Complete Guide to Working and Living in Poole

Are you thinking of living in Poole?

Relocating to a new location is a big deal.

Moving home full stop is a challenge but somewhere completely different will really take you out of your comfort zone.

Making sure you choose the best location to suit you will ensure you don’t end up out of pocket or even worse stuck in a place you don’t like.

The ideal location will depend on where you are in life.

Do you have children to consider?

Convenience also plays a huge role.

You may not be able to drive so require good amenities nearby.

You may be moving due to enduring a long commute to work.

Alternatively, you may want to be somewhere that is closer to family.

Whatever your reasons are for searching for a new location, you can be confident that Poole will cover most of them.

Our Complete Guide to Living and Working in Poole aims to answer most of the common questions people might ask if they have no knowledge of the town.

Is Poole a Nice Place to Live

Twin sails lifting bridge in Poole. Image credit: Depositphotos

The town sits in a very appealing location on the South Coast within the county of Dorset.

Dorset is well known for having more sunlight days per year than anywhere else in the UK.

This is certainly an appealing benefit of moving to the area!

Natural beauty can be found all around Poole in abundance including the New Forest National Park.

Regularly included among the top ten nicest places to live in the UK, Poole is an ideal location for retirement or for raising a family.

The Town Quay area is a firm favourite with visitors boasting lovely views, great places to eat and some historic buildings.

There is a huge choice of things to do from large parks to ice rinks and sporting facilities.

Poole is certainly a very nice place to live.

Across the board, Poole has lots to offer for those who call it home already or for those considering a move here.

House Prices in Poole

Poole Old Town. Image credit: Depositphotos

There are plenty of obstacles to tackle when you are looking for a new home, not least will be where you can live for your budget.

Though Poole is known for its incredibly expensive homes, not all are valued at sky-high prices.

Average property prices in Poole stood at £470,220 in February 2023.

First-time buyers may want to consider looking in places such as Canford Heath where the average cost of a home is £267,685.

Mid-priced homes are available all over the town.

Wimborne, Parkstone, Westbourne and Hamworthy are all locations where most mid-priced properties can be found.

On average homes in Wimborne sell for £490,775, Parkstone £393,002, Westbourne £322,864, and Hamworthy £344,667.

If you are one of the lucky ones and are looking for something on the expensive side, you are in luck as Poole has some of the most expensive homes in the UK.

Of the 774 homes on the market, 64 are priced over the £1,000,000 mark.

Sandbanks (millionaires’ row) and Lower Parkstone are both popular locations for top-notch properties.

Home to footballers and musicians, the average cost to buy in these neighbourhoods is £1,298,750.

Be it a large or modest budget, Poole manages to provide a wide selection of properties among its 772 homes for sale so, there should be something for everyone.

Renting a Home in Poole

As the demand for rental properties has increased substantially over the past two years, it can be a challenge to find the right home to rent in certain towns.

Renting is the ideal way to “test drive” an area.

This is particularly useful if you are new to Poole and can make perfect financial sense.

There is no point investing in a property only to find out later that the area doesn’t suit your personal circumstances.

Letting a home for a period of 6 months is long enough for you to know if it is where you want to put down roots.

If not, you can simply move on.

It can be a win-win situation because you are also in a better position when you do finally find the home you want.

Cash buyers can demand better prices!

As with buying a home, searching for a rental close to the town centre, the railway station or good schools will increase the rental price.

There are currently 136 rental homes available within Poole and an additional 181 if you widen your search by just one mile.

The average asking rent in Poole currently stands at £1,519 per month.

As for cost, you can rent a one bed flat from £795pcm.

Two beds are a little more starting from £950pcm.

If you need just a little more space for a growing family, three-bedroomed properties can be let from £1200pcm.

Schools and Education in Poole

Bournemouth and Poole College. Image credit: Wikipedia

Whilst some moving to Poole have the luxury of being able to relocate to almost anywhere in the town, those with children will have slightly more restrictions.

Finding a good school close to where you live is a huge consideration when you relocate with a family.

You will be relieved to know that not only are the standards of education high in Poole, but the choice of schools across all ages is also fantastic!

Poole has eleven infant schools, seven junior schools, ten primary schools, nine secondary schools, three special schools, five independent schools and one college of further education.

No matter what ages your children may be, you don’t have to travel outside the town for their education.

According to Locrating, the best three primary schools in Poole are Baden-Powell and St Peter’s Church of England Junior School, Longfleet Church of England Primary School and Canford Heath Junior School.

According to SchoolGuide, the top three secondary schools are Parkstone Grammar School, Magna Academy and Lytchett Minster School.

For school leavers, it is also not necessary to travel very far to find a college with a good reputation.

The Bournemouth and Poole College attracts over 16,000 students a year and is one of the largest further education colleges in the country and the leading provider of academic and vocational education in Dorset.

Travel Connections in Poole

Poole Railway Station. Image credit: Wikipedia

Your focus may be on a home that provides a quick and easy route in and out of town.

Commuting to other larger places in the region is simple if you live in the area.

The busiest road and the main artery road in the town is the A350.

This road heads north providing a route to Bath, Bristol and beyond.

To the east, you have the A337.

This leads to Lymington and the New Forest.

The A35 trunk road runs from Devon to Southampton and connects to the A31 on the outskirts of the town.

There are plenty of options by road in and out of Poole.

Many will consider getting around by rail as important, especially those commuting further afield.

Poole has four railway stations on the Southwest Main Line, services are operated by Southwestern Railway.

Among the many services available, is three trains an hour (fast, semi-fast and stopping services) to and from London.

The quickest travel time is a little over 2 hours.

2 hours to London does make a lengthy commute, however, if you only need to be in the office once or twice a week, the benefit of living in Poole far outweigh the negatives of travel time.

The town is also a hub for cross-Channel passengers and freight services.

Brittany Ferries have services to and from Cherbourg daily.

Condor Ferries, is a fast ferry that provides seasonal services to Guernsey, Jersey and St. Malo, Brittany.

With Bournemouth Airport being the closest to Poole, getting away on holiday or attending an important business meeting could not be easier.

Working in Poole

Employment Opportunities

Not only will finding a suitable home be foremost in your mind, but you may also be eager to find work in Poole.

Poole’s economy is more balanced than the rest of Dorset.

In the 1960s, prosperity was fuelled by growth in the manufacturing sector, whereas the 1980s and 1990s saw expansion in the service sector as office-based employers relocated to the area.

Today, manufacturing is still an important sector, but the town’s fortunes rest more in the services sector.

Sunseeker, the world’s largest privately-owned builder of motor yachts and the UK’s largest manufacturer, is based in Poole and employs over 1,800 people in its Poole shipyards.

Other major employers in the local manufacturing industry include Lush, Siemens and Ryvita.

Poole has the largest number of industrial estates in Southeast Dorset.

These include the Nuffield Industrial estate, Mannings Heath, Arena Business Park, Poole Trade Park and the Branksome Business Centre.

Why not begin your search via one of the popular online employment agencies?

Indeed are advertising as many as 2600 vacancies within a 5-mile radius of the town across a huge range of sectors.

You only need to upload your CV!

There could be the perfect job waiting for you right now in Poole.

Amenities in Poole

The Dolphin Shopping Centre Poole. Image credit: Wikipedia

Knowing what amenities are available to you when you are moving to a new area is important.

You won’t have any problems here.

The area is well known for its very good amenities and services.

The largest undercover shopping centre is the Dolphin Centre.

Home to a fantastic selection of leading high street brands and independent, specialist retailers.

Shoppers have access to over 80 stores which offer the very best in fashion, lifestyle, gifts and homewares.

For your food shopping, you have plenty of choices, all the usual culprits are here such as Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsburys.

The largest is the Asda Superstore situated close to Poole Quay.

Despite the rise in inflation it is still nice to go out for a meal occasionally.

Luckily, Poole is packed with eateries from pub grub to high-end dining.

One of the best ways to find a good pub or restaurant when you are not familiar with an area is by checking out their reviews on websites such as Tripadvisor.

Dragonfly Pan Asian Restaurant and Oriel on the Quay have both received hundreds of positive comments and are well worth checking out.

For more information on where to shop and what amenities are available, go to the Bournemouth and Poole Insider’s Guide.

Leisure Facilities in Poole

David Lloyd Poole. Image credit: TotalGuidetoPoole

No matter where you live, taking time out for yourself and your family ensures the work/life balance remains equal.

You won’t have to look far to find a range of gyms and fitness studios in Poole to help you on your journey to becoming fitter, stronger and healthier.

David Lloyd Health Clubs can be found up and down the UK.

David Lloyd in Poole is a first-rate fitness destination for the whole family.

It is all available here.

Swimming, tennis, state-of-the-art gym equipment, and fitness classes from yoga to Pilates.

When you have finished your workout, most David Lloyd clubs have spa facilities too so you can enjoy a relaxing massage or facial.

For a list of all the best leisure centres available in and around Poole check out the DOWTK website.

Nearby Attractions

Poole Bay. Image credit: Wikipedia

Keeping fit is of course essential, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be at the gym.

Walking is one of the best ways to say fit and healthy whilst enjoying the outdoors.

There are as many as 20 local hikes to choose from in the Poole area.

The nature reserves and wetlands are both favourite locations for walkers.

Swanage Beach Loop is another fantastic walk.

It is 15 miles long, so a good fitness level is required.

In Poole, you can take a long walk along the famous Sandbanks Beach or explore Poole’s stunning natural harbour.

The quayside area is another stunning place to walk, offering fantastic views across to Brownsea Island.

A Brownsea Island boat trip is a lovely way to spend a few hours.

The island is open to the public and includes areas of woodland and heath with a wide variety of wildlife, together with cliff-top views across Poole Harbour and the Isle of Purbeck.

Splashdown has become one of Poole’s most visited attractions.

A huge water park boasting 13 flumes of varying sizes.

Not one for the faint-hearted and there are height restrictions.

But it is certainly a fun-packed day out for all the family.

The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) is an award-winning entertainment venue hosting live music, art exhibitions, conferences and all manner of culture-based events. Famous people who have performed here include Katy Perr and Gary Barlow.

These are just a few of the exciting attractions in and around the town.

Doctors, and Dentists in Poole

Poole Hospital. Image credit: Wikipedia

Probably the most important step, when you arrive in a new location, is to ensure you are registered with a local doctor and a dental surgery.

This will be particularly urgent for those who require medication on a repeat prescription basis.

Your old surgery needs to be instructed to forward your medical notes to the new surgery as soon as possible to avoid any delays.

Until your notes have been handed over, you won’t be able to book appointments or receive your prescriptions.

The Find-My-Doctor.co.uk website is a great way to start your search for a doctor near you.

For your dental appointments, there is a similar website, WhatClinic.

Both these sites list all the surgeries available in Poole.

So you are sure to find one that will be situated conveniently close to where you live.

Are you Ready to Make the Move to Poole?

As you can see, living in Poole certainly manages to provide all you need on both a practical level and from an entertainment perspective, plus a whole lot in between.

If this area really is where you want to be, you are going to need a good, honest, and reliable removal company in Poole to move your effects from A to B.

White & Company is very well known in the removals industry. Having been in business for over 150 years, we know a thing or two about moving home.

Our Bournemouth Removals branch is one of 19 spread across the UK and they know the area in and around Poole very well.

Why not give us a call today and book an appointment so that you can receive our no-obligation free-of-charge quotation.

Our friendly surveyor can either visit you at home or arrange for an online virtual survey to be conducted at your convenience.

It really is that simple.

In no time at all, you will be settled in your new home and enjoying all that living in Poole has to offer.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.