With a mixture of family-fun attractions, beautiful sandy beaches, great shopping, fun on the water plus an endless choice of places to eat out - Poole is an ideal destination. You'll find a large range of accommodation on offer here for both the holiday and business traveller ranging from quality hotels and friendly B&B's and guest houses to excellent caravan holiday parks for static homes and tourers along with a wide range of self catering accommodation in cottages and apartments. Poole is an ideal base from which to tour east Dorset, Bournemouth, The Purbecks and The Jurassic Coast World Heritage site.

With Europe's largest natural harbour there really is no excuse for not getting your feet wet, whether it's splashing around in the sea or having a go at one of the many water sports on offer. Poole's three miles of award-winning golden sands and clear blue seas really are British beaches at their very best, boasting 13 European Blue Flags.

Enjoy a relaxing stroll or simply sit back and soak up the atmosphere. The choice of water sports on offer is amazing, from windsurfing, sailing to jetskiing ­ there's something for everyone whatever your level. And there are plenty of excellent sailing schools to help you along ­ so there's no excuse not to have a go!!

Back to dry land there's plenty to see and do. Head for the bustling Poole Quay which has lots of attractions, visiting vessels and places to eat, all within easy walking distance. Home to the world-famous Poole Pottery, you can take a tour of the factory to see craftspeople at work, have a go at creating your own masterpiece before snapping up a few bargains in the factory shops. In The Aquarium Complex you'll find creatures from around the world. Make sure you catch feeding time even if table manners leave a lot to be desired!! Don't miss the chance to discover Poole's history at The Waterfront Museum from smugglers' tales to Roman connections. Take a harbour cruise or visit the National Trust's Brownsea Island with its peaceful wooded walks and wide variety of wildlife. Boats leave regularly from the Quayside.

If shopping is close to your heart, head for the Dolphin Shopping Centre, Dorset's largest undercover shopping arena where you'll find over 100 of your favourite stores.

Whether you're a garden enthusiast or not, Poole has some wonderful parks and gardens that are a must to visit. Compton Acres Gardens are reputed to be the finest in Europe, with themed gardens from around the world displaying a variety of rare, tropical and subtropical plants. For a waterside walk or the perfect picnic spot try Upton Country Park or Poole Park. With the South's largest entertainment complex, Tower Park, there's something for all the family including a UCI Ten-Screen Cinema, Splashdown indoor water park, Megabowl, Gala Bingo, Quasar Laser Fun, a fun pub plus a wide choice of places to eat.

Each year sees a fun packed event calendar in Poole. Ranging from family entertainment on the quay to street markets.

Why not break your stay with a short break or day out in France or The Channel Islands. Brittany Ferries run a car ferry service to France and Condor run a catamaran service to France and The Channel Islands and at most times of the year have special deals on offer for days trips. For those with not enough time to visit France or The Channel Islands there are boat trips to Brownsea Island, a beautiful National Trust property in the centre of Poole Harbour or up the River Frome to Wareham and the Heart of the Purbecks.

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