Sandbanks Beach
Sandbanks Beach is undoubtedly the BEST beach on the South Coast of England ... some would say in Britain !
Sandbanks itself is a small peninsula, which contains some of the most expensive houses and land in the country. In fact Sandbanks is becoming as famous for its well known residents (Harry Redknapp owns a house along the waterside) and the lavish lifestyles of some of its occupants as it is for its beach. Some of the most exclusive houses boast direct access onto Sandbanks beach for the ultimate in beach life !
There are several top hotels in Sandbanks, the Haven Hotel and The Sandbanks Hotel as well as rental properties. There are also several restaurants including the famous Cafe Shore. The final feature to look out for is the Sandbanks Chain Ferry, which crosses between Sandbanks and Studland, crossing the mouth of Poole Harbour.
A holder of the European Blue Flag for a record 20 years, Sandbanks Beach in Poole, Dorset is a beach you can visit in total safety and be sure you and your family will have a good time.
The beach is of the finest quality with fine golden sand. The beach meets all of the European standards and in 1994 was the only beach to be awarded 100% by the Tidy Britain Group.
The water is clean and safe, although it may sometimes be cool ! The beach with its fine, golden sand slowly and gradually slopes away, ensuring it is safe for even the smallest of children. There are Lifeguards on duty ( 1 May - 30 Sept.) and there is also a First Aid post if you should have an accident.
There is a large car park at Sandbanks and also on-road parking. The charges made in the car parks are quite high although you are parking right on the beach so you don't have far to carry all your beach goodies. As you would expect when the weather is good, the car parks fill up very quickly.
There are very good facilities on the promenade, including toilets (with full disabled facilities), showers, ice-cream kiosks and hot-dog/burger bars as well as the Seafarer Cafe offering a selection of hot & cold meals throughout the year. There are also several kiosks selling all the usual beach goodies such as inflatables, buckets and spades etc. You can also play mini-golf or try your hand at the new "crazy-golf" course (see above) or ride along the prom on the road train that cruises up and down the prom.
There are also a wide selection of watersports available from the beach including parascending, inflatable "Bronco's" or "Ringos", jet-ski hire, power boat rides and much more. Check what is available when you visit. If you're looking for watersports equipment or coaching, check out our Watersports page for the latest information.
General Information
BBQ's - There is a designated area on Sandbanks for BBQ's.
Lost Property - Any items found should be handed into the Beach Office, where they are retained until the end of the summer season.
Dogs - Between 1st May - 30th September dogs are forbidden on the majority of Pooles beaches for reasons of health & safety. At Sandbanks there is a designated dog walking/exercise area to the west of the promenade (towards Sandbanks Ferry).
How to get to Sandbanks
By car, you can obtain route direction from Google 
By public transport - Buses 150 from Bournemouth or 152 from Poole. During the summer, open top buses operate. For more information visit the Wilts & Dorset Bus website at www.wdbus.co.uk
