Sandbanks is a small peninsula at the entrance to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Although less than one square mile in area, it contains some of the most expensive houses in Britain. Sandbanks’ coastline is packed with houses worth millions of pounds and is regarded as the coastal area for millionaires and celebrities to live. Sandbanks is at the end of seven miles of world famous golden sandy beaches, qualifying for the European Blue Flag. The Sandbanks Chain Ferry connects Sandbanks to Studland, saving motorists a 25 mile drive around Poole Harbour to reach the Purbeck Hills and Swanage. The sunsets over Poole Harbour are stunning.

It is interesting to learn that the development of Sandbanks took place rapidly over the last one hundred years. In the 1870s, it was a remote peninsula with hardly any buildings, apart from a coastguard cottage and lifeboat station. In 1880, the Haven Hotel was built, but there was not a road leading to it. In the 1890s, it was the home of Guglielmo Marconi and his wireless experiments. In 1896, land had to be sold to fund coastal protection, as the Peninsula was in danger of being washed away. The first buildings, apart from the Haven Hotel, were wooden shacks.

Where in England is Sandbanks, Dorset

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