Keep the children entertained with five fun things to do in Poole during the summer holidays. Try crabbing and follow a pirate trail on Poole Quay, learn kayaking or paddleboarding at Poole Park, experience the RNLI’s lifeboat simulator, paint pottery at The Ark and stay out late for free summer fireworks. Covering younger children, primary-school ages and teenagers, these varied Poole activities include indoor, outdoor, free and paid ideas.
2nd August 2026
Finding a family day out that works for different ages is not always easy. Toddlers need space to play, primary-school children want adventure, and teenagers usually need something more exciting than a standard playground.
Fortunately, Poole has a strong mix of free and paid attractions, from water activities and island adventures to beaches, woodland trails and rainy-day activities. These five things to do in Poole with kids offer genuinely enjoyable options for a range of ages, interests and budgets.
Best for: younger children and primary-school ages
Cost: Free or low-cost
Instead of treating Poole Quay as somewhere to walk past the boats, families can turn it into a traditional seaside challenge. Pick up a crabbing line and bucket, choose a safe spot beside the harbour and see what is hiding beneath the water.
Children can then continue the adventure along the free Poole Adventurers’ Trail. Its 11 locations stretch from Great Quay and Old Quay towards Fisherman’s Dock and Baiter Park, revealing stories involving smugglers, pirates, lifeboats, flying boats, wildlife and Poole’s wartime history. The flat, hard-surfaced route is also manageable with pushchairs.
This works particularly well for younger families because it can be as short or as long as needed. Finish with an ice cream on the Quay or visit the nearby playground at Baiter Park.
Best for: children aged six upwards and teenagers
Cost: Paid
Older children are more likely to remember a summer holiday when they have learned something new. Rockley’s activity centre at Poole Park offers a gentle introduction to watersports without requiring families to plan an entire coastal expedition.
Current activities include one-hour kayak and stand-up paddleboard taster sessions, along with junior holiday camps for ages six to nine and multi-activity days for young people aged ten to fourteen. Families looking for something simpler can also hire one of the lake’s swan pedalos.
The sheltered lake makes this feel more approachable than heading straight into the open sea, while teenagers gain an activity that feels more independent and adventurous than visiting another playground.
Best for: curious primary-school children and teenagers
Cost: Paid
The RNLI College Discovery Tour offers something genuinely different from a conventional museum visit. During the 90-minute guided experience, families learn how lifeboat crews and lifeguards train for real emergencies.
One of the biggest highlights is the digital lifeboat simulator, which recreates what it can feel like to travel aboard a lifeboat. Tours also provide a behind-the-scenes look at the organisation’s training facilities and the skills required to become an RNLI lifesaver.
This is likely to appeal particularly to children interested in boats, storms, rescue services or engineering. Tours have limited capacity and should be booked ahead rather than treated as a spontaneous drop-in activity.
Best for: babies, toddlers and primary-school children
Cost: Paid
Not every summer day needs to be spent outdoors. The Ark in Poole Park combines creative pottery painting with a large indoor soft-play area, making it particularly useful during rainy weather or on days when it is too hot to stay in the sun.
Children can choose a blank piece of pottery, decorate it with their own design and create a keepsake to take home. Pieces start from £8.95, with a small additional studio fee for items that are glazed and kiln-fired. Younger children can make colourful handprints or simple patterns, while older children can take more time over mugs, plates, figurines and other detailed designs.
The adjoining soft play gives energetic children somewhere to climb, crawl and explore before or after painting. It has three levels filled with slides, tunnels, climbing zones, interactive features and a zipwire, and is designed for children up to the age of 11. Babies and toddlers also have a separate under-threes area where they can play safely away from older children.
Parents can watch from the indoor seating or secure outdoor terrace while enjoying food or a drink from the café. Afterwards, families can continue into Poole Park for the playgrounds, miniature railway, lakeside paths and open green spaces, turning the visit into a varied day of indoor and outdoor fun.
Best for: all ages, particularly older children
Cost: Free
A summer-holiday activity does not have to begin in the morning. On selected Thursday evenings in August 2026, Poole Quay hosts free live music, street entertainment and family activities before fireworks are launched over the harbour at 10pm.
The confirmed 2026 dates are 6, 13, 20 and 27 August, with entertainment beginning at 7pm.
Arriving early gives families time to eat on the Quay, watch the boats and find a suitable viewing position before the display. It feels like a special occasion without requiring an admission ticket, making it a valuable addition to a six-week holiday filled with expensive attractions.
Because the fireworks begin late, this option may suit school-age children and teenagers more than toddlers. Ear defenders can also be useful for younger children who are sensitive to loud sounds.
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