / restaurant, perfect for refuelling after a full day of beach fun.
Flaghead Chine
Flaghead is a beautiful, quieter beach with perfect sand and sea. It is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic with a view of the coastline.
From May to the end of September, dogs are not allowed on Flaghead Beach. However, they are allowed to walk along the promenade, paths and zigzags.
You are allowed to have BBQs between 6pm and 10.30pm, but you must douse them with water to ensure they are put out and disposed of properly.
📍 Location: Off Haven Road, Bh13 7LP
🚗 Parking: This beach doesn’t have a car park, making it a quieter spot to visit. It isn’t as accessible; you have to walk down Flaghead Chine path, which can take about 10 minutes.
There is some free parking on the roads at the top of the path; however, these can fill up quickly on hot, busy days.
🛍️ Facilities: Flaghead Chine doesn’t have as many facilities as some of the other beaches, but it does have your beach essentials, such as:
- Drinking water tap
- Public toilets with disabled access
- Ice cream kiosk
- Beach huts for hire
- Small peaceful seaside garden and seating area
Cubs Beach
On the western side of Sandbanks, you’ll come across Cubs Beach. It is slightly quieter and less well-known than Sandbanks, but it has the same natural beauty as its fellow beaches.
It is a dog-friendly beach and perfect for families who want to have fun in the sun.
📍Location: Cubs Beach, Sandbanks, Poole BH13 7QH
🚗 Parking: For parking, see Sandbanks (above)
🛍️ Facilities: As Cubs Beach is located in Sandbanks, it has the same facilities.
It is a beautiful place along the coast that is perfect for a day of relaxation.
It is close to the Sandbanks ferry, so it is great for families wanting to come over for the day or for those who want to spend time at different beaches on their trip, such as Shell Bay across the water.
There we have it: Poole has some of the best beaches in Dorset.
Most of them have fantastic facilities, and you can have a real adventure along the coast with the family or on your own.
The beaches are all close to parts of Poole, so you’re never too far from shops, bars and restaurants, giving you even more of a reason to visit this glorious part of the world.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your next trip!
