Poole is a coastal town and seaport located on the south coast of England in Dorset. Situated 21 miles east of Dorchester and adjoining Bournemouth to the east, it forms part of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority. The town had an estimated population of 151,500, making it the second-largest town in the ceremonial county of Dorset.
As a significant urban centre, Poole is part of a larger conurbation that extends across Bournemouth and Christchurch. The wider urban area had a total population of 400,196 according to the 2021 census. Its status as both a coastal town and working seaport has historically made it an important commercial and transportation hub on England's south coast.