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City Cruises Poole

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Poole Harbour and Island Cruise from Poole

Jurassic Coastal Cruise from Poole

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City Cruises Poole - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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City Cruises Poole

• See all photos

Poole Harbour and Island Cruise from Poole

Jurassic Coastal Cruise from Poole

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

City Cruises Poole - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

City Cruises Poole

• See all photos

Poole Harbour and Island Cruise from Poole

Jurassic Coastal Cruise from Poole

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

CITY CRUISES POOLE - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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Poole Harbour and Islands Boat Cruise for Two

Climb aboard for a leisurely circular boat cruise and set sail from the scenic Poole Harbour. Relax and take in magnificent views along the voyage. Admire beautiful scenery from the open deck whilst drifting leisurely past the stunning Brownsea Island, the picturesque Studland Bay, Sandbanks Peninsula and more. Listen to the intriguing live commentary while sitting back and enjoying the breathtaking vistas. Make the most of the lower lounge area with its comfortable booth seating and bar. This tranquil boat trip is the ideal way to see this outstanding part of the country. Delight in this memorable boat trip with friends or family.

• Depart from the beautiful Poole Harbour for a 70-minute sightseeing cruise
• Enjoy fantastic views of the islands and the English Channel
• Sit back on open deck and listen to the live commentary
• Availability Description This experience is available week round from 1st April–31st October, excluding bank holiday Mondays, Valentine's Day (13th and 14th February), Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter weekend (Good Friday and Easter Monday), 25th December and 1st January. Specific dates may not be available – subject to availability and operational changes. This experience is non-amendable and all dates are subject to availability.
• Duration This is a 70-minute cruise. Daily sailing times are as follows: 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. 4.15pm is also available in school holidays only.
• Other Info All our vouchers are fully flexible and can be redeemed against our huge range of experiences. Please book this experience in advance – walk-ups will not be accepted. Once booked, customers who do not show up for the experience without notice, will not be able to reschedule and a refund will not be available.
• Poole - Dorset (South West)

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Sea Train Adventure Tour with City Cruises Poole

Dorset is a beautiful county on the south coast of England with much to see.  It’s filled with beautiful landscapes and pretty coastal villages. We wanted to make the most of the limited time we had in the eastern part of Dorset and the Sea Train Adventure from City Cruises Poole was a great way to do that.   You get to see the Poole Harbor, Harry’s Rocks, Swanage, and Corfe Castle.

In this post, I wanted to share my experience on the Sea Train Adventure Tour and a few helpful tips. You will also find ideas for things to do in Swanage if you are planning to spend the day there.

*If you are planning a trip to Dorset, check out my free travel planning checklist .

Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Please see disclosure for more information.

COVID-19 Notice: Please follow government guidelines.  City Cruises will be resuming operation on July 4, 2020 with enhanced hygiene measures and social distancing guidelines.  You can find out more details here .

Sea Train Adventure Itinerary

Brownsea island, sandbanks and the chain ferry, old harry’s rocks, swanage beach, fish & chips, swanage gaol, swanage museum, swanage pubs, shops in swanage, swanage boat trips, swanage steam railway, corfe castle ruins, other things to in corfe castle village, logistical information for your poole boat trip, about city cruises poole, sea train adventure review, expert tips for your sea train adventure.

I love that you get to see a few different areas in Dorset and experience different modes of transportation on the Sea Train Adventure.  The tour starts in Poole Harbor where you board the boat for a ride to Swanage. You have some time to explore the cute seaside town and then you take the Swanage steam train to Corfe Castle.  After your visit to Corfe Castle, you take the steam train to Swanage and then the boat back to Poole.

Poole Boat Trip Highlights

The ride from Poole to Swanage is a little less than an hour.  We had lovely weather and the ride was smooth. The boat has several levels with both indoor and outdoor seating, a snack bar, and bathrooms. The live narration pointed out the highlights and provided interesting information with a sense of humor.  I had no idea that the Poole Harbor is the largest natural harbor in Europe.

First, we passed Brownsea Island, which is the largest island in the harbor.  We could see the beautiful natural scenery and even the castle. It is known as the birthplace of the scouting movement .  There are great hikes there and you might even see a rare red squirrel .   You can take a ferry to the island from Poole Quay but keep in mind that in addition to the ferry ticket you will also have to pay a landing fee if you are not a National Trust member. 

Click here to get more information about National Trust Membership . If you are visiting from overseas, you might be interested in the National Trust Touring Pass .  Brownsea Island is a National Trust property.

Sandbanks is a peninsula with some of the most extravagant houses you will ever see.  It’s a popular spot for celebrities ( especially big names in soccer ) to buy second homes.  As you would expect, the beach there is beautiful.  It is definitely on my list for the next time I am in the area.

Across the entrance to the harbor, there is a chain ferry that connects Sandbanks and Shell Bay.  The ferry runs on a chain between the two points. This was my first time to ever see one and I have added going on a chain ferry to my bucket list.  If you were driving from Poole to Swanage, the Sandbanks ferry would save you 25 miles on the round trip.  The ride only takes five minutes and costs £4.50 for the car. The Sandbanks Ferry is 242 feet long and can hold 48 cars.

My favorite part of the cruise was when we were passing by Old Harry’s Rocks , which is the beginning of the Jurassic Coast .  The rocks are huge and just off the coast, so the best way to see them is from a boat.  The white rocks against the blue sea and sky were breathtaking. It was interesting that some of the rocks would blend in with the rest of the coast depending on the angle.  I took tons of photos!

Visiting Swanage

After our Jurassic Coast cruise, we arrived in Swanage,  a seaside resort which became popular during the Victorian time.  The boat drops you off at the new Swanage Pier , which is a short walk from the beaches and the village.  Here are some suggestions for things to do in Swanage .

One of my favorite things about being by the seaside is having some fish and chips! Swanage has several fish & chips shops, but I would recommend going to The Fish Plaice .  You can order it to go and eat it by the sea, just like we do in Aldeburgh .

If you don’t like fish & chips, don’t worry there are other places to eat in Swanage .

The Swanage Museum is small but it had some interesting artifacts and exhibits.  I enjoyed learning about the different types of stone and being able to see them with a magnifying glass. They also had a collection of drawings of Swanage by Hume Swaine.   Hume Swaine was from London but spent time in Swanage. In 1893, he published a book called An Artist’s Ramblings Round About Swanage .  There is also a gift shop.  Entry to the museum is free.

If you want to take a break and relax or grab a pint, there are a few charming pubs in Swanage to choose from like the White Swan Inn or the Red Lion .

Swanage is a great town for shopping, we saw a few boutique shops while we were exploring the village.  I thought both Pursenalities Handbags & Accessories and Lucy’s Farm looked adorable.  If you like art, you might want to check out L’Artishe Gallery and Studio .

Even if you have just got off a boat, this is a great area to be on the water.  As I was walking from the Pier to the village, I saw some places offering different boat trips that you can book on the spot.  If you want to try fishing, there is Swanage Sea Fishing .  You can also rent a kayak through Dorset Kayaking .

The Swanage Steam Train Station is a 15-minute walk from the Swanage Pier.  Walk up High Street and then when you get to the fork go left on Institute Road.  It curves around and turns into Station Road and will take you right to the train station. You show your ticket from City Cruises Poole to the conductor onboard the train.

The ride takes about 20 minutes and goes through the scenic countryside.  All the seats have a table and you can bring snacks or tea to enjoy on the ride.  Going to Corfe Castle, sit on the left side of the train. When you get close to the castle, you will have a nice view.  Corfe Castle is the second stop (unless the train makes the optional stop at Herston, then it is the third stop).

Corfe Castle Village

Corfe Castle is the name of both the castle and the village.  While the castle ruins may be what the village is best known for, there is more to see.

Corfe Castle is now just ruins, but it is still pretty to look at.  It’s perched on top of a hill in the middle of the idyllic village so you can’t miss it.  You can imagine how impressive it must have been in its prime. They started building the castle over 1,000 years ago.  The keep was built in the early 12th century for King Henry I, William the Conqueror’s son.

During the English Civil War in the 17th Century, the Bankes family who lived in the castle supported the Crown.  Eventually, it was conquered by the forces supporting Parliament. Captain Hughes of Lulworth was given the orders to destroy the castle.  After some time had passed, Corfe Castle was given back to the Bankes family who donated it to the National Trust in 1982.

They also have a tea room at the entrance to the castle.  There are also a few walks around Corfe Castle where you can get a nice view of the ruins.

The boat leaves daily at 10:30 from Poole Quay right in front of The Quay pub.  Look for the red kiosk. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes early because you don’t want to miss the boat.  The schedule for the steam train varies depending on the day that you are going. You can check it online here .  There are return boats to Poole leave from Swanage Pier at 2:30 and 4:45 most days.

Your tickets include the boat and train ride.  I like that the transportation is provided and you get to decide what you want to see at each stop.  It’s nice that there are plenty of options to choose from. Entrance to Corfe Castle is additional. Corfe Castle is a National Trust property, so National Trust members get in free.

If you drove to Poole as we did, the Quay Visitors Parking Garage is a short walk from the boat.  It has 550 spaces and 6 for disabled use. It is located on Strand Street, Poole, BH15 1SB.  If you are looking for a place to stay, check out the hotel options in Dorset here .

Note: City Cruises Poole allows both dogs and bicycles for a small extra charge.

City Cruises Poole is a branch of City Cruises which operates boat tours in London.  City Cruises also has a branch in York . They are all about good times and want customers to be able to relax and have fun. You can choose from several Poole boat trips for all ages all year round.  From Poole Quay, they offer Poole Harbor tours, Jurassic Coast cruises to Swanage, and the Sea Train Adventure.

We opted for the Sea Train Adventure because I thought it would be fun to combine the boat ride with a journey on the steam train. City Cruises Poole also does special event cruises like a Fireworks Cruise and a Sail with Santa Cruise.  In addition to the partnership with the Swanage Steam Railway, they have also partnered with City Sightseeing Bournemouth to offer a combined boat and bus tour.  You can check out all their different boat trips from Poole here

Overall, we enjoyed our day with City Cruises Poole.  It was relaxing and fun. We got to see a lot – Poole Harbor, Jurassic Coast, Swanage, and Corfe Castle – I wish the tour would have been longer because there is so much to do in the area.  The narration on the boat was entertaining and informative. I would love to try one of their special events cruises.

Have you done a boat tour along the Jurassic Coast or visited any of the places we went to? I would love to hear about your experience.

Pin for Later

• Check the Swanage Steam Train schedule.  Remember that it is about a 15-minute walk from the Pier to the Station.  You do not want to miss the boat or the train.
• Check out the different boat trips from Poole offered by City Cruises Poole.  I am sure you will find one that you will love.
• Consider joining the National Trust for free entrance to Brownsea Island and Corfe Castle.  You can find more information about National Trust Membership here or the National Trust Touring Pass for visitors here.

Disclosure:  As guests of City Cruises Poole, we were providing complimentary tickets for the Sea Train Adventure so that we could share the experience with our readers.  All opinions are my own.

This post also contains affiliate links. This means we will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links in our blog with no additional cost to you.  Please be assured we would not promote any product unless we believe that our readers will also benefit.  The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.

Last Updated on March 8, 2021

About the Author

Anisa  

Anisa is an experienced international traveler with extra pages in her passport and stamps from 41 different countries across 5 continents (and counting). She was born and raised in Texas. After a 13 year stint in NYC, she moved to England to live with her husband.

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• Experiences

Sea Train Adventure

A relaxing cruise around the eastern tip of the Jurassic Coast with live commentary arriving at the Victorian seaside resort of Swanage, where you will disembark at Swanage Pier , one of only 14 remaining timber piers in the country.  Here you can explore the town's unique stores or grab a bite to eat before making your way to the railway station.

Take a step back to 1885 as you board the steam train from Swanage to Corfe or Norden, both stops offering free museums. 

You can also explore the ruins of Corfe Castle or enjoy the sights from one of the old pubs in the village.

On your return you shall embark once more along the magnificent chalk formations into Poole Harbour.  

• 1 hour cruise (each way)
• Swanage Railway Train ticket
• Live commentary on the boat
• Fully licensed bar on the boat

Please note:

That cruises are subject to weather, tide and sea conditions. Regretfully City Cruises boats are not wheelchair accessable.

2022 Pricing

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Station House Railway Station Approach Swanage Dorset BH19 1HB

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See the Red Arrows with City Cruises Poole!

Join City Cruises Poole on the water to see the famous Red Arrows as they perform at the prestigious Bournemouth Air Festival this year!

Departure times for the Red Arrow’s cruises are as follows:  Friday & Saturday 1 and 2 September 3:45pm,  Sunday 3 September 1:30pm.

• See the Red Arrows performing at the Bournemouth Air Festival
• Duration 2 hours 45 minutes
• Live Commentary
• Fully Licenced bar on-board

Where to Meet:

City Cruises Blue Kiosk

More information and tickets here

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FAQs – Poole

FAQs - City Cruises Poole

Poole pier locations.

The Quay, Poole BH15 1HJ, Reino Unido

SWANAGE PIER

Swange Pier

Pier Approach, Swanage BH19 2AP, Reino Unido

General Frequently asked questions

Where does the boat depart from in poole.

Poole Quay, BH15 1HJ

Where can we park in Poole?

Address: Strand Street, Poole, BH15 1SB

Sat Nav BH15 1SB

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Swanage Pier, BH19 2AP

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Carriage of Dogs Policy

At City Cruises, we understand that dogs are cherished members of many families and that our guests may wish to bring their furry companions along. To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all our passengers, both human and canine, we have established the following Carriage of Dogs Policy for our products across all our UK locations:

1. Dog Size and Breed:

We welcome well-behaved dogs of all sizes and breeds. However, it is essential to consider the comfort and safety of all passengers. Aggressive breeds or dogs with a history of aggressive behaviour may be restricted to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

2. Leads and Restraints:

All dogs must be kept on a lead or in a suitable restraint at all times while on board our vessels. This is to prevent any potential disruptions and to ensure the safety of both the dogs and other passengers.

3. Guide and Service Dogs

Guide and service dogs are welcome onboard all our products, excluding ThamesJet, but are required to wear the correct harnesses and jackets at all times while travelling. This practice not only helps our staff readily identify them as working animals but also aids our team in providing the necessary assistance to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for both the service dogs and their owners.

4. Behaviour and Temperament:

Dogs brought on board must be well-behaved, socialised, and non-disruptive. If a dog exhibits aggressive behaviour or excessive barking, the owner may be asked to disembark at the next available stop to ensure the safety and comfort of other passengers.

5. Cleanliness and Waste Disposal:

It is the responsibility of the dog owner to clean up after their pet. Please bring waste bags and promptly dispose of your dog’s waste in designated receptacles at the piers upon departure from the vessel. Accidents that occur on carpeted areas may be subject to an additional cleaning charge if extensive cleaning is required to restore the area to its original condition.

6. Allergies and Sensitivities:

Some passengers may have allergies or sensitivities to dogs. We are committed to accommodating both dog owners and those with allergies. Passengers with allergies are requested to inform our staff before boarding the boat and to take necessary precautions, such as carrying allergy medications. We will do our best to accommodate passengers with allergies but for those with severe allergies, please note that it may be recommended that they consider boarding the next available boat to minimise the risk of exposure.

7. Owner Responsibility:

Dog owners are entirely responsible for the behaviour, safety, and well-being of their pets throughout the journey. Owners should be prepared to manage their dog’s needs, including hydration and comfort.

8. Restricted Areas:

Certain areas of our vessels may be restricted for dogs to ensure the safety of both dogs and passengers. These areas include, but are not limited to, the wheelhouse, food service areas and engine room spaces, and dog owners are expected to comply with these restrictions.

9. Dining Products

To ensure a hygienic and enjoyable experience for all guests, only guide and service dogs are permitted onboard our dining products.

10. Charters

For private charter bookings, the carriage of dogs is at the discretion of the charterer. We understand that different events may have varying requirements and we will work closely with our clients to accommodate their preferences regarding dogs on board.

11. ThamesJet

Unfortunately, due to the nature of this operation and for safety reasons, no dogs are allowed on our ThamesJet products.

12. Disclaimer:

While we make every effort to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all passengers and their dogs, City Cruises UK is not liable for any injuries, incidents, or damages related to the carriage of dogs on board our vessels.

City Cruises UK August 2023

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8th June – Departure time: 19.00

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5th November – Departure time: 19.00

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