See for yourself Europe's largest natural harbor. Take on stunning views and learn more about the area as you relax on board, passing interesting locations along the shores.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 70 minutes: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English

Highlights

See the historic castle built by Henry VIII on Brownsea Island
Admire luxurious houses of 'rich and famous' on Sandbanks Peninsular
Sail past Brownsea, Furzey, Green, Long and Round Islands
Listen to live commentary and find out interesting facts about the area

Full description

Take a cruise around Europe's largest natural harbor, home to the town of Poole, the golden beaches of Sandbanks and Brownsea Island. From either open deck seating or comfortable saloon you will see stunning views of the exceptional landscape that surrounds it. Your 70 minute trip will start on charming Poole Quay with its old buildings and buzzing atmosphere. Next you will go past Brownsea Island, home to wildlife and picturesque Brownsea Castle, built to protect against French invasions. After that comes the Sandbanks Peninsula and the luxurious houses of the ‘Golden Mile’. Then you will tour the great natural expanse of the harbor and the remaining islands: Green, Furzey, Long and Round. Fronting onto beautiful scenery it helped inspire classics like Lord of the Rings and Gulliver's Travel.

Includes

Cruise

Food
Drinks

Meeting point

Look for the CityCruises Poole kiosk in Poole Quay. There is paid parking available in the harbor.

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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 379 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.6/5
Transportation
4.8/5
Service
4.5/5
Organization
4.6/5

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The overall experience was enjoyable with informative and humorous commentary. Only one disappointment was that it is advertised as Poole harbour and ISLANDS tour but we only saw half of one island (Brownsea). It was also advertised as a 70min tour but lasted 55mins.

March 27, 2023

Great trip around Poole harbour. Around 70 minutes onboard a lovely boat. Skipper was really knowledgeable about the history of the bay and those quirky little facts that make it fun. Well worth the price. Snacks and toilets on board as well. Highly recommend.

Excellent sights. Very well guided and lots of information given throughout the cruise. Clean, safe cruise and the added comfort of a Bar and Snack Bar. Easy to find the meeting point. Overall, very good value for money. I highly recommend and would certainly do again. We had great weather. There is an indoor and sheltered area if preferred.

Poole Harbor and Islands Cruise

Poole Harbor and Islands Cruise

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