Discover Poole Old Lifeboat Museum on Poole Quay, a free RNLI museum exploring the town’s lifesaving history from 1865 to the present day. Housed inside Poole’s former lifeboat station, the museum features the historic Thomas Kirk Wright lifeboat, displays about past and present RNLI crews and an onsite RNLI shop. Find current opening times, admission information, contact details, parking and everything you need to know before visiting this historic Poole attraction.
Poole Old Lifeboat Museum offers a fascinating look at the history of lifesaving in Poole, with more than 150 years of local RNLI stories brought together inside the town’s former lifeboat station. Located at the eastern end of Poole Quay, the free museum is home to the historic Thomas Kirk Wright lifeboat, which took part in the Dunkirk evacuations of 1940. It is a small but worthwhile stop for anyone exploring Poole Quay or interested in maritime history.
Address: Poole Old Lifeboat Museum and Shop, Fisherman’s Dock, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HU
Telephone: 01202 666046
Admission: Free
Opening times: 10:30am-4pm, seven days a week
Website: RNLI - Poole Old Lifeboat Museum
Opening is dependent on weather conditions and volunteer availability, so it is worth checking before making a special journey.
Poole Old Lifeboat Museum tells the story of the RNLI and lifesaving in Poole from 1865 through to the present day. The museum itself is part of that history, as it occupies the former boathouse used by Poole Lifeboat Station between 1882 and 1974.
Its position beside Fisherman’s Dock also makes it particularly easy to visit while exploring Poole Quay, the Old Town and the waterfront.
The centrepiece of the museum is Thomas Kirk Wright, a historic Surf class lifeboat that served at Poole Lifeboat Station between 1939 and 1962.
The vessel has an especially significant wartime history. In 1940, Thomas Kirk Wright joined the fleet of civilian and rescue vessels involved in Operation Dynamo, helping with the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk. According to the RNLI, it was the first of the famous “Little Ships” to arrive at Dunkirk.
Visitors can see the lifeboat up close inside the original boathouse, making it one of the more unusual historic attractions around Poole Quay.
Alongside Thomas Kirk Wright, displays explore the development of Poole's lifeboat service and the crews who have volunteered to save lives at sea.
Visitors can also try on examples of crew equipment similar to that worn by those serving aboard Thomas Kirk Wright and compare it with the protective equipment used by modern RNLI crews.
The relatively compact size of the museum makes it easy to combine with other attractions and activities around Poole Quay rather than requiring an entire day.
Entry to Poole Old Lifeboat Museum is free.
As the museum is operated by the RNLI charity, visitors who enjoy their visit can choose to support its lifesaving work through purchases from the shop or by making a donation.
The current published opening hours are:
Monday - Sunday: 10:30am - 4pm
The RNLI notes that opening hours are subject to weather conditions and volunteer availability, so times can occasionally vary.
There is an RNLI shop inside the museum, selling charity merchandise and gifts. Purchases help support the RNLI and its lifesaving work around the UK and Ireland.
The museum is located at the east end of Poole Quay beside Fisherman’s Dock, within easy walking distance of Poole town centre.
Its central waterfront location means visitors can easily combine the museum with Poole Quay, Poole Old Town and nearby harbour attractions.
There is no dedicated museum car park. The RNLI currently recommends the public car park at Poole Quay Hotel, which is only a few minutes' walk from the museum.
As parking arrangements and charges in central Poole can change, visitors arriving by car should check current local parking information before travelling.
The museum can be an interesting addition to a family visit to Poole Quay, particularly for children interested in boats, rescue services or maritime history.
Being able to see a genuine historic lifeboat inside its former station gives younger visitors something tangible to explore, while the opportunity to compare historic and modern RNLI crew kit adds an interactive element.
Poole Old Lifeboat Museum is best suited to a relatively short visit and works particularly well as part of a wider trip around Poole Quay. Entry is free, although opening depends on volunteers and weather conditions.
Visitors specifically travelling to see the museum should check the RNLI's latest information before setting off, particularly outside the main visitor season.
Spanish
Chinese (simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Norwegian
Polish
Romanian
Russian
