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Jobs in Poole | Pictures of Poole
Poole is best known for its award-winning sandy beaches, World Heritage coastline and its almost landlocked harbour which is said to be one of the world's largest natural harbours that doubles as both a commercial port and haven for recreational sailing and water sports. Located just 5 miles to the west of Dorset's largest town, Bournemouth, Poole may be smaller in size than it's coastal neighbour but it packs a bigger punch that has seen it become an aspirational place to live - a key factor in the significant population and employment growth of recent years.
Indeed, Poole Harbour is often hailed as the St Tropez of the South Coast and the Florida Keys of British beach resorts, as lucrative investment spreads along the harbour from the mega-money area of Sandbanks, Canford Cliffs and Lilliput – the fourth most expensive area to live in the world.
Getting around Poole
Yellow Buses and Wilts & Dorset Bus Company are the main bus operators in Poole and across the whole of Dorset, connecting the town centre with the nearby areas of Holton Heath, Wareham , Parkstone and Bournemouth . The bus station is on Kingland Road , about a quarter of an hour walk from the waterfront along the High Street.
The A350 road is Poole town centre's main artery, running north and south along the western outskirts of the town centre, and linked to the A35 which links Poole with Dorchester and Weymouth in the west and Bournemouth to the east.
Poole's train station is on Serpentine Lane , close to the main bus station, with the town being on the South Western Main Line service that provides a direct link with Weymouth . But for more regional routes, South West Trains runs services from stations in Brockehurst, Sway, New Milton, Hinton Admiral, Christchuch and Pokesdown.
Eating, drinking and sleeping in Poole
With an eclectic choice of goods on offer along the High Street, shopping in Poole quite literally has never been so good. Home to such leading names as Lush, Volcano and Harbour Lights as well as a plethora of boutique stores in Lower and Old High Street, Poole 's retail offering is a major factor contributing to the town's desirability factor.
Poole is also home to Dorset 's largest indoor shopping centre , Dolphin, which was refurbished for the third time in 2004 and houses over 100 stores including all the usual high street retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Beales and HMV.
When you consider that the fourth most expensive place to live in the world is a major suburb of Poole , it is therefore safe to assume that the town's restaurant scene is rather good…bordering on breathtaking. Add the spectacular harbour into the mix and you will understand why Poole is often dubbed the St Tropez of the South Coast . But that doesn't necessarily suggest that the town's restaurants err on the excessively priced side, on the contrary – there are some great chippies there, too.
Most restaurants are concentrated in the Lilliput, Sandbanks, Studland, Branksome Chine, and Poole Quay areas, with Poole Park , Orchard Place and Market Street also having a good choice of eateries. Some of the most notable places to eat include Storm seafood bistro, Sorridi Mediterranean restaurant and the Gurkha Oriental Palace .
Once you have indulged in some fine food, you may fancy a few drinks to finish the evening off with. And the good news is that you probably won't have to walk too far to find the nearest bar, with most located in and around Market Street, High Street and The Quay area. But of you are looking to stay out late and see-in the early dawn, Poole sadly lacks many late night bars and clubs and you may find that your best bet will be to jump on the bus and head to nearby buzzy Bournemouth, just 20 minutes away from town.
When it comes to relaxing at the weekend, the large leisure complex at Tower Park has a ten screen cinema and there are numerous other entertainment venues in and around Poole . Whereas when it comes to something a little more physically exerting, water sports dominate the recreational scene in Poole .
The town is awash with water sports operators offering everything from sailing and windsurfing to surfing, kite-surfing, kayaking, wakeboarding and water skiing. Or if you prefer a more relaxed affair, the beaches at Sandbanks, Shore Road , Canford Cliffs Chine and Branksome Chine are among the best in the world.
Main residential areas
Poole Quay is not only one of the major visitor attractions in the town; it is also one of the most desirable places to live, with a number of redeveloped warehouses and modern apartment blocks.
However, Poole is officially the most ‘unaffordable' town to live in the UK and unless you have a bank balance that is as big as one of the super-yachts moored in the harbour, it is unlikely that you will be able to afford anything larger than a small two-bedroom apartment.
As well as developments of new housing, older traditional houses can be found in the areas around Poole Old Town , in Lower Parkstone, Ashley Cross and Whitecliff & Poole Park .
Canford Cliffs is an affluent suburb of Poole in Dorset , England . The neighbourhood lies on the English Channel coast midway between Poole and Bournemouth . To the southwest is Sandbanks which boasts some of the highest property values in the world, and together Canford Cliffs and Sandbanks form a parish, which boasts the fourth highest property prices in the world and second highest in the United Kingdom after London .
If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Poole.
Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Poole below.
Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Poole or find out more information on the local area.