Standard timetable, 14 March – 1 November 2026 (outside school holidays; denser half-hourly service during school holidays — see variants)
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~20 min
Operator
Greenslade Pleasure Boats
Map – Brownsea Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Ferry, adult, return (Poole Quay – Brownsea Island) | £14.50 |
| Ferry, child (5–16), return | £6.00 |
| Ferry, under 5s | Free |
| Brownsea Island admission, adult (non-member) | £12.00 |
| Brownsea Island admission, child 5–17 (non-member) | £6.00 |
| Brownsea Island admission, family — 2 adults + up to 3 children (non-member) | £30.00 |
| Brownsea Island admission, National Trust members | Free |
There are two separate charges, collected by two different organisations, and mixing them up is the most common mistake visitors make. Greenslade Pleasure Boats charges a boat fare for the crossing itself, paid at their Orange Kiosk on Poole Quay — this applies to everyone, including National Trust members. The National Trust separately charges island admission once you land on Brownsea; this is free for National Trust members (bring your membership card) but payable by everyone else. Being a National Trust member makes the island admission free, but it does NOT make the ferry free — you still pay Greenslade's boat fare. All ferry tickets are return only; there is no published single (one-way) fare. Payment for the ferry is by card or cash at the kiosk; there is no online pre-booking for ordinary individual visits. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
Greenslade Pleasure Boats runs the foot-passenger ferry across Poole Harbour from Poole Quay to Brownsea Island, the National Trust's red-squirrel reserve and the birthplace of the Scouting movement. Look for the orange kiosk on the Quay, opposite the Tesco Express (BH15 1HJ) — that is the only public departure point for the standard day-visitor service. A separate jetty at Sandbanks used to run its own ferry to the island, but that jetty collapsed in November 2024; a replacement is under construction and, as of this page's research date, is carrying National Trust staff and volunteers only, with public visitor sailings from Sandbanks not expected to resume until 2027. Until then, Poole Quay is the only way ordinary visitors reach Brownsea.
The crossing takes about 20 minutes. From 14 March to 1 November 2026, boats leave Poole roughly hourly between 10:00 and 16:30, with no 13:00 sailing, and return from Brownsea between 10:30 and 17:00; during school holidays Greenslade adds extra boats for a half-hourly service. There is no timetable booking: tickets are sold first-come, first-served at the kiosk, queues can mean a 30–50 minute wait at busy times, and buying a ticket does not reserve a seat on any particular sailing.
The ferry fare and the island admission fee are charged separately by two different organisations, which is the detail most visitors get wrong. Greenslade charges everyone, including National Trust members, a return boat fare — there is no one-way ticket. Once ashore, the National Trust charges its own island admission to non-members; National Trust members show their card and get in free, but they still have to pay Greenslade for the boat. Under-5s travel and enter free. Dogs are not permitted on the island (assistance dogs excepted), and pushchairs and other large items must be carried on and off the ferry by their owner, since no crew are available to help. If the National Trust needs to close the island for forecast bad weather, it confirms the closure by 3pm the day before, so it is worth checking the website or social media before setting out.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
The crossing from Poole Quay to Brownsea Island takes about 20 minutes.
A return foot-passenger ticket with Greenslade Pleasure Boats costs £14.50 for an adult and £6.00 for a child aged 5–16; under-5s travel free. There is no one-way fare — tickets are return only.
No. The ferry fare and the island admission are charged separately by two different organisations. Greenslade Pleasure Boats charges the boat fare; the National Trust separately charges £12.00 for an adult (non-member) to enter the island.
No. National Trust membership makes island admission free, but every visitor, including members, still pays the Greenslade boat fare to reach the island.
No booking is needed or available for individual visits — tickets are sold first-come, first-served at the Orange Kiosk on Poole Quay. Only groups of 15 or more need to pre-book with the National Trust.
From the Orange Kiosk on Poole Quay, opposite the Tesco Express, postcode BH15 1HJ. A separate ferry used to run from Sandbanks, but that jetty collapsed in 2024 and public sailings from there are not expected to resume until 2027, so Poole Quay is currently the only departure point for day visitors.
No. The service is seasonal, running from 14 March to 1 November 2026. It does not operate outside this season.
Dogs are not allowed on Brownsea Island, except assistance dogs. Pushchairs and other large items can be brought but must be carried on and off the ferry by their owner, as no crew are available to help.