POOLE’S stunning natural harbour complete with eight unique islands and striking peninsula is the largest in Europe.

Today, the town is known to many as the playground for the rich and famous, with Sandbanks' celebrity residents, but it is also known for its industrial estates and mass industry.

This natural peninsular, which is believed to have been cut off by spring tides in the late 18th century, is considered to be the gateway to the Purbeck. Yet it hasn't always had such a salubrious history.

In fact Sandbanks was once offered for sale by the then owners, the Guest family, for £200; but there were no takers. Of course it wasn't quite the millionaires' playground it is today.

Boasting one of the biggest boat and yacht manufacturers in the world, along with various other manufacturers of sea related products, Poole's industry is naturally nautical. The earliest recorded use of the town’s name was in the 12th century when it made its mark at a significant port, flourishing from the introduction of the wool trade. In the 18th Century it was one of the busiest ports in Britain.

The town was one of the main departing points for the D-Day landing of the Normandy invasion in the Second World War.

The headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), yacht manufacturer Sunseeker, and Merlin Entertainments are located in Poole, and the Royal Marines have a base in the city's harbour.

During the 1970s, Poole's location within the south west region attracted businesses wishing to relocate from London. The construction boom was acknowledged in 2007, when the Borough of Poole received an award celebrating the best of the British construction industry.

Tourism is important to Poole's economy and was worth an estimated £158 million in 2002. Poole's Harbour, the Quay, Poole Pottery (which has played a significant role in art and design for the last century) and the beaches are some of the main attractions for visitors.

A brand new bridge brought historic Poole right up to date in 2012.

With a busy trust port and pleasure boats bustling around the harbour there is always something to watch from the many pubs, cafés and restaurants dotted along the quay.

There are smugglers alleys and a network of lanes to explore and the old town reveals some delightful and quirky buildings, ranging from the 1814 built Custom House, now a lively café bar and restaurant, to old pubs covered in local Carter's tiles.

For those interested in the history of the town, Poole Museum, the Cockle Trail and a new interactive trail around the town are a rich resource to tap into.