Poole is an incredibly popular coastal town in Dorset, a fantastic place for a few days or just for a weekend away to escape everyday life. The town is famous for Poole Quay, which has been a major feature in the town’s development over recent years.

The harbour is home to powerboats and luxury motorboats, which unless your trip to Poole includes plans to win the lottery, you may not be hopping on board anytime soon.

Poole has plenty to offer, in the form of museums, shops, national parks, restaurants, beaches, and more. Although a major business hub in the UK, Poole has proven itself an excellent tourist destination as well.

Shopping Havens

Although the High Street is dominated by the names found in towns and cities all around Britain, it also has a number of unique independent shops. If you are looking for antiques, gifts, crafts, children’s toys, or jewellery, Poole is bound to have the ideal shop for you.

Poole is home to a number of markets, which offer excellent value for money, and often provide a peek into the culture of Poole. Even if you have no intention to buy, these markets are a fun way to spend the day.

Every Thursday between 9am and 2pm in Falkland Square is the Farmers Market. Fantastic, high quality produces are on offer from farmers and bakers at a fraction of the prices found in high street shops.

One of the most popular markets is the French Street Market, which takes place in the middle of September. Although it means being in Poole at a specific time of year, the cheeses make it well worth the trip!

Heading out of the town centre and into the village of Lower Parkstone, you will find an eclectic collection of shops, with everything from flowers , lingerie to coffee and paintings! Located near Ashley Cross Green, Lower Parkstone is a great place to visit for a peaceful stroll around the shops.

Best Eats & Drinks
Poole has some incredible places to stop for a bite to eat at lunchtime or for dining out in the evening. The town centre and quay area are both home to great eateries, whether you fancy a pub lunch or a 3-course meal at a fine dining restaurant.

Keeping the cost of eating out down can be difficult when sticking to certain types of restaurants, but by visiting www.restaurantspoole.co.uk , first you might be able to grab a cheaper deal.

One of Poole’s favourites with families on a budget is Georgie Porgie Buffet World. Located on Yarrow Road, this buffet is like 10 restaurants in one! A real food lover’s paradise, it has food from just about every cuisine going including Indian, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and European. Georgie Porgie’s is open seven days a week from breakfast until late dinner with prices that won’t break the bank.

The prices vary depending on the day of the week and the time of day, but adults can eat out for as little as £5.99 to £13.99. It’s ideal for those with children as under 9’s eat for half price!

Arts & Attractions
There is so much to do in Poole it can be difficult to decide how to fill your day, but two fantastic attractions for people on a budget are the Greenslade Pleasure Boats and Poole Museum.

The pleasure boats are part of history in Poole; they provide visitors with a unique way of exploring the local area. Once on board you can cruise around the five islands, including Dorset Lakelands and the Isle of Purbeck with on-board commentary. This is a fantastic way to spend a sunny day relaxing and enjoying the best views Poole has to offer.

Trips on the Pleasure Boats aren’t ridiculously cheap but they are affordable, the adult fare is £9.50, and children £6.00. However, if you are a family, you can get great discounts with the family tickets, which range from £15.50 to £25.00.

Poole Museum is definitely one of the best attractions in town; it was reopened in 2007 after undergoing a major facelift. The four galleries show the history of Poole without any cost as entry is completely free. Whether you want to learn more about archaeology or potteries, or even pirates, Poole Museum is a great place to visit.

This is proof that a trip to Poole doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are hundreds of independent stores where you can grab bargain after bargain, discounts to be found on fine dining establishments, or just great value family outlets, and even free attractions. Enjoy what Poole has to offer without the added expense.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.