Historic Walking Tour of Poole
Discover Poole's historic Old Town and learn about its long and interesting history on a guided tour. Visit lanes that were once piers, look behind the High Street facades, and find the curly Cod.
Starting at 19 High Street, your guided walking tour will help you imagine Poole in the centuries gone by. Poole was 'founded' in 1248 when Sir William Longspee sold the land to the citizens to fund his costs for a Crusade from which he never returned. But, Poole has a much longer history that stretches back to the Iron Age and it also has Roman connections. Your will learn how Poole's coastline has been reclaimed, where the town was attacked by the Spanish looking for the pirate Harry Paye, how Codfish from Newfoundland paid for one of Poole's transformations, and where the smuggling tunnels still exist. The main tour takes two hours at a slow walking pace and is on mostly level pavement. It is all wheelchair accessible. A shorter tour is available on request.
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Discover Poole's historic Old Town and learn about its long and interesting history on a guided tour. Visit lanes that were once piers, look behind the High Street facades, and find the curly Cod.
Starting at 19 High Street, your guided walking tour will help you imagine Poole in the centuries gone by. Poole was 'founded' in 1248 when Sir William Longspee sold the land to the citizens to fund his costs for a Crusade from which he never returned. But, Poole has a much longer history that stretches back to the Iron Age and it also has Roman connections. Your will learn how Poole's coastline has been reclaimed, where the town was attacked by the Spanish looking for the pirate Harry Paye, how Codfish from Newfoundland paid for one of Poole's transformations, and where the smuggling tunnels still exist. The main tour takes two hours at a slow walking pace and is on mostly level pavement. It is all wheelchair accessible. A shorter tour is available on request.
Itinerary
- Brownsea Island · 7 min
From the vantage point of Poole Quay, your guide will tell you Brownsea's medieval ownership, the origin of the castle and its role in saving Poole in WWII.
- Poole Museum and Scaplen's Court & Garden · 5 min
Your guide will tell you about the medieval history of this important building, its location in the Old Town, and how it was 'returned' to Poole after its disappearance.
What's included
- Guide: In-person: English
- This is a guided walking tour of Poole
What's not included
- We do not provide headsets since this is a fully guided tour.
Meeting point
19 High Street is on the lower High Street, not far from Poole Museum. It is next to Setchfield's and has two red doors.
View on the mapEnd point
19 High Street is on the lower High Street, not far from Poole Museum. It is next to Setchfield's and has two red doors.
View on the mapLanguages
In-person guide: English
Travellers
- Infant (0–0)
- Child (1–11)
- Youth (12–17)
- Adult (18–65)
- Senior (66–100)
Options
- Historic Walking Tour of Poole
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
2:pm or 4:pm each day
In-person guide: English
- Private Tour, Flexible Timing
Private Tours
In-person guide: English
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.